Notarised Translation Singapore
"Notarised translation" is one of the most misunderstood terms in Singapore's immigration and legal landscape. Many people use it interchangeably with certified translation. They are different things — and confusing them costs time and money. This page explains exactly what each level means, when you need each one, and what the mandatory SAL authentication step introduced in October 2019 changed for everyone.
Certified translation, notarised translation, SAL authentication — they are not the same thing. Here is what each one is.
The confusion starts because all three involve translation — but they answer different questions. "Is this translation accurate?" (certification). "Is the translator a real, credentialed person?" (notarisation). "Is the Notary Public a real, licensed notary?" (SAL authentication). Singapore authorities that require notarisation need all three answers confirmed.
Certified Translation
A translation document accompanied by a signed certification statement from a qualified translator. The statement confirms the translation is accurate, complete, and a true rendering of the original. The translator's name, qualifications, signature, and date are included. No third party is involved.
What it answers: Is this translation accurate? Is the translator qualified?
Notarised Translation
A certified translation where the translator's signature and credentials are additionally verified by a Singapore Notary Public — a senior lawyer appointed by SAL who must have at least 15 years' experience. The Notary Public attaches a Notarial Certificate bound with a red ribbon and their official seal. This introduces an independent third-party verification of the translator's credentials.
What it answers: Can we verify that a real, qualified person actually signed this translation?
Notarised + SAL Authenticated
Since 1 October 2019, every notarised document must also be authenticated by the Singapore Academy of Law at Coleman Street, which verifies the Notary Public's credentials and affixes an official Apostille. A notarised document without SAL authentication is considered invalid — not just incomplete.
What it answers: Is the Notary Public who signed the certificate currently licensed and compliant with Singapore law?
Why Singapore introduced mandatory SAL authentication on 1 October 2019 — and why it matters for your documents
SAL introduced mandatory authentication to stop fraudulent notarial certificates
Before 1 October 2019, a notarised document could circulate with no way to quickly verify whether the notary who signed it was actually licensed at the time of signing. SAL's CEO put it directly: "The new rule will ensure that all notarised documents originate from appointed notaries who comply with the Notaries Public Rules."
Since 16 September 2021, SAL also joined the Hague Apostille Convention — replacing the old two-step Authentication Certificate + legalisation process with a single Apostille. The Apostille is now the gold standard for document acceptance across 126 member countries. It carries a unique serial number and can be verified online through SAL's register.
SAL Counter location: The Adelphi, 1 Coleman Street, #08-06, Singapore 179803. No appointment needed — authentication is processed on-the-spot over the counter. A representative may submit on your behalf. Operating hours: weekdays during business hours.
China and Vietnam are not Apostille Convention members. The SAL Apostille is accepted in all 126 Hague Convention countries — but China and Vietnam are not among them. If your document is destined for use in China or Vietnam (for example, a Singapore-issued document being submitted to a Chinese government body), the SAL Apostille alone is not sufficient. The document must additionally be legalised through the Chinese or Vietnamese embassy in Singapore. We can advise on this additional step if your situation requires it.
Which level does your document actually need?
The most common and expensive mistake is getting a notarised translation when certified translation was sufficient — or getting only a certified translation when notarisation was required. The table below reflects standard Singapore authority requirements as of 2025.
| Document / Submission | Authority | Certified Only | Notarised | SAL Apostille |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate (for PR application) | ICA | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Marriage Certificate (for Dependent Pass) | ICA | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hukou or Koseki (for PR) | ICA | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Divorce Certificate | ICA · ROM | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Police Clearance (for PR) | ICA | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Academic Degree / Transcripts | MOM (EP application) | ✓ | Not required | Not required |
| Employment Contract | MOM · Employment Tribunal | ✓ | Not required | Not required |
| Marriage Certificate (for ROM registration) | ROM | ✓ | Case-by-case | Case-by-case |
| Foreign document in court evidence | Singapore Courts | ✓ | ✓ | Often required |
| Affidavit in foreign language | Singapore Courts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power of Attorney | Courts · Lawyers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Business Contract (for ACRA submission) | ACRA | ✓ | Not required | Not required |
| Driving Licence (for LTA conversion) | LTA | ✓ | Not required | Not required |
| Document destined for use abroad | Foreign authority | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (Apostille for 126 countries) |
When in doubt: ICA and MOM do not always provide clear guidance on which level is required for a specific document in a specific application. This varies by application type, applicant nationality, and document category. Email [email protected] with your document and your authority — we will confirm the exact requirement before you spend anything.
