If you will be overseas during HDB resale completion, contact your conveyancing solicitor early. HDB says a Power of Attorney (POA) can be used to appoint another person to act on your behalf when you cannot attend personally. Ask which documents it needs to cover and what you still need to do yourself.
Separate the completion appointment from earlier steps such as signing the Option to Purchase or endorsing documents in the HDB Flat Portal. HDB’s resale procedures identify steps that may still require personal endorsement even when a POA has been prepared. Give your solicitor the full calendar, including when you leave and when you can sign or access the portal.
- Confirm your role, travel dates and transaction stage.
- Identify which acts the attorney needs authority to perform.
- Check the overseas signing and witnessing requirements before signing.
- Confirm personal portal steps and track the official document submission.
- Give the attorney clear instructions for completion and handover.
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Work out what must happen while you are away
Read HDB’s completion guidance for buyers or HDB’s completion guidance for sellers. Tell your solicitor whether the absence affects the option, application, endorsement or completion. The document and its scope should fit the steps the attorney will actually handle.
| Step | What to confirm | What to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Before travel | Scope, appointment and expected signing dates | Instructions from the solicitor |
| Signing overseas | Who can witness the document and how it will be submitted | Signed document and verification records |
| Resale application | What the parties must still endorse personally | Portal notices and deadline |
| Completion | Who attends or acts, and what can be collected | Official appointment and handover instructions |
Use HDB’s application process guidance for overseas signing requirements. Ask the solicitor which witnessing route is appropriate in your location and how much time to allow for any original documents, certification or filing. Confirm the instructions before arranging a signing appointment.
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Keep access and money separate from representation
An attorney’s authority depends on the actual document. Confirm who may receive keys, handle a payment or sign each form. Use the official transaction route for identification, Singpass and banking steps. Keep personal login credentials private. If a step requires you to endorse something personally, plan around the relevant deadline and time zone.
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Worked example when a buyer will be away for completion
A buyer receives a completion date that overlaps a work trip. The buyer sends the acceptance notice to the solicitor and lists which days they will be abroad. The solicitor checks whether representation is needed and identifies the exact acts the POA should cover. The buyer completes any required personal endorsements and gives the representative the confirmed handover instructions.
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Frequently asked questions
Can my relative attend if I just send a message?
Ask HDB or your solicitor what authority is required. A family relationship or informal message does not establish that the person can act for the transaction.
Does a POA allow someone to do every portal step for me?
Use HDB’s resale instructions and confirm any steps that still require your personal endorsement.
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Next steps and official sources
Give your solicitor the HDB calendar and travel dates before signing anything overseas. Confirm the attorney’s scope and which steps you still need to complete personally.