Documents
How NRIs Execute a Power of Attorney for India From Abroad
A power of attorney (PoA) lets someone in India act for you — selling a flat, handling a bank, appearing before an office. Get the format wrong and the registrar simply refuses it.
General vs special PoA
A general PoA gives broad authority; a special PoA covers one specific transaction. Many registrars and banks are cautious with general PoAs for property sales, so a special PoA naming the property and the act is often the safer choice.
The four stages
- Draft it to Indian requirements — ideally with a lawyer in the state where the property is, who knows local registrar practice.
- Sign it in front of the authenticating officer. Don’t sign in advance.
- Authenticate it, either at the Indian mission (consular attestation) or, if you live in an Apostille Convention country, through a local notary plus apostille — check which your registrar accepts.
- Adjudicate and stamp it in India: the attorney presents it to the stamp authority in the relevant state within the time limit (commonly three months of receipt in India) and pays stamp duty. Property-related PoAs may also need registration.
What to bring to the mission
- The unsigned PoA (and copies), printed as the mission requires
- Your passport and local status document
- Photos where the format includes them
- ID copies of the attorney and witnesses, if required
Mistakes to avoid
- Signing before your appointment
- Vague property descriptions — use survey numbers and full addresses
- Missing the stamping deadline in India
- Using a PoA format that the specific registrar or bank won’t accept
For the broader rules on getting documents accepted across borders, see attestation & apostille.
Before you apply: fees, forms and processing times change often and differ by country. Always confirm the current rules on the official portal or your mission's website. Spotted something out of date? Send a correction.