Stamps for papers used abroad
SAL Apostille Singapore
Sending a paper overseas? An SAL apostille in Singapore proves the stamp or signature on it is real. Some Singapore public documents go straight to SAL. Private papers need a notary public first.
Since 1 October 2019, every paper a Singapore notary signs is also authenticated by SAL. For Apostille countries, that same SAL step gives you the apostille. We arrange it in one order.
- Notary and SAL steps arranged together
- We check what your country wants
- Fixed quote before you pay anything
- Company Registered In SingaporeUEN 202215635R, easy to verify
- Collect At Suntec Tower OneOr choose courier delivery instead
- Scanned Copy For Your RecordsPDF of the stamped set kept with you
- Spelling Checked Before StampsFixes after SAL take much longer
Two SAL Routes To An Apostille For Your Papers
An apostille is a certificate from the Singapore Academy of Law, called SAL. It tells another country that the signature or stamp on your paper belongs to a real Singapore official, such as a notary public.
There are two routes. A Singapore-issued public document, such as a Singapore birth, marriage or court document, can go to SAL directly. A private paper, like a power of attorney, a degree copy or a translation, must be notarised by a Singapore notary public first.
Since 1 October 2019, every document a Singapore notary public notarises must also be authenticated by SAL, at S$87.20 per notarial certificate. For Apostille countries, this same SAL step works as the apostille. So every notary translation we prepare includes SAL, even for use in Singapore, and our ICA translation Singapore service builds it into the notarisation price.
Your Apostille Pack
- Your paper with the notary's stamp, if one is needed
- The SAL apostille or authentication certificate
- A translation, if your country needs one
- A scanned PDF copy for your records
- Collection in Singapore or courier delivery
Notarised And Apostilled Papers For Study, Marriage And Work Abroad
A paper needs an apostille only when it leaves Singapore. Below are six common moments when people ask us for an apostille notary service. Not on the list? Send a message, and we will explain what applies.
Check my documentsStudying At A University Abroad
A university overseas may ask for your degree or transcript with a notary stamp and an apostille before it accepts your application.
Marrying In Another Country
Many countries want a birth certificate or a single-status paper with an apostille. A Singapore birth or marriage certificate can usually go to SAL directly, with no notary.
Sending Papers To China
If an office in China wants Chinese, we can translate documents into Chinese for China first. Ask that office which stamps it accepts.
Selling Or Renting Property
A power of attorney lets someone overseas act for you. It is a private paper, so a notary signs first, then SAL authenticates it and adds the apostille.
Business Deals Overseas
Company papers, like a board letter or an ACRA profile, may need the notary and SAL steps before a bank or partner abroad accepts them.
Taking A Job Abroad
A new employer overseas may ask for your certificates or reference letters with an apostille as part of your work visa file.
Apostille Translation Into Chinese, Spanish, French And More
Papers leaving Singapore often need a translation into the language of the receiving country as well as an apostille. Apostille translation work most often goes into the eight languages below, each tied to its own common overseas paperwork.
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Chinese
Singapore degree certificates, ACRA company profiles and powers of attorney put into Chinese for offices in mainland China
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Spanish
Singapore birth and marriage certificates and police clearance letters translated into Spanish for Spain, Mexico or Colombia
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French
Marriage certificates, certificates of no impediment and company papers put into French for France or French-speaking Africa
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German
Birth certificates, degree certificates and corporate resolutions translated into German for marriage registries and companies in Germany
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Italian
Singapore birth and marriage records translated into Italian for comune registration and Italian citizenship by descent files
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Portuguese
Degree certificates, transcripts and police letters translated into Portuguese for work visas and study in Brazil or Portugal
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Japanese
Company registry extracts, board resolutions and powers of attorney translated into Japanese for banks and offices in Japan
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Korean
Singapore degree certificates, employment letters and marriage certificates translated into Korean for visas and registration in South Korea
Native translators work in more than 100 other languages as well, so tell us the destination country and send a photo for a fixed route and quote.
Apostille Steps In Singapore From First Photo To Finished Paper
Every apostille job follows a fixed order, because each stamp checks the one before it. Most translations are ready in 1–2 working days, and the SAL step then adds a few more working days.
Need it faster? Ask for same-day express on WhatsApp.
- Day 1
Send A Photo Of The Paper For Apostille
Share a clear photo of your paper on WhatsApp and name the country that will receive it. The country decides whether an apostille is enough or an embassy stamp is also needed.
- Day 1–2
Add A Translation If The Country Needs One
If the receiving country wants your paper in its own language, a translator prepares the translation first.
- Day 2
Check Names In The Apostille Translation Draft
You check a draft. Names, dates and numbers must match your passport before anything moves to the notary.
- Next
Have A Notary Sign Before The Apostille
Private papers and translations go to a Singapore notary public. A Singapore birth or marriage certificate skips this step. For a copy of an English original, our certified true copy service covers it.
- After the notary
Submit The Paper To SAL For Apostille
We submit the paper to SAL. SAL checks the notary's or official's signature, then issues the apostille, and you get the finished paper plus a scanned copy. For a country outside the Apostille Convention, SAL issues an authentication certificate and that country's embassy legalisation comes next.
