Signing the Vakalatnama in Australia

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Suresh is a party to a property dispute in a court in Gujarat, and his advocate there needs his authority to appear for him. The advocate emails a Vakalatnama with his details already filled in, but Suresh lives in Liverpool and can't attend court.

If you're in Australia, the Vakalatnama you sign for a court in India needs a notary public. Let's look at what's involved.

Appointing a lawyer in India - Vakalatnama

If you're involved in legal proceedings in India and you need to appoint a lawyer to represent you and plead your case in the courts, your lawyer will probably ask you to sign a Vakalatnama.

The Vakalatnama is essentially evidence of your authority for your lawyer (generally referred to being your 'attorney') to act on your behalf, appear in the court on your behalf, prepare and file documents on your behalf and do all things generally required to represent you in court and in those legal proceedings.

Although we provide you with an example below, generally your lawyer should prepare the Vakalatnama for you (including all of the details rather than just provide you with a blank form) for your signature. If you are in Australia but you need to send the Vakalatnama to India, you will need to have your signature witnessed by a notary public and the notary public will need to notarise your document accordingly.

Often the wording used in the Vakalatnama will be as follows:

KNOW ALL to whom these present shall come that I/We [your name] the above named [your role in the litigation] do hereby appoint (herein after called the advocate/s) to be my/our Advocate in the above noted case authorized him :-

1. To act, appear and plead in the above-noted case in this Court or in any other Court in which the same may be tried or heard and also in the appellate Court including High Court subject to payment of fees separately for each Court by me/ us.
2. To sign, file verify and present pleadings, appeals cross objections or petitions for execution review, revision, withdrawal, compromise or other petitions or affidavits or other documents as may be deemed necessary or proper for the prosecution of the said case in all its stages.
3. To file and take back documents to admit and/or deny the documents of opposite party.
4. To withdraw or compromise the said case or submit to arbitration any differences or disputes that may arise touching or in any manner relating to the said case.
5. To take execution proceedings.
6. The deposit, draw and receive money, cheques, cash and grant receipts thereof and to do all other acts and things which may be necessary to be done for the progress and in the course of the prosecution of the said case.
7. To appoint and instruct any other Legal Practioner, authorizing him to exercise the power and authority hereby conferred upon the Advocate whenever he may think it to do so and to sign the Power of Attorney on our behalf.

And I/We the undersigned do hereby agree to ratify and confirm all acts done by the Advocate or his substitute in the matter as my/our own acts, as if done by me/us to all intents and purposes.

And I/We undertake that I/we or my/our duly authorized agent would appear in the Court on all hearings and will inform the Advocates for appearance when the case is called.

And I/we undersigned do hereby agree not to hold the advocate or his substitute responsible for the result of the said case. The adjournment costs whenever ordered by the Court shall be of the Advocate which he shall receive and retain himself.

And I/we the undersigned do hereby agree that in the event of the whole or part of the fee agreed by me/us to be paid to the Advocate remaining unpaid he shall be entitled to withdraw from the prosecution of the said case until the same is paid up. The fee settled is only for the above case and above Court. I/We hereby agree that once the fee is paid. I/we will not be entitled for the refund of the same in any case whatsoever. If the case lasts for more than three years, the advocate shall be entitled for additional fee equivalent to half of the agreed fee for every addition three years or part thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I/We do hereunto set my /our hand to these presents the contents of which have been understood by me/us on this [day] day of [month] [year].

Accepted subject to the terms of fees

We disclaim any liability arising in connection with the use of these documents or reliance on their contents either in original or altered form. We give no warranties and we make no representation in respect of the documents including, without limitation, any warranties as to quality, standard or legal efficacy.

Example: the solution

Suresh printed the Vakalatnama his advocate prepared and brought it to our office with his passport. Our notary public witnessed his signature and notarised the document, and Suresh sent the original back to his advocate in India.

