If you live in a European country other than Germany, you can generally have documents for India notarised locally and apostilled by that country's designated authority, since India recognises apostilles from fellow members of the Hague Convention. Alternatively, sign at the Indian Embassy in your country. The power of attorney is then stamped in India and our advocates act on it. Tax and inheritance rules differ in every state, so local advice should accompany ours.
- Document route
- Local notary + apostille, or Indian Embassy
- Time difference
- 3.5 to 5.5 hours behind IST
- European judgments
- Generally enforced by fresh suit
- Exception
- Germany: consulate route only
Who we act for in Europe
Italy has one of the largest Indian populations in the European Union, concentrated in Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Lazio, largely from Punjab. Their matters closely resemble those of clients in Canada: agricultural land, village houses and family disputes in the districts around our Mohali office. The Netherlands, Ireland, France, Belgium, Sweden and Switzerland host technology, pharmaceutical and finance professionals with urban property and investment questions. Portugal and Spain have growing communities including long-settled Gujarati and Goan families, the latter with distinctive succession issues because Goa retains its own civil code.
For Germany, see the separate page on NRI legal services for Germany, because the document rules differ. The United Kingdom is covered here.
Signing documents in Europe for use in India
Every European Union member state, and Switzerland and Norway, is a party to the Apostille Convention. The authority that issues apostilles differs: a court or prefecture in some countries, the foreign ministry or a notarial chamber in others. Several states that had initially objected to India's accession later withdrew their objections, leaving Germany as the notable exception. In practice: sign the power of attorney before a notary, obtain the apostille, and attach a certified English translation if the notarial certificate is in the local language, since Indian offices work in English or the state language.
Indian passport holders can instead sign at the Indian Embassy. Either way the document is stamped in India within three months. We prepare a checklist for your specific country. See document attestation.
Services most requested from Europe
Punjab land and family matters from Italy; property and documentation elsewhere.
Illegal Possession & Encroachment
Recovering land and houses occupied in the owner's absence.
Property Partition Suit
Partition of family holdings, especially agricultural land.
Power of Attorney for India
Apostilled powers of attorney with translation where needed.
Will Drafting & Probate
Indian wills for residents of forced-heirship countries.
Succession Certificate & Inheritance
Heirship and succession documents for Indian assets.
Marriage Registration
Marriage registration and apostilled certificates for family reunification visas.
Tax, inheritance and regulation
European states tax residents on worldwide income, with India's tax on Indian property income and gains credited or exempted under the relevant treaty. Several also levy inheritance or gift tax on worldwide assets, at widely varying rates and allowances; others, such as Sweden and Austria, levy none. The European Succession Regulation, which lets a person choose the law of their nationality to govern their estate within participating states, does not bind India: immovable property in India passes under Indian law regardless. A separate Indian will is therefore especially useful for residents of civil-law countries with forced-heirship rules.
We deal with Indian tax on sale and repatriation, and work with your local adviser on the rest.
Court orders, family cases and working hours
With limited exceptions, European countries are not reciprocating territories under Indian law, so judgments are enforced in India by a suit founded on them. Divorce decrees are recognised on the section 13 tests; decrees by mutual consent with both spouses participating rarely cause difficulty. All EU states are parties to the Hague Abduction Convention, India is not, and custody strategy must account for that. Clients in Italy and elsewhere facing criminal complaints in Punjab should read about bail and quashing before travelling.
Central European time is three and a half to four and a half hours behind India; mornings there are ideal for calls.
All services for NRIs in Europe
Every service below is available to clients living in Europe and is handled in India on your authority. Open any one for the law, documents and process.
Property & Real Estate
- NRI Property Dispute Resolution
- Property Partition Suit
- Title Verification & Due Diligence
- Power of Attorney for India
- Illegal Possession & Encroachment
- Builder Fraud & RERA Complaints
- Buying & Selling Property
- Property Transfer & Mutation
- Landlord-Tenant & Eviction
- Adverse Possession Defence
Inheritance, Wills & Documents
Family, Marriage & OCI
- NRI Divorce
- Child Custody & Guardianship
- Maintenance & Alimony
- Domestic Violence Cases
- Adoption from India
- Marriage Registration
- OCI Card Legal Issues
- Parents & Senior Citizen Rights
Tax, Banking & FEMA
- Income Tax Notices & Appeals
- TDS & Capital Gains on Property Sale
- Repatriation of Funds
- Shares Transmission & IEPF Recovery
- FEMA Compliance & RBI Notices
Business & Corporate
Criminal Defence & Recovery
- FIR Quashing & Bail
- Cheque Bounce & Money Recovery
- Fraud & Cybercrime Recovery
- Look Out Circular & Extradition
Claims & Compensation
Indian missions in Europe
India has an embassy in almost every European capital, and consulates in some larger countries. A few examples:
- Embassy of India, Rome, and Consulate General, Milan
- Embassy of India, The Hague
- Embassy of India, Paris
- Embassy of India, Dublin
- Embassy of India, Madrid
- Embassy of India, Lisbon
- Embassy of India, Brussels
- Embassy of India, Berne
Frequently asked questions
Is an apostille from Italy, France or the Netherlands accepted in India?
Yes. India recognises apostilles from other parties to the Hague Convention, which includes all EU member states. Germany is the exception because of its objection to India's accession.
Does my document need to be translated?
If the notarial certificate or the document is not in English, attach a certified English translation. Indian registrars and courts will not act on a document they cannot read.
Does the EU Succession Regulation apply to my property in India?
No. India is not bound by it. Immovable property in India devolves under Indian succession law, which is why a will specific to Indian assets is recommended.
Can I recover my land in Punjab while living in Italy?
Yes. The case is filed and conducted by a power of attorney holder with your evidence taken by video link, and complaints can be lodged with Punjab's NRI police stations.
Is a divorce from a European court valid in India?
Generally where both spouses took part and the basis of the decree is compatible with the Indian law governing the marriage. Seek advice if the decree was obtained in your spouse's absence.
Which European apostilles are accepted in India?
Apostilles from all Convention countries with which India has the Convention in force, which includes every EU state except Germany.
Can you help if I live in a country with no Indian consulate nearby?
Yes. The apostille route avoids a visit to the mission, and consular camps are held in many cities.