1 April 2026 · 3 min read

Understanding statutory declarations

A statutory declaration is a signed statement made under oath. Here's what you should know before you sign one.

A statutory declaration is a written statement of fact that you sign and swear (or affirm) to be true, in front of someone legally authorised to witness it, typically a Commissioner for Oaths. It's not a court affidavit, but it carries similar legal weight: making a false declaration is a criminal offence in Singapore.

Common uses

Proving a change of name, marital status, or address.
Declaring loss of a document (a lost-passport declaration before replacement, for example).
Asserting facts for HDB, CPF, or immigration processes.
Supporting a sworn position in a commercial or family dispute.

What the process looks like

You (or a lawyer) draft the declaration: clear, factual statements, first-person.
You bring the draft plus photo ID to a Commissioner for Oaths.
You read and sign the declaration in their presence, confirming its truth.
They countersign, stamp, and record the declaration.

For declarations used inside Singapore, a Commissioner for Oaths is sufficient and cheaper. If the declaration is for a foreign authority, you need a Notary Public.

Fees are statutory: $25 for the first declaration signed in an occasion, $10 for each subsequent one. Complex drafting may attract a separate lawyer's fee. Ask your firm upfront.