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

General Power of Attorney for India - Our Disclaimer

Power of Attorney - What we do

From time to time, we receive calls from people who want to appoint someone in India (their attorney) to act on their behalf in India. Sometimes it's in relation to buying or selling a property or dealing on behalf of a bank, and sometimes it's in relation to court proceedings or even applying for a divorce. Regardless of the reason, in nearly all cases, they need a power of attorney and if they're signing that power of attorney outside of India then they need to have that power of attorney notarised - this is what we do.

As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we regularly notarise the power of attorney used in India. In fact, notarising the power of attorney used in India is probably one of the most common requests from our clients.

So what's involved? Generally, when clients ask us to notarise the power of attorney used in India, we basically witness them signing the power of attorney. They bring the power of attorney to us and sign it in our presence. We then sign the power of attorney confirming that they have signed it in our presence and place our seal on the power of attorney as well. That's all.

Sometimes our clients also need to sign the power of attorney in front of 2 witnesses. Sometimes they need to include their photograph (or the photograph of their attorney). Sometimes they need to include thumbprints (and I've even had a client who was asked to provide prints from all fingers and thumbs). Sometimes they must also have the power of attorney countersigned by the Consulate General of India as well. Whether or not you need those things as well, we can't say and you need to get advice from your lawyer in India - which brings me to the next part.

Power of Attorney - What we DON'T do

When it comes to the power of attorney used in India, we only notarise the power of attorney confirming that we have witnessed the person, who is giving the power, signing the power of attorney in our presence.

We do not:

• Draft or prepare the power of attorney. The power of attorney must be prepared in accordance with the laws in India, and therefore if you need a power of attorney to be valid in India you should have a lawyer in India prepare it for you. We regularly receive requests from clients for us to prepare the power of attorney for them, however we can only provide examples of what other clients have used in the past with the disclaimer that anyone using those examples should still obtain their own advice or use the examples at their own risk. We provide notary public services in Sydney, we do not provide legal advice on Indian law or legal drafting of Indian documents.
• Advise you of the requirements to sign the power of attorney. As stated previously, some clients are asked to provide thumbprints or have witnesses present or have the power of attorney countersigned by the Consulate General of India. We cannot provide you with this advice. If someone has asked you to sign a power of attorney to be used in India, you should ask them to also provide you with a list of requirements so that it is clear and easy for us to follow when notarising your document. At least then there is no confusion as to what they require you to do.
• Pre or post date the power of attorney. In all circumstances, we can only date the document on the day that you sign the document in our presence. If your document needs to be dated on another day, then you need to attend our office on that day - we cannot and do not mark the date on the power of attorney any other than the date on which the signing and witnessing occurred. 

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

What's the difference between a public notary and a justice of the peace?

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Ravi has a letter that needs to be witnessed before he sends it to his bank in India. A justice of the peace at his local library offers to sign it for free, but the bank's email specifically asks for a public notary.

A justice of the peace and a public notary can look interchangeable, but only one is recognised outside Australia. Let's discuss the differences.

In Australia, the most important difference between a public notary and a justice of the peace is that a public notary is recognised overseas (ie, outside of Australia) while a justice of the peace is generally only recognised in Australia. The role of a public notary can be best described as an 'international justice of the peace'.

You are probably reading this page because you have a document that you need to send to India, and someone has asked for you to have it witnessed or certified by a public notary. In that case, signing it or having it certified by a justice of the peace may not be sufficient and will mean that your document may not be accepted in India.

Other important differences between a public notary and a justice of the peace are:

• A public notary will generally charge a fee for their services while a justice of the peace cannot.
• A public notary must be a lawyer, but not all lawyers are or must be notaries while a justice of the peace does not have to be a lawyer.
• There are more justices of the peace than public notaries and generally justices of the peace can be easily found and more available than public notaries.

