If you live in Texas and need to buy, sell, or inherit real estate in Honduras, you will usually sign a power of attorney letting a relative or lawyer there handle the transaction. The good news is that Honduras is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so the process is relatively straightforward — you have two solid routes to choose from.
This page explains both options so you can pick the one that fits your timeline and budget.
What an apostille is
An apostille is a certificate that authenticates a public document — a notary's signature, a court seal, a registrar's certification — so it will be accepted by authorities in another country. For countries in the Hague Apostille Convention, the apostille is the finish line. For countries outside it, the same Texas certificate is the first step in a short legalization chain.
Does an apostille work in Honduras?
Yes. Honduras is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so a Texas document carrying a Texas apostille is recognized in Honduras without further consular legalization.
How the Texas Secretary of State apostille works
Texas apostilles come from a single office: the Secretary of State's Authentications Unit in Austin. There is no county-clerk step — a document notarized by any Texas notary, in any of the 254 counties, goes straight to the state. Since October 2023 Texas issues one Universal Apostille (Form 2102) that works for every destination, whether or not the country belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention.
The state fee is $15 per document. Mailed requests can take up to 25 business days; in-person and appointment service in Austin is same-day for up to 10 documents, and a bulk drop-box handles larger batches in 24–48 hours. There is no online submission — every request is handled by mail or in person. Certified copies of vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) must be less than five years old.
Federal documents — FBI background checks, USCIS naturalization certificates, IRS letters — cannot be apostilled by Texas; they go to the U.S. Department of State. We confirm the correct authority before anything is filed, so your documents are never rejected on a technicality.
Two routes to a valid Honduran property power of attorney
You can choose whichever route is more convenient:
- U.S. power of attorney, apostilled. Sign a power of attorney in English before a Texas notary, obtain the Texas apostille, and it will be valid in Honduras. You will then need a Spanish translation for use there.
- Honduran consulate power of attorney. Sign a power of attorney before a Honduran consul, who executes it directly. This version is valid without an apostille and typically costs around US$150 to US$200. Because it is prepared in Spanish, it also avoids a separate translation step.
For a specific property sale, use a poder especial (special power of attorney) that identifies the exact transaction and property, rather than a broad general mandate. A special power gives your agent clear, defined authority and reduces the chance of registry objections.
Documents you'll need
- A poder especial naming the specific property and transaction
- Your valid passport or identification
- The full name and identification of your attorney-in-fact
- The property description and title details from Honduras
- The Texas apostille (route 1) or the consular execution (route 2)
- A Spanish translation of any English document (route 1)
Translation
If your power of attorney is in English, Honduras requires a Spanish translation before it can be used there. A power of attorney signed at a Honduran consulate is already in Spanish, so route 2 avoids the translation step entirely. Factor translation time into route 1 so it does not delay your closing.
We handle the whole apostille — you don't travel to Austin
Our firm provides full-service apostille handling: we prepare your document, coordinate Texas notarization or certified copies, file the Universal Apostille request with the Secretary of State, add U.S. Department of State and embassy legalization when a country requires it, arrange certified translation, and deliver the finished documents to you or your recipient abroad.
We also coordinate directly with your counsel overseas — a barrister or solicitor in Commonwealth countries, an advocate in South Asia, a notario público in Latin America — so the document is drafted with the exact wording their registry, court, or bank requires before anything is apostilled.
- 📞 Phone: (281) 348-6723
- 📧 Email: busbytexas@gmail.com
- 📍 715 E. Whitney, Houston, TX 77008
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A note on accuracy
Apostille and legalization requirements change, and each receiving institution — a foreign land registry, bank, pension office, or consulate — can impose its own rules. This article reflects requirements verified in 2026 and is general information, not legal advice. Contact us so we can confirm the current requirements for your specific document and destination before you file.
For the full statewide process — fees, timelines, document types, and the Hague vs. non-Hague paths — see our complete Texas Apostille Guide.