A New Zealand resident buys or sells Indian property through an attorney holder appointed by a power of attorney signed before a New Zealand notary public and apostilled by the Department of Internal Affairs. After stamping in India, the attorney signs and registers the deed. A purchase is paid from NRE, NRO or FCNR funds or inward remittance. On a sale, the buyer deducts tax at source, and the proceeds can be remitted to New Zealand from your NRO account with Forms 15CA and 15CB.
- Document route
- New Zealand notary public, then apostille from the Department of Internal Affairs
- Time difference
- New Zealand is 6h30 (NZ winter) to 7h30 (NZ summer) ahead of IST
- Rules
- FEMA (Non-Debt Instruments) Rules 2019
- Not allowed to buy
- Agricultural land, plantation, farmhouse
Buying & Selling Property from New Zealand: how it works
We start with documents. For a sale, we check that your title deed, mutation entries, society share certificate and tax receipts are in your name and consistent; for a purchase, we review the seller's title, encumbrances, building approvals and, for new projects, the RERA registration. We then draft a property-specific power of attorney. You sign before a notary in New Zealand, send it to the DIA Authentications Unit for the apostille, and courier it to India, where we arrange stamping and any registration needed for use before the sub-registrar.
Your attorney holder signs the sale agreement and deed and attends registration. The buyer must deduct tax at source on the sale consideration under the non-resident rules, so we usually apply for a lower deduction certificate based on the actual gain. You report the sale in New Zealand as advised by your accountant, and claim credit for Indian tax under the treaty where relevant. Proceeds in the NRO account are remitted after a chartered accountant's certificate, subject to the USD 1 million annual limit.
What clients in New Zealand should know
- New Zealand citizens who hold OCI cards can buy residential and commercial property in India, but not agricultural land, plantations or farmhouses.
- New Zealand banks may ask where a large incoming transfer came from, so keep the registered sale deed and Indian tax documents ready to show the source.
- Because courier from New Zealand is slow, we usually prepare the power of attorney early so that it reaches India before the buyer is ready to complete.
Step by step from New Zealand
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits New Zealand, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in New Zealand
New Zealand notary public, then apostille from the Department of Internal Affairs
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 New Zealand where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in New Zealand. For the law, the documents and the step-by-step procedure, read our main page on Buying & Selling Property, or see all services for clients in New Zealand and the NRI Property Law practice area.
Questions from clients in New Zealand
Can my sister in India sell our joint flat if I am in Auckland?
Yes, if you give her a power of attorney covering your share. She signs for you and for herself, and the buyer receives clear title from both co-owners.
Do I pay tax in New Zealand on the Indian sale?
New Zealand has no general capital gains tax, but some property rules can still tax a gain, so speak to your New Zealand accountant. Indian tax applies regardless.
How quickly can sale money reach New Zealand?
Once the buyer has paid and the accountant's certificate is ready, the bank remittance usually takes a few working days.