In our experience, most documents which are signed, witnessed or originate from Australia and sent to India will need to be notarised by a public notary but occasionally we are advised that documents can also be certified by a justice of the peace. For example, if you are signing documents to apply for a loan from a bank, the bank will generally need you to sign your application or the special/general power of attorney in front of us so that we can notarise it but that copies of other supporting documents (ie, identification, payslips, utility bills) can be certified by a justice of the peace. This may not apply in all cases, so before you engage our services or approach a justice of the peace, you should confirm the specific requirements.

Documents intended for India make up the clear majority of our public notary services. Accordingly, we are proud to announce that we frequently assist the local Indian community in Sydney to ensure that their documents are notarised and legally valid in India and maintain some of the lowest and most competitive rates available in Sydney.

Example: the solution

Ravi followed the bank's instructions and booked an appointment with our notary public instead. Our notary public witnessed him sign the letter and notarised it, so the bank in India could rely on it.

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Documents required for Indian Drivers Licence Verification (IDLV)

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Harpreet has driven in India for ten years and wants an Australian licence that recognises that experience, rather than starting again on a learners licence. Her passport shows her full legal name, but her Indian drivers licence records it differently.

Knowing which documents to gather before your appointment saves you a second trip. Let's go through what you need for the IDLV.

VFS links and resources — Updated July 2026. Links in this article have been updated to the resources listed in our July 2026 VFS update and the VFS India website for Australia. Use the relevant VFS checklist for current requirements. This note concerns links and resources; the rest of this article has not been comprehensively reviewed.

WARNING: from January 2015, VFS has changed its requirements and will no longer accept documents that have been authenticated. Documents must now be stamped with an APOSTILLE from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

What documents do you require for Indian Drivers Licence Verification (IDLV) in Australia?

One of our most requested notary public services relates to the Indian Drivers Licence Verification or IDLV.

If you are qualified to drive in India and you hold a valid and current Indian drivers licence, you might be able to apply for a drivers licence in Australia that acknowledges your driving history and past experience. If accepted by the authorities in Australia, it may also mean that you can be issued with a full drivers licence or a licence that matches your driving history rather than a learners licence or a probationary licence (ie, you do not have to 'start at the bottom').

In our experience, passports or other primary identification documents normally display a person's full legal name, however occasionally the Indian drivers licence may reduce that person's name to initials or omit 'family' names or father's name. There are various combinations of inconsistencies, but whatever the reason may be, any inconsistency will mean that the authorities in Australia will not recognise any prior driving history. Your name on all documents must be exactly the same.

If your name on your Indian drivers licence is different to your name on your passport or other primary identification documents then you need to follow the Indian Drivers Licence Verification (IDLV) process to confirm that you are the one and the same person.

For Indian citizens, the IDLV process to verify your Indian drivers licence is outlined by the VFS.

There are two options available to you IF your name on your Indian drivers licence and your passport are different.

Option 1 requires you to provide an affidavit from a court in India confirming that you are the one and the same person. That affidavit must also be notarised in India and attested by the Consulate or High Commission in India. Generally, this option is not practical if you live in Australia or otherwise are not present in India.

Option 2 of the VFS process involves documents prepared by a notary public to verify that you are one and the same person. As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney we regularly provide this service and have been doing so for many years and for countless number of clients/applications.

In order to complete the notarisation, you must:

1. Attend our office in person. Our office is located at Level 3, 87 Marsden Street, Parramatta.
2. Produce your original passport and your original Indian drivers licence.

You do NOT require this service if your name on your Indian drivers licence and your passport are EXACTLY the same. You can submit your application directly to VFS.

We will verify that you are the one and the same person and prepare a notary certificate attaching copies of your passport and your Indian drivers licence. Please be aware that we will compare you to your photograph appearing on your Indian drivers licence and your passport, and we will compare your date of birth and other personal details (such as father's/parents' names).

The second step in the process is to have the certificate authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). DFAT will authenticate any document that we have notarised by verifying our notary public's details and confirming that the documents (ie, the certificate, the passport and the drivers licence) have been properly notarised.

As a regular part of our notary public services, our clients enjoy the confidence and peace of mind knowing that we are able to assist them with the Indian Drivers Licence Verification process quickly and without hassle.