What notarised translation actually costs in Singapore
The notarisation + SAL chain involves three separate parties charging three separate fees. Understanding the cost structure upfront helps you plan your document preparation budget without surprises.
| Service | Provider | What It Covers | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Translation | call2translate.com | Translation + ISO 17100 review + certification statement. Delivered digitally. | Quoted per document |
| Notarisation | Notary Public (Singapore lawyer) | Notarial Certificate (red ribbon + seal). Statutory fee per notarial act. Required for every document being notarised. | S$75 per notarial act |
| SAL Authentication (Apostille) | Singapore Academy of Law | SAL Apostille affixed to Notarial Certificate. Verifies the Notary Public's credentials. Issued on-the-spot at Coleman Street. | S$87.20 per cert (incl. GST) |
| Embassy Legalisation (if applicable) | Relevant embassy in Singapore | Required ONLY for documents destined for non-Apostille countries (China, Vietnam and others). Additional step after SAL. Separate fee applies per embassy. | Varies by embassy |
We coordinate all three steps — translation, notarisation, and SAL authentication — so you deal with one provider and one point of contact. For most documents, we can handle the complete process from receipt of your document to a SAL-apostilled package ready for ICA submission. Email us for a complete quote covering all three steps together.
Which documents come in for notarised translation in Singapore
Based on the actual volume of documents we handle — these are the most common notarisation requests, and the ones where errors are most costly to correct later.
Birth Certificates (All Nationalities)
The most frequently notarised document in Singapore. Chinese 出生证明, Malaysian Sijil Kelahiran, Indonesian Akta Kelahiran, Japanese 出生届受理証明書 — all need the full chain for ICA. The document format and complexity varies enormously by country and era.
Marriage Certificates
Chinese 结婚证 (both booklets), Sijil Perkahwinan, Surat Nikah, Japanese 婚姻届受理証明書. For Dependent Pass and PR applications where ICA needs to verify the marriage relationship. ROM may also require notarisation for foreign marriage certificates in Singapore registration proceedings.
Household Registers
Chinese Hukou (户口本) and Japanese Koseki (戸籍謄本) — both multi-page family registers with complex structures. These require notarisation for ICA PR applications where family relationships must be formally established and authenticated.
Police Clearance
无犯罪记录 (Chinese), SKCK (Indonesian), 범죄경력조회서 (Korean) — notarised for ICA PR applications. Police clearance certificates verify criminal history and are a standard ICA requirement for most PR applicants. Same-day translation; notarisation adds 1 to 2 days.
Powers of Attorney & Affidavits
Legal documents used in Singapore court proceedings where the original is in a foreign language. Courts require that affidavits be sworn before a Notary Public and authenticated — the notarised translation is the court-accepted version of the foreign-language document.
Documents for Use Abroad
Singapore documents being submitted to foreign government bodies, embassies, or educational institutions typically need notarisation + SAL Apostille. The Apostille makes them valid in all 126 Hague Convention member countries — without needing separate consular legalisation in each country.
From document to SAL Apostille — the complete process
You send us your document — we confirm what is needed
Email the document to [email protected] with the authority you are submitting to. We confirm whether you need certified translation only, notarisation, or the full SAL chain — and give you a complete quote covering all steps. No guesswork.
Translation by a subject matter specialist (ISO 17100)
Your document is translated by a qualified specialist and independently reviewed by a second linguist. The certified translation — with the full ISO 17100 certification statement — is the foundation. Everything built on top of it starts here.
Notarisation by a Singapore Notary Public
We coordinate the Notary Public engagement. The Notary Public witnesses the translator's credentials and attaches a Notarial Certificate — a formal certificate bound with a red ribbon and official SAL-issued seal, confirming the certification. The statutory fee of S$75 per notarial act is charged at this stage. The Notary Public is a licensed Singapore lawyer with at least 15 years' experience.
SAL authentication — Apostille affixed at Coleman Street
The notarised document is taken to the SAL counter at The Adelphi, 1 Coleman Street. SAL verifies the Notary Public's credentials against their register and affixes an Apostille — a standardised international authentication certificate with a unique serial number, verifiable online. Fee: S$87.20 incl. GST. Processed on-the-spot. No appointment needed.
Delivery — complete document set, ready for ICA
You receive the complete package: the certified translation, the Notarial Certificate (red ribbon and seal), and the SAL Apostille. This is the document set ICA and other Singapore authorities will accept. For documents destined for China or Vietnam, we advise on the additional embassy legalisation step if required.
Notarised translation Singapore — frequently asked questions
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Email your document and the authority you are submitting to. We confirm what level is actually required and give you a complete quote — translation, notarisation, and SAL Apostille all included.
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