Documents originating from Singapore may need to be notarised and/or legalised before they can be used abroad. In Singapore, the process of getting the documents certified as true copies is called notarisation, apostille and legalisation. For certain situations, such as buying a property abroad, managing a company or property overseas etc., the certified true copy (CTC) of document(s) is necessary.
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Maintenance and update of the company’s registers and minute books
Administration, attendance and preparation of meeting minutes of directors and shareholders
Keeping up and remind directors about the deadlines for annual returns and any other filings required by the ACRA
Updating directors and shareholders on relevant changes in corporate regulations
Notarisation usually implies certifying a document as either an authentic copy of an original document, or as having been validly executed. Notarisation is conducted by a notary public, who is appointed under the Notaries Public Act. Notarizing a document can be proof for a non-witnesses that the document is legally binding.
A notary can provide the following services:
- Authorise documents which give someone authority to do something. “Authority” documents generally have to be signed in front of the notary public, so that he can certify that the document was properly signed and is therefore valid. An example of an “authority” document needing notarisation would be a Power of Attorney, which allows your representative to sell property abroad on your behalf.
- Issue a notarial / notarized certificate, which is a proof of its authenticity with multiple copies.
- Make a certified copy of an original document, which includes stamps of origin or embossing.
- Witness the signing of a document to ensure the integrity of the document is accurate.
- The notary public’s full name
- The notary public’s status as a notary public
- The notary public’s certification and attestation of the document that the notary public is being asked to notarize
- The place and date of issue of the document
The notary public will then inspect the document and the copy, and notarize it using his official stamp and signature.
It is mandatory for a notarial certificate to be issued for every document notarized. The notarial certificate will usually state:
It is mandatory for a notarial certificate to be issued for every document notarized. The notarial certificate will usually state:
Notarisation
Maintenance and update of the company’s registers and minute books
Administration, attendance and preparation of meeting minutes of directors and shareholders
Keeping up and remind directors about the deadlines for annual returns and any other filings required by the ACRA
Updating directors and shareholders on relevant changes in corporate regulations
An apostille certification differs from a notary authentication by the document’s jurisdiction. An apostilled document is usually used to verify papers of record, so they can be used in a foreign country. Typically, this kind of certification works in countries recognizing The Hague Convention (see the List of Hague convention countries). If the country or entity is not a member of Hague Convention, the documents may need to be legalised specifically for the country where they will be used.
The Singapore Academy of Law ("SAL") is the authority in Singapore responsible for Apostilles of all documents requiring legalisation irrespective of which country the document is destined to be used.
The procedure for obtaining the Apostilles is conducted online via https://legalisation.sal.sg/.
The Singapore Academy of Law ("SAL") is the authority in Singapore responsible for Apostilles of all documents requiring legalisation irrespective of which country the document is destined to be used.
The procedure for obtaining the Apostilles is conducted online via https://legalisation.sal.sg/.
Public documents will directly be certified by Apostille.
Private documents (e.g. non-government documents) will only be certified by Apostille after they have been referred to a Singapore Notary Public for notarisation.
Available for Apostille service:
Private documents (e.g. non-government documents) will only be certified by Apostille after they have been referred to a Singapore Notary Public for notarisation.
Available for Apostille service:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Business Registration Certificate
- NNC1 Incorporation Form
- A&A Articles of Associations
- NAR1 Annual Return
- ND2A Notice of Change of Director
- Company Particulars Report
- Certificate of Continuing registration
- Trust Deed
- Instrument of Transfer
- Power of Attorney
- Etc.
Apostille
Maintenance and update of the company’s registers and minute books
Administration, attendance and preparation of meeting minutes of directors and shareholders
Keeping up and remind directors about the deadlines for annual returns and any other filings required by the ACRA
Updating directors and shareholders on relevant changes in corporate regulations
Legalisation is a stricter procedure of certification, which makes the documents valid to be used for official purposes abroad. The examples can be admitting a document as evidence in a foreign court trial, or for immigration application.
Not all countries require the documents from Singapore to be legalised for court trial purposes. The United Kingdom and some of the Commonwealth countries do not require documents from Singapore to be legalised. Likewise, Singapore does not require the documents from Commonwealth countries to be legalised but only notarised.
Not all countries require the documents from Singapore to be legalised for court trial purposes. The United Kingdom and some of the Commonwealth countries do not require documents from Singapore to be legalised. Likewise, Singapore does not require the documents from Commonwealth countries to be legalised but only notarised.
Legalisation
The Legalisation Process
- Presenting the document to be legalised at the Consular Service Counter of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA);
- Bringing the document to the Embassy, High Commission or Consulate (Mission) of the country where the document is required for further legalisation.
The legalisation process is the same for the computer-generated government document. Before the MFA can legalise this type of document, it is necessary to get an endorsement by the relevant department that issued the document.
For example, the computer-generated copy of a Business Profile produced by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) is required to be certified by an ACRA official before the MFA can legalise it.
For documents that are not issued by the Singapore Government the process is as follows:
If you would like to use our services and want to know more details, contact us.
For example, the computer-generated copy of a Business Profile produced by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) is required to be certified by an ACRA official before the MFA can legalise it.
For documents that are not issued by the Singapore Government the process is as follows:
- Notarisation of the document,
- Taking the document to Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) for verification of the signature of the notary public who notarised the document,
- If it is a commercial document (e.g. a bill of sale), it can be certified by either the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, or any of the 4 Chambers of Commerce (International, Chinese, Malay or Indian).
- Getting MFA to legalise the document,
- Present the document to the Mission of the country where the document is to be sent for the actual legalisation certification. If the document is to be sent to a country that has no Mission in Singapore, MFA’s will provide the guidance.
If you would like to use our services and want to know more details, contact us.
First of all, it is important to identify whether the document is issued by the Singapore government.
For hard copy documents issued by the government, for instance, passport, marriage certificate, Singapore O-Level certificate etc., the process is as follows:
For hard copy documents issued by the government, for instance, passport, marriage certificate, Singapore O-Level certificate etc., the process is as follows:
