Notarisation
3 mins read
Sushrut Phadke
Founder's Office
If you live outside India and a bank or broker has asked for notarized or attested copies of your documents, you can get them done in the country you live in. The Reserve Bank of India lists six types of people abroad whose certification Indian banks can accept. You don't need to fly home or find an Indian notary.
This guide covers who those people are, whether you need them at all, and where to find them in the US, UK, UAE and Singapore.
What is notarization?
For NRI paperwork, notarization means a recognised third party checks your original documents and certifies that your copies match them. Indian banks and brokers need that certification because they can't see your originals when you apply from abroad.
The term covers two different acts, and the difference matters:
Certifying a copy. The attester compares your photocopy with the original and stamps it as a true copy. This is what Indian KYC asks for, for your passport, PAN, visa, OCI card and address proof.
Notarizing a signature. The notary confirms that you signed a document in front of them. This is used for affidavits, declarations and powers of attorney.
Indian institutions may call the first one notarization, attestation or certification. For bank and demat KYC, they mean the same thing: a copy certified as matching the original by someone on RBI's accepted list.
Why do Indian banks ask for notarized documents?
Indian banks can't see you or your originals when you apply from abroad. RBI's KYC rules require them to keep copies they can rely on, and a certification from one of the authorities above is how they show they checked. Full background: Why Do Indian Banks Require Notarized Documents?
Who can notarize documents for Indian banks and brokers?
Under the RBI (Commercial Banks – Know Your Customer) Directions, 2025, a bank can accept copies of a non-resident customer's documents if they are certified by:
An authorised official at an overseas branch of an Indian scheduled commercial bank (SBI London, Bank of Baroda New York, and so on)
A branch of an overseas bank that has a relationship with an Indian bank
A notary public in the country you live in
A court magistrate
A judge
The Indian Embassy or Consulate General in the country you live in
Brokers generally follow similar requirements. Zerodha, for example, accepts these attestation options and also offers NRIs in select countries the option to complete their notarisation online through Rupeeflo.
Rupeeflo also works with Indian banks and financial institutions to facilitate document notarisation for their NRI customers. Customers of Kotak, IDFC FIRST Bank, ICICI Direct and Zerodha, among others, can use Rupeeflo where the institution's process supports it. You can connect with a licensed notary over a video call and complete the notarisation remotely (in ~15 mins), without finding a local notary or visiting an Indian consulate.
The key point is that the bank or broker you're submitting the documents to has the final say on what it accepts. A certified copy from a UK solicitor, for instance, may be valid for UK purposes, but an Indian bank can still reject it if its KYC requirements call for certification by a different authority.
Do you actually need notarized documents?
Opening an NRI demat account.
Zerodha asks for notarized copies of your passport and Indian and foreign address proof only if your PAN isn't already KYC-verified as an NRI. You can check this on the CVL KRA website. If it shows "Validated" or "Registered" with your NRI status, you can skip notarization. More detail: When are notarised documents required to open an NRI demat account with Zerodha?
Converting a resident account after you move abroad.
Rules differ even inside one bank. HDFC Bank accepts self-attested documents by courier to convert a resident savings account to NRO. To convert a demat account by courier, it wants those same documents attested by a notary, the embassy or an overseas branch as well.
Opening an NRE or NRO account remotely.
Most banks ask for attested copies when you apply from abroad without visiting a branch. Bank-by-bank requirements are in NRE/NRO Account Notarization Requirements: SBI, HDFC, ICICI and More (2026).
Updating KYC.
Re-KYC requests and changes of address or status usually need attested copies when you send them from abroad. See How NRIs Can Update Their KYC.
Changing your mutual fund KYC to NRI status.
When you move abroad, your mutual fund folios need your KYC updated with the KRA and with your fund house or its registrar (CAMS or KFintech). If you send the documents from abroad, most ask for copies attested by one of the authorities above.
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Property papers, powers of attorney and affidavits.
These are legal documents rather than KYC copies, and India usually wants them apostilled or attested by the consulate. See Notarisation vs Apostille vs Affidavit: What India Actually Accepts.
The reason banks insist is simple: they can't see you or your originals. The attester's stamp is a third party confirming that the copy matches a real document, which is what RBI's KYC rules require them to have on file.
Where to get documents notarized in the US
The US has plenty of notaries, but finding one who can handle Indian bank or broker document requirements isn't always straightforward.
Your own bank. Many US banks notarize free for account holders, but availability varies by branch and most are set up primarily for signatures, not certifying copies for Indian institutions.
Shipping and print stores. Chains like The UPS Store offer walk-in notarization, but you may need to explain the specific certification your Indian institution requires.
The Catch
US notaries can notarize documents for use in India, but the exact act they perform matters. Check your Indian bank or broker's requirements before getting your documents notarised.
How Rupeeflo Can Help
Rupeeflo connects you with an authorized official who handles the notarisation online over a 15-minute video call. In the US, our notary slots are instantly available. Which means you can start the session as soon as you've paid, with little to no wait. Its digitally notarised documents are accepted by leading Indian banks and financial institutions including Zerodha, Groww, Angel One, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HSBC. Check if your bank or broker accepts Rupeeflo.
