How to Courier Signed Loan Documents from the US, Canada, or UK to India

A step-by-step guide for students using GradRight’s refinancing process who need to send Power of Attorney (POA) and disbursement agreements to Indian lenders, from booking to delivery.

A note before you start: courier requirements, costs, pickup availability, and delivery timelines can vary by lender, destination, and courier service. Follow the specific instructions provided by your GradRight SPOC for your shipment rather than assuming every detail below applies identically to your case.

Why do Indian lenders need physical documents from students abroad?

Before an Indian lender can disburse your education loan, they require original signed copies of key legal documents. Depending on your lender, this may include your Power of Attorney (POA) only, or both your POA and disbursement agreements. These cannot be submitted digitally; they must arrive as physical originals at the lender’s Indian address.

For students already abroad, this means couriering a package from your current country back to India. The document count can range from under 10 pages to approximately 100 A4 pages depending on what your lender requires. GradRight coordinates the entire courier process end to end.

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Step-by-step: how the courier process works

Step 1: Fill out the booking form

The process begins with a courier booking form. You will need to provide:

• Sender details: your overseas address and contact number
• Receiver details: the Indian address and contact number of your designated recipient

Step 2: Share the completed form with your GradRight SPOC

Once completed, share the booking form with your GradRight SPOC. They coordinate directly with the courier company on your behalf, so you generally don’t need to contact FedEx yourself for booking.

Step 3: Receive a cost quotation

GradRight’s courier partner will generate a quotation in INR, inclusive of GST. The cost may vary depending on the final weight of your package and the destination city in India.

Step 4: Review the cost and make payment

Your SPOC will share the quotation with you along with a QR code for payment. Payment is made in INR.

Step 5: Docket preparation happens in parallel

While you review the quotation, GradRight requests the courier company to prepare your final docket. This keeps the process moving without waiting for sequential steps.

Step 6: Confirm your payment by email

Send a screenshot of your payment confirmation to your SPOC by email. Dispatch does not proceed without written payment confirmation; do not skip this step.

Step 7: Receive your AWB labels by email

Once the docket is ready, GradRight collects the Air Waybill (AWB) labels as a PDF and shares them with you by email. These labels contain your AWB number, which also serves as your shipment tracking number. Print the label, paste it on your package, and once your shipment is dispatched, use the same AWB number on the FedEx website to monitor your package’s journey in real time.

Step 8: Prepare and seal your package

• Place all required signed documents (POA only, or POA and disbursement agreements as required by your lender) in an envelope. Document count ranges from under 10 to approximately 100 A4 pages depending on your lender.
• Seal the envelope securely.
• Print one of the AWB labels from the PDF emailed to you and paste it clearly on the outside of the package.

Step 9: Choose your dispatch method

You have two equally convenient options:

• Home pickup: pickup is coordinated using the Pickup ID generated at AWB creation; your SPOC will share this with you and confirm how scheduling works for your booking.
• Drop-off in person: take the sealed package to your nearest FedEx drop-off location or FedEx centre, convenient if one is on your route to campus or work. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID (such as your passport) to complete the drop-off.

Step 10: Package is weighed at pickup or drop-off

FedEx will weigh the package at the time of collection. Packages over a certain weight threshold may incur additional charges under FedEx’s rate structure; your SPOC will flag the current threshold and any likely extra cost in advance so there are no surprises.

Delivery timeline

Estimated delivery: FedEx’s own published transit time for International Priority is generally 1-3 business days, though your total timeline also includes GradRight’s booking, quotation, and docket-preparation steps before dispatch. Ask your SPOC for the current end-to-end estimate for your specific route.

A note on courier choice: some students consider using USPS or other government-owned postal services as a cheaper alternative. Cost and time differences versus a courier like FedEx vary by origin country and destination, so this isn’t a fixed rule; ask your SPOC for a current comparison if you’re weighing this option. For time-sensitive loan disbursement documents, a tracked courier service is generally the safer choice.

Full process at a glance

ETA: check with your GradRight SPOC for the current end-to-end estimate, which includes both FedEx’s published transit time and GradRight’s own processing steps.

Related guides

• Fixed vs Variable Rate Student Loan Refinancing
• Does Refinancing Student Loans Hurt Your Credit Score?
• Refinanced Student Loans and Forgiveness: What Indian Graduates in the US Must Know