From Portugal, an Indian power of attorney is drafted in English by your Indian lawyer, signed before a Portuguese notary or other authorised official, and apostilled by the Procuradoria-Geral da Republica in Lisbon or a regional office. No Indian embassy attestation is needed. The original is couriered to India and stamped under the state stamp law within three months. For property transactions, the sub-registrar may also need to verify or record it before your attorney holder can sign.
- Document route
- Notary, then apostille from the Procuradoria-Geral da Republica
- Time difference
- India is 4h30 (summer) to 5h30 (winter) ahead
- Recognition
- Section 33, Registration Act 1908
- Authentication
- Indian mission, or notary plus apostille
Power of Attorney from Portugal: how it works
We first ask what the attorney holder must do: sell a flat in Pune, manage rent in Panaji, appear in a partition case in Ludhiana or collect papers from a bank. A specific power of attorney is safer and more readily accepted than a general one. We send you a draft in English with your passport and Portuguese residence card details. You book a notary (notario) or another official empowered to certify signatures, sign in their presence with your passport, and ask them to add their authentication in English or with a translation. You then take it to the Procuradoria-Geral da Republica office for the apostille, which is usually quick.
In India the original is stamped at the rate set by the state where the property or the act is located, and sales are often valued at a higher stamp rate if the holder is not a close relative. Under section 33 of the Registration Act, a power of attorney executed abroad can be relied on for registration once properly authenticated, but local sub-registrar practice varies, and some offices ask for a fresh photograph or video confirmation from the principal. Avoid giving open-ended powers to sell, and revoke old powers in writing before issuing a new one.
What clients in Portugal should know
- Goan property often needs consent from both spouses because of community of property, so both may have to sign the power of attorney in Portugal.
- If you are now a Portuguese citizen, describe yourself as an OCI cardholder or foreign national in the document, not as an Indian citizen, or the registrar may reject it.
- A Portuguese procuracao drafted for use in Portugal is not suitable for India; Indian offices expect English and Indian legal terminology.
Step by step from Portugal
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits Portugal, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in Portugal
Notary, then apostille from the Procuradoria-Geral da Republica
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 Portugal where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in Portugal. 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 Portugal and the Inheritance & Documents practice area.
Questions from clients in Portugal
Can my lawyer in Portugal sign as the authenticating official?
Portuguese law allows some lawyers and solicitadores to certify signatures, and an apostille can follow. Indian offices are most familiar with notary authentication, so we usually suggest a notary unless timing makes that difficult.
How quickly can I get the apostille in Lisbon?
The Procuradoria-Geral da Republica often issues apostilles on the same day or within a few days, depending on the office. Check its current procedure before you go, as appointments and online steps change.
Can I revoke a power of attorney from Portugal?
Yes. You sign a deed of revocation in the same way, apostille it, and we serve notice on the attorney holder and, where needed, the sub-registrar, so it cannot be used after revocation.