Where to get documents notarized in the UK
The UK has far fewer notaries than the US, and they are expensive to see for a handful of document copies.
Notaries public. They are regulated by the Faculty Office and accepted by Indian institutions, but fees start at around £100 plus VAT for a single personal document, and most work by appointment.
Solicitors. Many will certify copies more cheaply, but solicitors aren't on RBI's list of accepted attesters, so an Indian bank or broker can reject their certification.
Indian High Commission and consulates. London, Birmingham and Edinburgh offer attestation, but slots are limited and you'll need to travel to one of three cities.
The catch:
The Catch
The cheapest and most convenient option in the UK is often the one Indian institutions won't accept. Confirm your bank or broker takes the attester you're using before you pay for it.
Rupeeflo: Rupeeflo connects you with a licensed notary in the UK, so your documents carry the certification Indian institutions accept, without a solicitor's stamp that might be rejected or a trip to a notary's office. Its digitally notarised documents are accepted by leading Indian banks and financial institutions including Zerodha, Groww, Angel One, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HSBC. Check if your bank or broker accepts Rupeeflo.
More detail is in our guide to document attestation in the UAE.
Where to get documents notarized in UAE
The UAE has official notary services, but they are set up for documents used inside the UAE rather than for Indian KYC paperwork.
Ministry of Justice and emirate-level notaries. They are widely available, but they work in Arabic, so English documents may need legal translation first, which adds cost and time.
The Consulate General of India, Dubai, and the Embassy in Abu Dhabi. They are accepted by Indian institutions, but attestation runs through an outsourced centre that needs a booked appointment and an in-person visit during working hours.
Indian community attestation camps. Associations in the Northern Emirates run them on Sundays, but they are periodic and location-specific.
The catch:
The Catch
The Indian mission is usually the safer route for bank and broker documents, but it means an appointment, a trip, and a repeat visit if anything needs fixing.
Rupeeflo: If you need several documents certified, Rupeeflo shows you the total fee for all of them before you pay, so there are no per-act charges adding up at a lawyer's office. A licensed officer certifies everything in one 15-minute video call, with no consular slot to book. Its digitally notarised documents are accepted by leading Indian banks and financial institutions including Zerodha, Groww, Angel One, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HSBC. Check if your bank or broker accepts Rupeeflo.
Where to get documents notarized in Singapore
Singapore has accepted options, but each one involves a lawyer's office, a consular appointment, or being a customer of the right bank.
Notaries public. They are senior lawyers appointed under the Notaries Public Act, but they charge a regulated fee for each notarial act, so several documents add up quickly.
High Commission of India, Singapore. It is accepted by Indian institutions, but it attests through its consular application centre, by appointment only.
Indian bank branches. SBI, Bank of Baroda, Indian Overseas Bank and others can certify copies, but usually only for their own customers.
The Catch
All three are accepted, but none is quick if you're juggling work hours and several documents. Check what your bank or broker needs before booking, so one visit covers everything.
Rupeeflo: Rupeeflo skips the consulate appointment and the visit to the attestation centre. A licensed notary certifies your documents over a 15-minute video call, which you can join from home or the office. Its digitally notarised documents are accepted by leading Indian banks and financial institutions including Zerodha, Groww, Angel One, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HSBC. Check if your bank or broker accepts Rupeeflo.
Notary, consulate or online: which should you choose?
Option | Accepted by Indian banks and brokers | Typical wait | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Local notary public | Yes | Same day (US), days (UK) | Low in the US, high in the UK | Anyone near a notary who knows the wording |
Indian Embassy or Consulate | Yes | Days to weeks, depending on appointments | Moderate | UAE residents, anyone who prefers an Indian authority |
Overseas branch of an Indian bank | Yes | Depends on branch | Often free for customers | Existing customers near a branch |
Solicitor (UK) | Not on RBI's list, often rejected | Same day | Lower than a notary | Avoid for Indian KYC |
Online notarization with Rupeeflo | Yes, including Zerodha | Minutes (US), scheduled elsewhere | Shown upfront by country | Anyone who wants it done from home |
How to notarize documents online with Rupeeflo
Rupeeflo connects you with a licensed notary in your country over a live video call. The notary certifies your documents in the format Indian institutions expect. You can do it all from your phone:
Download the Rupeeflo app (you'll need an overseas mobile number).
Upload your documents: passport, PAN, Aadhaar, visa, OCI card, residence permit or overseas address proof.
See your price, based on your country and number of documents, and pay.
Join a 10 to 15 minute video session with the notary. In the US, you can start right after paying, with no appointment.
Download your notarized documents.
Rupeeflo currently covers the US, UK, UAE, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and much of Europe. Full walkthrough: How to Notarize Documents Online as an NRI with Rupeeflo (2026)
Notarize NRI Documents Online with Rupeeflo
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