Draft the power of attorney in India so it matches what the sub-registrar or bank expects, sign it before a Philippine notary public, and have the DFA apostille it. The original is couriered to India, stamped within three months of arrival and, for property sales, registered or authenticated under the Registration Act. Indian citizens may sign at the Embassy of India in Manila instead. Allow about two to three weeks from drafting to the document being usable in India.
- Document route
- Philippine notary public, then DFA apostille
- Time difference
- IST is 2h30 behind Philippine time all year (no daylight saving)
- Recognition
- Section 33, Registration Act 1908
- Authentication
- Indian mission, or notary plus apostille
Power of Attorney from the Philippines: how it works
We begin by finding out exactly what your attorney holder will be doing: selling a plot in Punjab, collecting rent in Pune, appearing in a mutation case or operating an NRO account. A general power is often refused for a sale, so we draft a specific one naming the property, the buyer if known and the limits of authority. You sign in front of a Philippine notary with your passport, and the notary enters it in the notarial register. The DFA then apostilles the notary's signature, which usually takes a few working days after the appointment.
When the original reaches India, the attorney holder pays stamp duty under the state stamp law within three months, and where the power will be used to sell or transfer immovable property it is presented to the sub-registrar for registration or authentication under sections 32A and 33 of the Registration Act. Some offices also want your photograph and thumb impression on the document, which the Philippine notary can witness. Banks have their own forms, so check before signing whether the bank will accept a general power or insists on its own mandate.
What clients in the Philippines should know
- Philippine notaries are lawyers with a court-issued commission; make sure the notarial certificate shows the commission number and expiry, as the DFA checks it before apostille.
- If you are a Filipino national of Indian origin, the stamp and registration rules are the same, but the sub-registrar may ask for proof of your OCI status where agricultural land is involved.
- Revoke an old power of attorney in writing and notify the sub-registrar and bank, because an unrevoked power can be misused while you are in Manila.
Step by step from the Philippines
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits the Philippines, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in the Philippines
Philippine notary public, then DFA apostille
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 the Philippines where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in the Philippines. 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 the Philippines and the Inheritance & Documents practice area.
Questions from clients in the Philippines
Can I use an online notarisation in the Philippines?
Indian sub-registrars expect a document signed in the physical presence of a notary. Use an in-person notarisation followed by a DFA apostille to avoid rejection.
Is the Embassy of India in Manila faster than a DFA apostille?
It depends on appointment availability. The Embassy route is open to Indian citizens and is preferred by some sub-registrars, while the DFA apostille is open to everyone and widely accepted.
Can my brother sell my Indian flat under a power of attorney signed in the Philippines?
Yes, if the power is specific, properly stamped and registered or authenticated in India. Under Indian law a power of attorney does not itself transfer ownership; the sale deed signed by your brother does.