Quick answer: Yes. The standard route is a registered Power of Attorney (PoA) given to a trusted person in India. The PoA must be executed before the Indian consulate in your country (or apostilled where applicable) and then adjudicated/stamped in India within the prescribed time before use.
The attorney can then sign the sale deed and complete registration on your behalf. Buyers will also deduct TDS at the higher NRI rates on the sale value, so plan the tax paperwork (PAN, capital gains computation, lower-deduction certificate if eligible) in advance. A verified local broker plus a property lawyer makes remote closing routine – this is one of Broker Network’s most requested services.
How does the PoA route work, step by step?
- Draft a specific PoA naming the exact property (survey/house number, flat details) and the powers given: to sign the agreement and sale deed, present them for registration, and hand over documents. A tightly drafted PoA is easier to get accepted than a broad general one.
- Execute it abroad. Sign before an Indian consular officer, or before a notary followed by an apostille where your country recognises apostilles. Ask your Indian lawyer which form the Sub-Registrar office (SRO) will accept.
- Stamp it in Telangana within three months. According to the Telangana registration department, stamp duty on a document executed outside India can be paid within three months of its receipt in India, with the District Registrar endorsing the payment.
- Register it if required. A PoA that authorises sale is normally registered, so the SRO can rely on it when the sale deed is presented.
- Your attorney executes the sale deed at the SRO, and the sale money is paid into your bank account in India.
| PoA type (Telangana ready reckoner) | Stamp duty | Registration fee |
|---|---|---|
| GPA authorising a family member to sell | ₹1,000 | 0.5% (min ₹2,000, max ₹20,000) |
| GPA authorising someone outside the family to sell | 1% of market value | 0.5% (min ₹5,000, max ₹1,00,000) |
Check current rates on registration.telangana.gov.in before you execute. For the buyer’s side of the cost, see registration charges in Telangana.
Who can an NRI sell to, and can the money go abroad?
According to the RBI’s FAQ under FEMA, an NRI or OCI can sell residential or commercial property to a resident Indian, an NRI or an OCI. Agricultural land, plantation property and farmhouses can be sold only to a person resident in India. Payment must come through banking channels. The RBI also allows repatriation of up to USD 1 million per financial year from NRO balances, including sale proceeds, after applicable taxes. Your bank will ask for supporting tax documents and a chartered accountant’s certificate before it remits the money. If the property was inherited or bought while you were resident, confirm the repatriation conditions with your bank first.
How is tax deducted when an NRI sells?
The Income-tax Act, 2025 took effect on 1 April 2026, so section and form numbers have changed. The buyer must deduct tax on payments to an NRI seller. Unless you hold a lower or nil deduction certificate, that deduction is usually worked out on the whole sale price, not just your gain. That is why NRIs often apply for a lower deduction certificate (the form that replaced Form 13) well before the sale. Long-term gains on property held more than 24 months are taxed at 12.5% plus surcharge and cess under current rules. Rates and procedures change, so check current rules on incometax.gov.in and work with a CA.
Can the whole sale really be done without visiting?
Usually, yes. The attorney appears at the SRO in your place. Common hold-ups are an old or vague PoA, title papers kept abroad, and mutation or tax records still in a deceased parent’s name. If the land is agricultural, also check that the records on Bhu Bharati, which replaced Dharani in 2025, are in your name before you list it. Practical tips: keep scanned copies of every title document with your attorney and lawyer, give the buyer’s lawyer an EC upfront, and stay reachable by phone on registration day in case the SRO has a question.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a GPA I gave a relative years ago?
Possibly, but SROs and buyers’ lawyers look closely at old, broad GPAs. A fresh, property-specific PoA avoids most objections. Also note that GPA-based “sales” do not transfer title on their own – see is GPA property safe?
Should the buyer pay my attorney?
No. Ask for the sale money to be paid straight into your own Indian bank account (typically NRO), so there is a clear banking trail for tax and repatriation.
The property is inherited. What extra do I need?
Legal heir or succession documents, and the property tax and utility records transferred to the heirs. Buyers’ lawyers will ask for these before agreeing a price.
How long does a remote sale take?
It depends mostly on the PoA logistics and how long the tax certificate takes. Start the PoA and tax paperwork before you look for a buyer.
Selling from abroad? Post your requirement and a verified Broker Network broker in Hyderabad will coordinate buyers, documents and the SRO visit with your attorney and lawyer. Or ask us on WhatsApp.
