How notarisation works in Singapore

In Singapore, a Notary Public is a qualified lawyer appointed by the Singapore Academy of Law and authorised by the Ministry of Law. To be appointed, a lawyer must have at least 15 years of continuous legal practice.

Notary Publics are primarily used for documents that will be used outside of Singapore — for instance when submitting documents to foreign governments, courts, or institutions.

A Commissioner for Oaths can witness and authenticate documents for use within Singapore. A Notary Public has broader authority and is required when documents must be recognised internationally.

If your documents are being submitted to a foreign embassy, overseas court, or foreign company, you almost certainly need a Notary Public, not just a Commissioner for Oaths.

1. 1

   Contact a notary

   Get in touch to explain your requirements. For complex matters, an initial consultation may be needed.

2. 2

   Bring originals + valid ID

   The Notary Public must verify your identity. Bring your original documents — do not sign them in advance.

3. 3

   Sign in the notary's presence

   You sign the document in front of the Notary Public, who then affixes their signature and seal.

4. 4

   Notarial Certificate issued

   By law, the Notary Public must issue a Notarial Certificate for every document they attest.

5. 5

   SAL authentication

   Every Notarial Certificate must be authenticated at the Singapore Academy of Law. This takes 1–2 working days typically.

Notarial fees in Singapore are set by law under the Notaries Public Rules (Cap 208, R1). Every registered notary charges the same statutory rates — there is no difference in price between providers.

Note: some notaries charge GST on their services. JCP Law LLC does not charge GST.

Notarisation itself (signing in the notary's presence) is typically done by appointment within 1–2 working days. The mandatory SAL authentication adds another 1–2 working days, though expedited processing may be available.