Notarisation, SAL Apostille And Embassy Legalisation Compared
People often ask if attestation and notarisation are the same. Not quite. Each word names a check by a different office. This table shows which route fits your paper and the country it is going to.
| Your paper | Steps needed | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore public document for an Apostille country | SAL apostille directly, no notary | Singapore birth, marriage or court document |
| Private paper or translation for an Apostille country | Notary public, then SAL, which adds the apostille | Power of attorney, degree copy, translation |
| Notarised translation for use in Singapore | Notary public, then SAL authentication | ICA and other Singapore offices |
| Any paper for a non-Apostille country | Notary if private, SAL, then that country's embassy | Countries outside the Apostille Convention |
| Embassy translation | The embassy of the country that issued the paper | Another route ICA accepts; check the embassy's website |
Some offices want the translator to swear an oath, and then we can add a translator's affidavit before a notary.
Apostille Fee In Singapore And What Decides The Cost
For a private paper, notarisation including SAL authentication starts from S$162.20 per document. For a Singapore-issued public document, the SAL fee starts from S$10.70 per document, plus our handling, quoted. You see the total first.
What decides your final price
Number Of Documents
Notary and SAL charges are per document, not per page. Three separate papers mean three notary charges and three SAL charges.
Translation Pages
If your paper needs translating, that part is priced per page. Our translation fees explain how page prices are worked out.
Certified True Copy
If the notary certifies a copy instead of your original, the certified true copy (notary + SAL) starts from S$172.20 per document.
Paper Type And Country
A Singapore birth or marriage certificate going straight to SAL costs far less. A country outside the Apostille Convention may also want an embassy stamp, with its own fee.
Express Handling
Express work adds 50%. It speeds up our part of the job, but SAL and embassy timings stay outside our control.
Delivery
Courier delivery starts from S$15. Sending a hard copy overseas is quoted separately, based on the country.
quote
Starting from
S$10.70
per document
Notarisation + SAL authenticationfrom S$162.20 / document
Certified true copy (notary + SAL)from S$172.20 / document
Express same day+50%
Courier hard copyfrom S$15
Starting prices. Your exact price comes in one fixed quote before you pay.
Get my exact priceIncluded In Every SAL Apostille Order
Apostille orders include a fixed quote with every SAL fee shown. Any translation is done by a native translator, names follow your passport, and queried wording is fixed free. WhatsApp us for a sample set with private details removed.
See a sample translation first
Want to check our work before you order? Ask us on WhatsApp for a past translation of the same kind of document, with all personal details removed.
What every order includes
- A draft for you to check
- Names matched to your passport
- Free fix if ICA asks for a change
- Notarised PDF for upload
Frequently Asked Questions
01How much does it cost to apostille a document, all in?
It depends on your paper. A Singapore birth or marriage certificate can go to SAL directly, with an SAL fee from S$10.70 per document plus our handling. A private paper needs notarisation including SAL authentication, from S$162.20 per document.
02Does my notarised translation for ICA include SAL?
Yes. Since 1 October 2019, every document notarised by a Singapore notary public must also be authenticated by SAL. This step is included in our notarisation price. The apostille side of it only matters for papers going overseas.
03Can SAL apostille a document issued outside Singapore?
No. SAL only checks Singapore signatures, such as a Singapore notary's. A notary here can notarise a translation or a copy of your foreign paper, and SAL can then authenticate or apostille that. Some countries prefer stamps from the issuing country, so ask the receiving office first.
04Can SAL apostille my Singapore birth or marriage certificate directly?
Yes. Singapore-issued public documents, such as birth, marriage or court documents, can go straight to SAL without a notary. The SAL fee starts from S$10.70 per document, plus our handling, which we quote first.
05Does China accept an apostille from Singapore?
China joined the Apostille Convention in 2023, so many offices there now take an apostille. Rules can still differ by city and office. Before you order, ask the office in China that will receive the paper what it accepts.
06Should the paper be translated before or after the apostille?
The receiving country decides. Some want the translation done first, so the notary and SAL cover both. Others want the apostille first and then a translation of everything. Ask them, and we follow their order.
07What if my country is not in the Apostille Convention?
Then SAL issues an authentication certificate instead of an apostille. After that, the country's embassy usually adds its own legalisation stamp. We explain this before you pay, so the timeline is clear.
08What happens if I find a spelling mistake after the stamps?
Fixing a mistake after the notary and SAL steps means repeating those steps and paying for them again. That is why we ask you to check names, dates and numbers in the draft first.
09How long does an SAL apostille take in Singapore?
For a private paper, the notary step comes first, then SAL, and together they usually add a few working days. A Singapore public document going straight to SAL is often quicker. We confirm the full ready date with your quote.
10Can SAL apostille a document issued outside Singapore?
Not directly. A foreign birth or marriage certificate is normally apostilled in the country that issued it. What SAL can apostille here is a Singapore notarial act, such as a notarised translation or a notary's certified true copy of that paper.
11Do I need to be in Singapore to get an SAL apostille?
No. You can courier the original papers to us, and we arrange the notary and SAL steps. Courier within Singapore starts from S$15, and overseas delivery is quoted separately. Allow extra days for shipping in both directions.
Get Your Apostille Notary Quote With One WhatsApp Message
Where is your paper going? Send a photo and name the country. We will list the stamps you need, leave out the ones you do not, and send a fixed quote.