Indian Power of Attorney From UK

Yes. A Special Power of Attorney is the appropriate document for authorising someone to sell property on your behalf. The POA must name the specific property, grant explicit authority to execute the sale deed, and be registered at the Sub-Registrar’s office where the property is located. Registration is mandatory for property sale POAs following the Supreme Court of India’s ruling.

Yes. A Power of Attorney can be revoked at any time by executing a Deed of Revocation. The revocation should be communicated in writing to the attorney named in the original POA and, where the POA was registered, filed at the same Sub-Registrar’s office. Whytecroft Ford’s POA Pack includes a Deed of Revocation template for this purpose.

A Power of Attorney cannot be created entirely online in India. The document must be signed in the physical presence of a Notary Public and two witnesses. For NRIs and UK residents, the signing and notarisation take place in the UK, and the document is then attested/apostilled and sent to India.

No. Since India acceded to the Hague Convention, an apostille issued by the UK FCDO is sufficient for authentication. You do not need to visit the Indian High Commission or VFS Global for attestation. However, some local Sub-Registrar offices in India may still request embassy counter-attestation. If your representative in India advises that the local office requires it, the Indian High Commission in London can provide this.

No. An Indian Power of Attorney executed outside India may be prepared on plain paper. Stamp paper is not required at the UK execution stage. Stamp duty becomes payable when the document reaches India and is submitted for adjudication at the District Collector or Sub-Registrar’s office.

You draft the POA under Indian law (or have it drafted by a qualified team), sign it before a UK Notary Public with two independent witnesses, obtain an apostille from the FCDO or attestation from the HCI, and send the legalised document to your attorney in India. Your attorney then pays stamp duty and, where required, registers the document at the local Sub-Registrar’s office. Whytecroft Ford’s POA Pack handles the drafting and provides a guidance booklet covering each subsequent step.

A General Power of Attorney remains valid until the principal revokes it or until the principal dies. A Special Power of Attorney expires when the specified task is completed. There is no fixed statutory expiry period for either type, but certain Indian authorities or banks may request a recently executed POA (typically within 12 months) for some transactions. Check with your attorney in India if a specific institution has a recency requirement.

The cost has three components: the POA drafting service, the UK Notary Public fee (typically £80 to £200), the FCDO apostille fee (£45 per document) and the HCI attestation (£20 per applicant). Indian stamp duty is payable separately when the POA reaches India. Whytecroft Ford’s POA Pack covers the drafting, a legalisation guidance booklet, and a Deed of Revocation template. Notar, FCDO and HCI fees are paid directly to the relevant providers.

Our Indian legal team drafts a bespoke Power of Attorney document based on the information you provide in our questionnaire. We do not use templates or DIY forms. Each document is tailored to your specific requirements, the relevant Indian state’s legal conventions, and the type of authority you wish to grant.

There are two main types. A General Power of Attorney (GPA) grants broad, ongoing authority across multiple matters. A Special Power of Attorney (SPA) is limited to a specific act or transaction and expires once that task is completed.

You will need your passport, proof of UK residence (utility bill, council tax bill, or UK driving licence), a self-attested copy of your valid UK visa or Biometric Residence Permit (if applicable), and the full details of the person you are appointing as your attorney in India, including their name, address, and relationship to you. For property-related POAs, you also need the full legal description of the property (title deed or registry details).

Any person aged 18 or over who is of sound mind may execute an Indian Power of Attorney. This includes Indian nationals, OCI cardholders, NRIs, and foreign citizens (including British citizens) with legal interests in India, such as property ownership or financial accounts.