Do I need a notarized power of attorney for a car when traveling to Abkhazia

In the article we have dealt in detail with the acute issue for road travelers coming to Abkhazia: whether a power of attorney for a car is needed and whether it must be notarized (general power of attorney). The official response of the customs service on this issue is given, as well as the personal experience of tourists and travelers from 💬 chats in Abkhazia.

Many online sources and "experienced" tourists claim that if you cross the border with Abkhazia, and there is no owner in the car with you, then there must be a notarized power of attorney, otherwise you simply will not be allowed to cross the border. At the same time, one can find the opinion that a handwritten power of attorney is enough, and other travelers prove that no documents and power of attorney are required at all. We have understood this issue thoroughly, and we give a reliable answer with all the evidence and references to official documents. If you don't want to read a lot of letters, then here's a ready-made answer for you right away:

And now we will analyze the situation in more detail so that you do not have any doubts about this.

What is wrong with those who claim that the power of attorney must necessarily be notarized

The main argument of those who claim that a power of attorney must be notarized to travel to Abkhazia is that they have read about this Internet on such and such a site. However, this opinion is completely groundless, since not everything that is written on the Internet is true. And, unfortunately, once a fake replicated on the Web is reprinted by different sources without verification. None of these supposedly "authoritative" sources cite the norms of the law of the Russian Federation, which require a notarized form of power of attorney, but mostly only refer to each other. This is exactly how the "circle of fakes" closes.

Another argument of the apologists of the notarial power of attorney is this: I issued a notarial power of attorney and drove, no questions arose, so it is the notarial one that is needed. But after all, elementary logic says that if a notarized power of attorney is valid, it does not mean at all that the usual handwritten one will not work either.

What is wrong with those who claim that no power of attorney is required at all

In part, this statement is really true, and many tourists cross the border on someone else's transport without providing any documents at all. But this practice does not mean that this is how it should be. The fact is that the verification of documents and the right to temporary export of a vehicle is entrusted to the Customs service of the Russian Federation. But the customs service is simply physically unable to check all the transported vehicles and goods due to the huge volume. For example, during the peak tourist season, several tens of thousands of cars can cross the border per day, and there are also buses, minivans and trains. Therefore, the inspection is carried out selectively and sometimes formally, especially if you do not arouse any suspicions from the customs inspector. But if you attract attention with at least something, or the flow of cars at the border is not so large, then you may well be subjected to a more detailed check, and then without a power of attorney you can simply be deployed.

Why is a simple written form enough to travel to Abkhazia

Since the issue of the passage (temporary export) of vehicles across the border in the Russian Federation is entrusted to the customs service, one of our authors sent a request to the Southern Customs Administration of Russia, which is responsible for the border checkpoint Psou on the border with Abkhazia. A detailed answer to this question was received, which unequivocally confirms that a simple written form of power of attorney is sufficient to travel to Abkhazia through the Psou checkpoint. Here is the part of the answer that says this directly and unambiguously:

And here is the full answer, it is dated 08/02/2023:

Well, besides, in practice, it has long been known without this answer that travel on a simple handwritten form of power of attorney works. For example, what experienced participants write about it our chat in Abkhazia:

So, as you can see, it is not necessary to spend money on a notarial power of attorney for a trip to Abkhazia in someone else's car, and it is enough to fill out a simple power of attorney form, a sample of which you can download for printing here.