Guide
How notarisation works in Singapore
Everything you need to know about getting a document notarised: which official you need, the steps, the fees and how long it takes.
What is a Notary Public?
A Notary Public is an experienced lawyer, with at least 15 years in practice, appointed under the Notaries Public Act. Notaries certify copies of documents, witness signatures and confirm identities, and they attach a Notarial Certificate that organisations at home and abroad can rely on.
Notary Public or Commissioner for Oaths?
Go by what the organisation has asked you for, not just where the document is going.
- Asked for a notarised document, a Notarial Certificate or an apostille? You need a Notary Public. Foreign embassies, courts and companies usually ask for this, and so do some Singapore agencies, such as ICA.
- Asked for a statutory declaration, an affidavit or an oath? A Commissioner for Oaths can usually do this.
- Not sure? Check the wording in their instructions, or ask them. Most Notaries Public are also Commissioners for Oaths, so one firm can usually help either way.
The notarisation process
- 1
Check what you've been asked for
Read the instructions from the organisation, and note the country the document is for.
- 2
Book a notary
Contact the firm to explain what you need. Most notaries work by appointment.
- 3
Bring the originals and your ID
The notary must check your identity and see the original documents. Don't sign anything in advance.
- 4
Sign in front of the notary
The notary witnesses your signature or certifies your copies, then issues a Notarial Certificate.
- 5
SAL apostille
The Singapore Academy of Law adds an apostille to the Notarial Certificate. Your notary's office arranges this, and the S$87.20 fee is paid through them. At the SAL counter it's processed on the spot.
- 6
Embassy legalisation, if needed
If the country is not part of the Apostille Convention (for example the UAE, or Malaysia), that country's embassy in Singapore must legalise the document after the apostille.
Fees
Notary fees in Singapore are set by law under the Notaries Public Rules, so every registered notary charges the same statutory rates.
Key statutory rates
| Certify true copy (first page) | $10 |
| Each additional page | $5 |
| Witness signing: first signatory | $40 |
| Second signatory on the same document | $20 |
| Each additional signatory | $10 |
| Witness signing by a company | $150 |
| Notarial Certificate | $75 |
| SAL apostille (incl. 9% GST) | $87.20 |
Note: some notaries charge GST on their services. JCP Law LLC does not charge GST.
Singapore government documents can skip the notary
Documents issued by a Singapore government body, such as birth and marriage certificates, court documents and certificates from MOE, the universities, polytechnics and ITE, can go straight to SAL for an apostille. It costs S$10.70, and no notary is needed.
How long it takes
Signing in front of the notary usually takes one short appointment. The SAL apostille is usually done the same day. If the country needs embassy legalisation as well, allow extra time: each embassy sets its own processing time and fee, often several working days.