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16 April 2026 · 4 min read

Apostille vs notarisation in Singapore: what is the difference?

People often confuse apostilles and notarisation. Here is how they differ, when you need each, and how Singapore handles them.

If you have been told to "get an apostille" or "get a document notarised" for overseas use, you are not alone in finding the terminology confusing. They are related but different, and what you need depends on which country your document is going to.

What is notarisation?

Notarisation is the act of a Notary Public certifying a document, typically by attaching a Notarial Certificate. In Singapore, the notary verifies that a copy is a true copy of the original, or that a document was signed in their presence. The SAL then authenticates the Notarial Certificate.

What is an apostille?

An apostille is a standardised certificate issued under the Hague Apostille Convention. It replaces the need for embassy legalisation when sending a document to another country that is also a member of the Convention. The apostille is attached to the document and confirms that the notary's signature and seal are genuine.

Singapore acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention in 2023. The Singapore Academy of Law now issues apostilles for notarised documents destined for other member countries.

When do you need which?

  • Document going to a Hague Convention country (e.g. UK, Australia, most of the EU, Japan, South Korea): notarisation + apostille from SAL. No embassy legalisation needed.
  • Document going to a non-Convention country (e.g. China, UAE, some Middle Eastern countries): notarisation + SAL authentication + embassy legalisation. No apostille applies.
  • Document staying in Singapore: usually just a Commissioner for Oaths is enough. No apostille or notarisation required.

How to get an apostille in Singapore

  • Have your document notarised by a Notary Public.
  • Submit the notarised document to SAL for apostille issuance.
  • SAL will issue the apostille, which is attached to the document.
  • Your notary firm can usually handle this on your behalf.

The cost for an apostille is the same as SAL authentication ($87.20). In practice, for Convention countries the apostille replaces the old SAL authentication sticker and the embassy legalisation step entirely, saving both time and money.

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