If you live in New Zealand, you can manage a legal matter in India by signing a power of attorney before a notary public and obtaining an apostille from the Department of Internal Affairs, or by having it attested by the Indian High Commission in Wellington or the Consulate General in Auckland. New Zealand is a reciprocating territory under Indian law, so money judgments of its superior courts can be executed in India directly.
- Document route
- Notary + DIA apostille, or Indian mission
- Time difference
- 6.5 to 7.5 hours ahead of IST
- NZ judgments
- Directly executable (CPC s.44A)
- Hague Apostille
- New Zealand is a member
The work we do for New Zealand clients
New Zealand's Indian community includes long-established Gujarati and Punjabi families, Indo-Fijians with ancestral links to India, and a large recent intake of students and skilled workers. Requests are split between property and family. On the property side: selling a flat bought before emigrating, transferring an inherited share to a sibling who has stayed in India, and dealing with a builder who has not delivered. On the family side: registering a marriage for a partnership visa, mutual consent divorce, and complaints filed in India during a separation.
People of Indian origin whose families left India generations ago, including via Fiji, can often still establish OCI eligibility through a grandparent or great-grandparent born in India, given the documents. We help assemble that proof.
Signing documents in New Zealand for use in India
Sign the document before a New Zealand notary public. The Authentication Unit of the Department of Internal Affairs then issues an apostille, on paper or electronically. For Indian property work we recommend a paper apostille attached to the original. Indian passport holders may alternatively use the High Commission or the Consulate General, whose services are accessed through an outsourced provider.
Once in India a power of attorney must be stamped within three months. Allow a week for courier each way when planning a transaction. See document attestation.
Services most requested from New Zealand
A mix of property transactions and family documentation.
Buying & Selling Property
Selling property bought before migrating, without a trip to India.
Property Transfer & Mutation
Relinquishing or transferring an inherited share to family in India.
Marriage Registration
Marriage registration and an apostilled certificate for immigration purposes.
NRI Divorce
Mutual consent divorce in India with appearance through an attorney holder.
OCI Card Legal Issues
Proving Indian origin for OCI, including for families who left generations ago.
Builder Fraud & RERA Complaints
Refund or possession claims against developers before RERA.
Tax and money between New Zealand and India
India taxes rent and capital gains from Indian property. New Zealand taxes residents on worldwide income, but new migrants and returning residents may qualify as transitional residents, exempt on most foreign income for about four years, which can make the timing of an Indian sale important. New Zealand has no general capital gains tax or inheritance tax, though specific rules, including the foreign investment fund and financial arrangement rules, can apply to overseas shares and deposits. Confirm the position with a New Zealand adviser.
We handle Indian tax deduction on sale and the paperwork to remit funds to New Zealand.
Court orders, family cases and working hours
New Zealand is among the countries notified by India as reciprocating territories, so a money decree of its superior courts can be put into execution in India without a fresh suit. Dissolution orders from the Family Court, granted on two years' separation, are recognised in India where both spouses took part; a one-sided order calls for caution. New Zealand is a Hague Abduction Convention country and India is not.
Our working morning is your afternoon. Calls between 4 pm and 9 pm New Zealand time work well.
All services for NRIs in New Zealand
Every service below is available to clients living in New Zealand 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 New Zealand
Confirm current jurisdiction and application procedure on the High Commission's website.
- High Commission of India, Wellington
- Consulate General of India, Auckland
Frequently asked questions
Is a New Zealand apostille accepted in India?
Yes. Both countries are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. The document should first be notarised by a New Zealand notary public.
Can a New Zealand court judgment be enforced in India?
A money decree of a superior court of New Zealand can be executed directly in India under section 44A of the Code of Civil Procedure, subject to the usual conditions of conclusiveness.
I am a transitional resident in New Zealand. Does that affect selling property in India?
Indian tax applies regardless. New Zealand tax on the foreign gain or income may be exempt during the transitional period, so timing can matter. Check with a New Zealand tax adviser.
Can I give up my share in family property in India from New Zealand?
Yes, by a registered relinquishment deed executed in India by your attorney holder under an apostilled power of attorney that specifically authorises it.
My family left India via Fiji generations ago. Am I eligible for OCI?
Possibly. Eligibility extends to great-grandchildren of a person who was or could have been an Indian citizen in 1950, if the lineage can be documented.
How long does courier to India take from New Zealand?
Typically five to seven working days by international courier. Allow for this when planning a registration date.
Can I register my marriage in India for a New Zealand partnership visa?
Yes. Marriage registration and an apostilled certificate can be arranged around your travel dates.