Justice and Communications Ministries Introduce Online Legal Power-of-Attorney Service in Egypt
Egypt has expanded its digital government services with the introduction of a remote general power-of-attorney service for legal cases, jointly launched by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
Available through the Digital Egypt platform, the service enables citizens to submit their applications electronically, complete identity verification and signing procedures through the Digital Identity application, and receive the finalized document through Egypt Post without having to visit a notarization office.
The initiative forms part of the government's broader plan to make public services more accessible through digital channels and reduce the need for in-person administrative procedures.
A Fully Digital Process for Legal Documents
The service uses the Digital Identity application to confirm the applicant's identity, legal eligibility, and consent. An accredited electronic signature is then used to complete the transaction.
According to the Ministry, the process incorporates safeguards for personal data and cybersecurity, while helping citizens save time and effort. It is also designed to separate the service provider from the service recipient and support confidence in online government transactions.
The launch addresses demand for notarization services, particularly general powers of attorney for legal cases, which currently average around 18,000 transactions per day at notarization offices and outlets.
Application and Verification Procedures
Citizens begin by signing in to the Digital Egypt platform and selecting the remote general power-of-attorney service for legal cases. After entering the transaction information, they pay the required fees through the available payment channels.
The next stage involves verifying the applicant's eligibility and consent through artificial intelligence technologies. The applicant is transferred to the Digital Identity application to complete the verification and signing process.
An electronic power-of-attorney document is generated, together with a real-time remote electronic-signature certificate that can be used once for each transaction.
The identity-checking process includes facial scanning and matching the result with the biometric fingerprint held in Egypt's government databases. Once verification is completed, the applicant signs the document electronically and provides the address and delivery information for receiving the issued power of attorney.
ITIDA Develops Infrastructure for Remote Electronic Signatures
The launch also highlights the role of remote electronic signatures in expanding Egypt's digital transaction infrastructure.
The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) has developed a secure remote e-signature system based on international standards. The infrastructure integrates the systems of ITIDA-licensed entities to facilitate the issuance of remote electronic-signature certificates whenever an electronic document or transaction requires authentication.
Unlike conventional solutions that rely on physical hardware, including Smart Cards and Smart Tokens, the remote-signature technology enables the process to be completed digitally.
One Digital Identity for Government Services
The Digital Identity system provides citizens with a unified national access platform for government services through a single account. Its development follows cybersecurity standards and aims to simplify procedures, enhance the user experience, and advance the creation of an integrated digital government.
Citizens can also download the Digital Identity application free of charge from Google Play and the App Store.