Example: the solution

Harpreet brought her original passport and Indian drivers licence to our office. Our notary public confirmed she is the person named in both, notarised the certificate with copies of the two documents, and arranged for DFAT to process it before she lodged her application.

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

NRI sponsorship and undertaking for Indian students

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Vikram's niece in Delhi has been offered a place at university. The university sends a sponsorship form asking Vikram to pledge an amount to cover her fees and expenses for the course, signed in front of a notary public, and the deadline is close.

Sponsoring a relative's studies often means signing the university's own form in front of a notary public. Let's discuss what's involved.

Sponsoring Indian students overseas

Do you have relatives overseas looking to enter university?

We are often asked by clients to assist them with sponsoring their relatives in India in applications for further education. The sponsorship form generally needs to be signed and witnessed by a notary public before being returned to the university.

Each university has its own form and own requirement, but generally the requirement is for the sponsor to pledge a specific amount to cover the students expected fees and expenses for the duration of the course.

As a leading provider of notary public services in Sydney, we offer low cost fixed fees and appointments on short notice so that you can avoid the delays and hassles when you are on a limited budget and in urgent need of assistance.

Example: the solution

Vikram booked an appointment at short notice and brought the university's form and his passport. He signed the sponsorship pledge in front of our notary public, who witnessed his signature and notarised the form. He then returned it to the university as its instructions required.

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Preparing for your notary appointment: documents going to India

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Raj lives in Sydney. His brother in Pune is selling a property the family owns, and their lawyer in Pune emails Raj a power of attorney to sign. The email asks for a photograph on the document and an apostille. Raj isn't sure what to bring to the notary.

If you're sending a signed document to India, you must usually sign it in front of a notary public in Australia. With a little preparation, your appointment can go ahead in one visit, without having to come back because something is missing. Here's how to prepare.

What does your recipient in India require?

Your recipient in India must tell you what they require. It's not up to us. For most of our clients, their recipient is a lawyer, bank or government office in India, and their instructions usually cover:

• Who prepares the document. A document for use in India, such as a power of attorney, should be prepared by your lawyer in India or by the organisation that will receive it. We witness your signature and prepare the notary certificate, but we don't draft the Indian document or advise on Indian law.
• Whether you need an apostille. More on the apostille below.
• How the document must be signed. For example, whether every page must be signed or initialled.

Can you get Indian stamp paper in Australia?

No. Indian stamp paper isn't sold in Australia. Your recipient must confirm whether a document printed on ordinary A4 paper is acceptable, and how any stamp duty will be dealt with when it arrives in India.

Do you need witnesses, photographs, copies of passports, or thumb impressions for documents going to India?

If your document needs additional witnesses, they must attend the appointment with you and bring their own photo identification. We can, but usually don't supply witnesses (it costs extra).

Some recipients also want a notarised copy of your passport sent with the document. If yours does, tell us when you book.

Some documents also need your photograph and thumb impression. Section 32A of India's Registration Act 1908 requires photographs and fingerprints for certain documents presented for registration, including property transfers. Your recipient will tell you whether it applies to your document. If it does, bring the photographs with you, and you'll place your thumb impression on the document in front of our notary.

Your photograph and thumbprint on the document is usually included as part of our normal notary services and notary certification, but the s32A form or a separate notary certificate is an additional cost.

Will your document need an apostille for India?

If it's going to a court, a registration office or another government body in India, expect to be asked for one. The apostille is the certificate that lets an Australian notarised document be officially recognised in India, as both countries are signatories to the Apostille Convention. Private recipients, such as family members, often don't ask for it.

Some recipients who don't know about the Convention ask for the document to be attested by the Indian High Commission or Consulate. That's a separate process, which we'll come back to in a later article.

Tell us when you book if you need an apostille. We'll notarise your document first and then obtain the apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

India Power of Attorney: Signing, Notarisation and Sending Process

This flowchart explains how to sign and notarise a Power of Attorney in Australia for use in India, including when an Apostille or Indian Consulate attestation is needed.

