If you don't have it:

You prepare it yourself (with a lawyer's help if needed); the department's website has model GPAs under Downloads.

If you don't have it:

On your embassy's or consulate's website (some ask you to fill it online and print it).

📷 What the photo must look like

1.

Write the power of attorney: say clearly what the agent may do, and describe the property fully. The department's website has models under Downloads: a GPA to a family member to sell, a GPA to others to sell, a GPA without sale, and a special power of attorney to present a document. The Consulate in Munich says one made while you live abroad may be on plain paper; it need not be on stamp paper. Do not sign it yet.

✋ You do this yourself

📎 The power of attorney (original and a copy)

2.

On your embassy's or consulate's website, look up how it attests a power of attorney, its fee and its form. Each mission works differently: for example, the Consulate in Munich takes applications by appointment and returns them in about 5 working days; the Embassy in The Hague takes walk-ins in the morning and returns them the same evening. Book an appointment if needed, and fill in the form.

🏛️ The Indian embassy or consulate for where you live

📎 The mission's application form (miscellaneous services), with a photo

3.

Some missions ask more of people who are not Indian citizens. For example, the Embassy in The Hague asks a foreign national to have the power of attorney apostilled by the local district court first, and an OCI cardholder to bring an apostilled address record. Ask your mission.

🏛️ The Indian embassy or consulate for where you live

4.

Go in person and sign the power of attorney in front of the consular officer, who attests it. Take your passport, the copy of your residence permit, the form, and the power of attorney with a copy. The attestation confirms only that you are the person who signed, not what the document says.

🏛️ The Indian embassy or consulate for where you live

📎 The power of attorney (original and a copy), Passport (original, and a copy of the first and last pages), Copy of your residence permit or visa, The mission's application form (miscellaneous services), with a photo

💰 Fee: As the mission's fee chart

5.

Send the attested original power of attorney to your agent in India. Keep the courier receipt: the three months for stamp duty, and the four months for registering a deed signed abroad, count from the day it reaches India, and the office may ask you to prove that date.

✋ You do this yourself

📎 Proof of the date it reached India

6.

If you are unsure how much stamp duty is due, you can ask the District Registrar for an opinion (adjudication) under section 31 of the Indian Stamp Act: apply with the document and an affidavit on ₹20 stamp paper.

🏛️ District Registrar's office (Registration and Stamps Department)

📎 The power of attorney (original and a copy), Affidavit on ₹20 stamp paper

💰 Fee: ₹15 · Application fee

7.

Within three months of the power of attorney reaching India, your agent takes it to the District Registrar and pays the stamp duty; the District Registrar endorses the payment on it under section 18 of the Indian Stamp Act. The stamp duty on a special power of attorney to present and admit a document is ₹20. Pay the way the office tells you (challan, DD or pay order).

🏛️ District Registrar's office (Registration and Stamps Department)

📎 The power of attorney (original and a copy), Proof of the date it reached India

💰 Fee: ₹20 · Stamp duty (special power of attorney)

8.

Within three months of the power of attorney reaching India, your agent takes it to the District Registrar and pays the stamp duty; the District Registrar endorses the payment on it under section 18 of the Indian Stamp Act. The stamp duty on a GPA giving a family member power to sell, transfer or develop property is ₹1,000. Pay the way the office tells you (challan, DD or pay order).

🏛️ District Registrar's office (Registration and Stamps Department)

📎 The power of attorney (original and a copy), Proof of the date it reached India

💰 Fee: ₹1,000 · Stamp duty (GPA to a family member)

9.

Within three months of the power of attorney reaching India, your agent takes it to the District Registrar and pays the stamp duty; the District Registrar endorses the payment on it under section 18 of the Indian Stamp Act. The stamp duty on a GPA giving someone outside the family power to sell, transfer or develop property is 1% of the property's market value. Pay the way the office tells you (challan, DD or pay order).

🏛️ District Registrar's office (Registration and Stamps Department)

📎 The power of attorney (original and a copy), Proof of the date it reached India

💰 Fee: 1% of the property's market value

10.

Within three months of the power of attorney reaching India, your agent takes it to the District Registrar and pays the stamp duty; the District Registrar endorses the payment on it under section 18 of the Indian Stamp Act. The stamp duty on a GPA for other work (not sale, transfer or development) is ₹50 for up to five agents, and ₹75 for six to ten. Pay the way the office tells you (challan, DD or pay order).

🏛️ District Registrar's office (Registration and Stamps Department)

📎 The power of attorney (original and a copy), Proof of the date it reached India

💰 Fee: ₹50 for up to five agents; ₹75 for six to ten

11.

Within four months of the deed you signed abroad reaching India, your agent presents it at the Sub-Registrar office for the area where the property is, shows the attested power of attorney and admits your signature for you. As the presenter, the agent's photo and fingerprints are taken. Do not have this power of attorney registered: a power that needs attestation and is registered instead is not accepted by the Sub-Registrar, and the defect cannot be cured.

🏛️ The Sub-Registrar office for the area where the property is

📎 The deed you signed, The power of attorney (original and a copy)

12.

With the stamped power of attorney, your agent signs the deed for you (a sale deed, for example) and presents it at the Sub-Registrar office, following the property registration steps; the agent is then the executant. A power of attorney does not make the agent the owner of the property.

🏛️ The Sub-Registrar office for the area where the property is

📎 The power of attorney (original and a copy)

13.

With the stamped power of attorney, your agent can do the work it names on your behalf. A GPA made while you live abroad and attested by an embassy, consulate or notary does not have to be registered.

✋ You do this yourself

📎 The power of attorney (original and a copy)

14.

Registering this GPA is not compulsory; if you wish, it can be registered at a Sub-Registrar office.

🏛️ The Sub-Registrar office for the area where the property is

📎 The power of attorney (original and a copy)

💰 Fee: Registration fee 0.5% of market value (at least ₹2,000, at most ₹20,000)

15.

Registering this GPA is not compulsory; if you wish, it can be registered at a Sub-Registrar office.

🏛️ The Sub-Registrar office for the area where the property is

📎 The power of attorney (original and a copy)

💰 Fee: Registration fee 0.5% of market value (at least ₹5,000, at most ₹1,00,000)

16.

Registering this GPA is not compulsory; if you wish, it can be registered at a Sub-Registrar office.

🏛️ The Sub-Registrar office for the area where the property is

📎 The power of attorney (original and a copy)

💰 Fee: ₹5,000 · Registration fee (by the Ready Reckoner)