Power of Attorney (POA) for India

Generate the exact legal checklist to execute a Power of Attorney from the U.S. to India.

Crucial Rule: The POA must be registered/adjudicated in India **within 3 months** of the attestation date to be legally binding for property sales or bank account management.

Your Profile

Your Citizenship StatusU.S. State of ResidencePOA Purpose

Required Legal Steps

1. Draft the POA Document

Draft the Power of Attorney text on plain white A4 paper. Ensure the names, addresses, and powers granted are highly specific. Do not sign it yet.

⚠️ Crucial: Paste a recent 2x2 inch passport-style photograph of yourself (the Principal) on the last page of the POA next to where you will sign.

2. Gather Two Witnesses

Find two witnesses who are not immediate family members. They must sign the document alongside you.

⚠️ Crucial: Ensure their full names and addresses are written clearly on the document.

3. Notarize in the U.S.

Take the document to a local Notary Public. You and the witnesses must sign in front of the Notary.

⚠️ Crucial: Your signature must match your passport signature exactly.

4. VFS Consular Attestation

Apply online on the VFS Global portal under "Miscellaneous Services". Mail your physical notarized (and apostilled if U.S. citizen) POA along with visa status copies (H-1B/Green Card), passport copy, and fee.

⚠️ Crucial: Include return shipping label and fee payment confirmation. VFS will return the consular attested POA to you.

5. Register & Adjudicate in India

Once the attested POA arrives in India, your Attorney-in-Fact must get it registered/adjudicated at the local Sub-Registrar or District Collector office within 3 months.

⚠️ Crucial: The POA is not legally valid for property transactions in India until adjudication/stamp duty is paid in India.

VFS Global charges a service fee of approximately $20 to $40 for miscellaneous consular attestation services.