1. Get the Power of Attorney from your lawyer in India, or ask them for instructions if you do not have it yet.
2. Sign the Power of Attorney in front of the notary public, who witnesses your signature and notarises the document.
3. If Indian Consulate attestation is not required but an Apostille is, the notary arranges the Apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
4. If Indian Consulate attestation is required and you are an Indian citizen, send the Power of Attorney to VFS for attestation; if you are not an Indian citizen, the notary first arranges an Apostille from DFAT.
5. Send the completed Power of Attorney to your lawyer in India.

What to bring to your appointment

• Your current photo identification. Our notary must verify your identity before witnessing your signature.
• The original document, unsigned. You must sign it in front of our notary, not before you arrive.
• Your recipient's instructions. For example, an email from your lawyer, bank or the office in India receiving your document.
• Photographs, if your recipient wants them on the document.

We can photocopy documents in black and white on A4 in our office. Bring your own colour copy if colour is required, and our notary will check it against the original.

What next?

Example: the solution

Raj printed the power of attorney on A4 paper, left it unsigned and booked an appointment. He brought his passport, the printed document, a photograph and the lawyer's email. He signed in front of our notary, who notarised the power of attorney, and we arranged the apostille before Raj collected the document.

Ready to book? Request a quote for your documents going to India, or reach us on WhatsApp.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Verifying your Indian Drivers Licence in Australia

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Meena wants to convert her Indian drivers licence in Australia, but her name is spelt differently on her passport and on her licence. She's been told the conversion can't go ahead until the difference is explained.

When the names on your passport and your Indian drivers licence don't match, converting your licence can stall. Let's look at the simple fix.

WARNING: from January 2015, VFS has changed its requirements and will no longer accept documents that have been authenticated. Documents must now be stamped with an APOSTILLE from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Drivers licence from India

Converting your Indian Drivers Licence in Australia

Many clients have asked us how we're able to provide our low cost fixed fee notary public services to assist our Indian clients with converting their Indian Drivers Licence in Australia. The simple answer is that we're doing a lot of them, which means we know what to expect and how to deal with it in the most efficient way.



If there are inconsistencies between your name as it appears on your passport and your Indian Drivers Licence you may have difficulties in converting your Indian Drivers Licence in Australia. The solution to is fairly simple, and one option is to obtain verification from a notary public confirming that you are the one and the same person and have that verification authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We've already provided details of this process in a previous article:

http://india-notary.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/verifying-your-india-drivers-licence-if.html

We encourage you to check it out if you want to know more about that or the notary public services that we offer in relation to converting your Indian Drivers Licence in Australia.

Example: the solution

Meena came to our office with her passport and her licence, and our notary public verified that she is the one and the same person. DFAT then processed the verification, and Meena used it to go ahead with converting her licence.

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Power of Attorney - Authorising your family in India

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Sandeep is working in Sydney while his parents look after the family's affairs in Punjab. His bank in India keeps asking him to come in to sign and verify documents, and flying home each time is expensive and impractical.

Authorising a family member under a power of attorney can save you those trips home. Let's discuss this in further detail.

Indian Power of Attorney

Working or studying overseas

One of the biggest challenges of working or studying overseas is being able to practically and legally continue to manage your personal and financial affairs in India. In many cases, other people expect you to be present in India to provide instructions or to sign and verify documents, but if you are now working or studying overseas the prospect of traveling home just for that purpose is expensive and impractical.

Authorising a family member to look after your personal and financial affairs in probably the safest and easiest option, which avoids the need to travel back to India regularly. According to the law, authorisation must be in the form of a General Power of Attorney or a Special Power of Attorney prepared by your lawyer in India and signed by you. If you are not in India when you sign the Power of Attorney, then you need to sign the Power of Attorney in front of a notary public or similarly qualified person. You may also find that depending on the country, you may also need to have the Power of Attorney countersigned by the Indian High Commission or consular office after the Power of Attorney has been notarised.

