Apostille Documents Singapore | Notary Public Singapore

What is an apostille?

In Singapore, an Apostille is a certificate issued under the Apostille Convention, which certifies the origin of public documents. It is affixed to original documents to verify their legitimacy and authenticity, making them acceptable in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. The Apostille Act 2020, which came into force on September 16, 2021, replaced the traditional multi-stage legalisation of documents Singapore process with a simplified one-step process, saving time and costs for users requiring documents to be produced overseas. The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) is the authority in Singapore responsible for issuing Apostilles onto all documents requiring legalisation. The SAL will affix an Apostille Certificate on every document that requires legalisation, and the fee for this service is found on their website. The Apostille simplifies the process of using public documents in foreign countries and is particularly useful for documents such as marriage certificates, educational certificates, birth and death certificates, passports, and identity cards. 

*This process is only for Public documents issued by Singapore.

* It is good to note that sometimes, just getting the SAL to Apostille may not suffice. At times, the receiving party may require the document to be notarised by a Notary Public as well as to get it Apostille by SAL. In such situations, you should approach a Notary Public. 

What is the purpose of Apostille?

The purpose of the apostille in Singapore is to simplify the process of legalising documents for use abroad. This is useful for individuals or businesses who frequently need to submit official documents overseas, such as for business transactions, education purposes, or immigration applications.

The Apostille Convention, also known as the Hague Apostille Convention, has 126 member countries as of January 2024. Some of the countries that are part of the Apostille Convention include the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, South Africa, and many others. The Convention simplifies the process of authenticating public documents for use in foreign countries by replacing the traditional legalisation process with a single formality – the issuance of a certificate called an Apostille. This Apostille is recognized by all member countries, eliminating the need for further certification by the destination state. The full list of member countries can be found on the official website of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. In our latest blog post, “The Difference between Apostille and Notarised in Singapore,” we break down everything you need to know.

What documents can Apostille be applied to?

Apostille can be applied to a wide range of documents including birth certificates, marriage certificates, educational transcripts, and commercial documents. It serves as a guarantee that the document is genuine and has been issued by a recognized authority.

In Singapore, the apostille is recognized by over 100 countries that are parties to the Hague Convention. This includes popular destinations for business and education such as the United States, China, Australia, and European countries.

How to obtain an Apostille in Singapore?

To obtain an Apostille in Singapore, you can follow these steps:

Submit an online request at the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) website: https://legalisation.sal.sg/ 1.

Make the payment online using Visa or MasterCard.

Make payment of the fee.

The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) is the authority in Singapore responsible for issuing Apostilles onto all documents requiring legalization. After the Apostille is affixed, any recipient of the Apostille certificate will be able to search and verify the authenticity of the document via the search register at https://legalisation.sal.sg/AuthenticationCert/Search.

There is no requirement to be personally present at SAL for your documents to be apostilled. If you are overseas, a proxy can be appointed to complete the authentication process on your behalf, and no authorization letter is required.

Looking for a reliable and authentic Singapore Apostille document service provider near you?

We are here to help you with this. Notary Services Singapore will help you with the complete procedure, including apostille services in Singapore, so that you don’t have to get yourself stuck in complicated document authentication procedures. We will make the procedure hassle-free for you and quick.

All you need to do is get an appointment, bring your documents, and get the authentication and Apostille or Legalisation done expeditiously.