A power of attorney for India can be signed in France before a notaire or with a signature certified at the mairie, and then apostilled by the procureur général at the cour d'appel. India accepts that apostille. Once the original reaches India, it must be stamped within three months under the state stamp law, and for property work it is presented to the sub-registrar along with the attorney holder's identification.
- Document route
- Notaire or mairie certification, then apostille from the cour d'appel
- Time difference
- India is 3.5 hours (summer) to 4.5 hours (winter) ahead
- Recognition
- Section 33, Registration Act 1908
- Authentication
- Indian mission, or notary plus apostille
Power of Attorney from France: how it works
We draft the power in English, tailored to the property or task, because Indian registrars and banks read the document closely and reject vague wording. For property in Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Punjab or elsewhere, it should identify the property by survey number, address and title documents, and list the exact acts permitted. You sign in France, either at a notaire's office or with your signature certified at the mairie, and then send the document to the cour d'appel for the apostille. If the notaire insists on French, we prepare a bilingual version with English as the prevailing text.
In India we have the document stamped, check it against the requirements of the particular sub-registrar or bank and guide your attorney holder through the transaction. If a property is being sold, the price must be paid into your NRO or NRE account, the buyer must deduct tax at source because you are a non-resident, and you may need a lower deduction certificate from the Indian tax department. When the job is finished, revoke the power formally rather than leaving it open.
What clients in France should know
- French citizens of Indian origin should sign as OCI cardholders or foreign nationals and use their French passport details consistently, avoiding mismatches with older Indian records.
- Some Indian banks insist on their own power of attorney format; get it before you visit the notaire so both documents can be signed and apostilled together.
- Gains on selling Indian property may need to be reported in France as well; India's tax treaty with France and the credit rules decide where the tax finally falls.
Step by step from France
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits France, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in France
Notaire or mairie certification, then apostille from the cour d'appel
Work in India
Our team files, appears and follows up in India, and shares scans of everything filed.
Result and handover
Certified copies and originals are couriered to you in France where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in France. For the law, the documents and the step-by-step procedure, read our main page on Power of Attorney, or see all services for clients in France and the Inheritance & Documents practice area.
Questions from clients in France
Can the Embassy of India in Paris attest my power of attorney instead?
Since the apostille is in force, the French apostille is the usual route. The Embassy provides certain consular services, but Indian offices accept the apostilled document without Embassy attestation.
Does the mairie certify the content of the document?
No. The mairie only certifies your signature. The content is your responsibility, which is why we draft it in India for the Indian office that will use it.
How long is a power of attorney valid?
It remains valid until revoked or until the purpose is completed, unless the document sets a period. Some offices prefer a recently executed document, so avoid using a very old one.