If you reside in Sydney, Australia, and you want to appoint someone in India to look after your personal and financial affairs, then the Power of Attorney that you sign in Sydney must be notarised by a notary public in Sydney.



Examples of the General Power of Attorney used in India. We have prepared these examples of the General Power of Attorney based on similar documents commonly used by our clients for various dealings with banks in India.

Before using these documents you must check with your lawyer (or whoever you may be dealing with) in India that they are legally valid and will be acceptable for their purposes.

• Power of Attorney for India(DOCX)
• General Power of Attorney for India (DOCX)
• Power of Attorney for India (PDF)
• Basic Power of Attorney for India (PDF)

Completing the templates for the General Power of Attorney for India

The templates contained on this website are incomplete. If you download the WORD versions (see here), the template will prompt you to fill in the key details of the executant's name and address (ie, the person who is giving the power), as well as the attorney's name and address (ie, the person who is receiving the power), as well as the attorney's father's name. If you do not fill in these details while editing the WORD versions, the template will be left with blank spaces for you to complete before signing the General Power of Attorney.

Filling in all the details, whether on the computer or by hand, is important as the information required determine who is giving the power and who is receiving the power. If at any time you feel that the power granted by the General Power of Attorney is too wide, or not wide enough, then you should make your own changes to the document to properly reflect your wishes. However, you should check the proposed changes with your attorney and/or your lawyer in India to ensure that it is legally valid according to their laws as well as practically possible to fulfill.

If you provide powers that are too wide, you may be exposing yourself to too much risk in terms of an 'abuse of power' by your attorney, but if you make the powers too narrow you can potentially restrict and limit your attorney in being able to complete the tasks that you require them to complete on your behalf. Again, when in doubt, check with your lawyer in India before making the changes.

Disclaimer

We disclaim any liability arising in connection with the use of these documents or reliance on their contents either in original or altered form. We give no warranties and we make no representation in respect of the documents including, without limitation, any warranties as to quality, standard or legal efficacy.

Example: the solution

Sandeep's lawyer in India prepared a General Power of Attorney appointing his mother. He signed it in front of our notary public in Sydney, who witnessed his signature and notarised it. His lawyer told him it also had to be countersigned by the Indian consular office, so he arranged that before sending it home.

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

Completing the General Power of Attorney for India

By Ern Phang, Solicitor & Notary Public
Director of Phang Legal. Solicitor since 1998 and notary public since 2005.

Example: the situation

Priya has downloaded our Word template of the General Power of Attorney so her father in Chennai can deal with her bank there. Halfway through, she isn't sure whether the powers are too wide, and she has left blanks for her father's details.

A template is only a starting point: the details you fill in decide who gives the power and who receives it. Let's go through completing one.

India General Power of Attorney

A Guide to using the General Power of Attorney for India

In previous posts, we have provided templates for the General Power of Attorney used in India. These templates are based on forms commonly used by our clients with various dealings in India and should only be relied upon or used as a guide. You should still seek advice from your lawyer in India before using them.

The form suggested by these templates may vary from the form used in India. In India, the General Power of Attorney is commonly printed on foolscap paper bearing a bond or seal with duty payable (bonded paper). In Australia, the bonded paper is not readily available and A4 is the widely accepted paper size, not foolscap. Accordingly, the form suggested by these templates should only be used in the context of non-resident Indians or people who reside in Australia but need to send their General Power of Attorney to India.

Completing the templates for the General Power of Attorney for India

The templates contained on this website are incomplete. If you download the WORD versions (see here), the template will prompt you to fill in the key details of the executant's name and address (ie, the person who is giving the power), as well as the attorney's name and address (ie, the person who is receiving the power), as well as the attorney's father's name. If you do not fill in these details while editing the WORD versions, the template will be left with blank spaces for you to complete before signing the General Power of Attorney.

Filling in all the details, whether on the computer or by hand, is important as the information required determine who is giving the power and who is receiving the power. If at any time you feel that the power granted by the General Power of Attorney is too wide, or not wide enough, then you should make your own changes to the document to properly reflect your wishes. However, you should check the proposed changes with your attorney and/or your lawyer in India to ensure that it is legally valid according to their laws as well as practically possible to fulfill.

If you provide powers that are too wide, you may be exposing yourself to too much risk in terms of an 'abuse of power' by your attorney, but if you make the powers too narrow you can potentially restrict and limit your attorney in being able to complete the tasks that you require them to complete on your behalf. Again, when in doubt, check with your lawyer in India before making the changes.

Another example of a basic General Power of Attorney for India can be found here.

Disclaimer

We disclaim any liability arising in connection with the use of these documents or reliance on their contents either in original or altered form. We give no warranties and we make no representation in respect of the documents including, without limitation, any warranties as to quality, standard or legal efficacy.

Example: the solution

Priya filled in every blank, including her father's name and address and his father's name, then sent the draft to her lawyer in India, who narrowed the powers to her banking. Once her lawyer approved it, she signed it in front of our notary public, who witnessed her signature and notarised the power of attorney.

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

India General Power of Attorney

Example of General Power of Attorney

General Power of Attorney with wide powers

In response to numerous requests, we have prepared another precedent General Power of Attorney that can be used in India. Unlike previous versions, this power of attorney grants wide powers to the attorney to effectively "do all such acts, deeds, matters and things all at my cost and expense as my Attorney deems fit and proper."

For more information visit our other pages that deal with the issue of the Power of Attorney.

There are many kinds of power of attorney available for different situations. Be aware that this template for this kind of power of attorney may not be suitable to your situation. You should obtain advice from your lawyer in India before using this template.

Power of Attorney for India (DOCX)

We disclaim any liability arising in connection with the use of these documents or reliance on their contents either in original or altered form. We give no warranties and we make no representation in respect of the documents including, without limitation, any warranties as to quality, standard or legal efficacy.

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.

General Power of Attorney for India

Power of Attorney for India

Precedent examples of the General Power of Attorney

Examples of the General Power of Attorney used in India. We have prepared these examples of the General Power of Attorney based on similar documents commonly used by our clients for various dealings with banks in India.



Before using these documents you must check with your lawyer (or whoever you may be dealing with) in India that they are legally valid and will be acceptable for their purposes.

• WORD DOCUMENT
• PDF DOCUMENT

Disclaimer
We disclaim any liability arising in connection with the use of these documents or reliance on their contents either in original or altered form. We give no warranties and we make no representation in respect of the documents including, without limitation, any warranties as to quality, standard or legal efficacy.

To obtain a quote on our notary public services for India, please visit Request a notary quote.

About Us

This blog is maintained by Phang Legal, a boutique law firm with offices in Parramatta and Rouse Hill. We help clients from across Sydney and beyond with personal, professional and timely Legal Services, Notary Services and Apostille Services.

As a leading provider of notary services in Sydney, we have 1k+ Google Reviews (4.9) (updated July 2026) with many clients happy to share their experience in using our services.

Phang Legal — Parramatta
6/83 George Street
Level 3, 87 Marsden Street (from 1 March 2026)
Parramatta NSW 2150

Phang Legal — Rouse Hill
214/80 Main Street
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Call 02 9687 8885 | WhatsApp | Request quote

About the author

Ern Phang — Solicitor & Notary Public

This article was written by Ern Phang, a director of Phang Legal, a solicitor since 1998 and a notary public since 2005.

Ern has been a member of the Society of Notaries of NSW since 2005, a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries since 2013, and a member of the Law Society of New South Wales since 1998.

Ern regularly writes about his experiences as a notary public and the practical issues his clients face when sending documents from Australia to India and other countries all over the world.

Using information in this article
This article provides general information. Requirements, forms, fees and service arrangements may have changed since its original publication. Check the receiving organisation’s current requirements and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.