After notarisation
Apostille and Legalisation in Singapore
A notary's seal proves the document was properly executed in Singapore. It does not, on its own, make a foreign authority accept it. That takes one of two further routes, and which one applies is decided entirely by where the document is going.
Apostille
If the destination is party to the Hague Convention
The document is authenticated by the Singapore Academy of Law and receives an apostille certificate. Once it has one, it is ready to use in any other member country, with no embassy involvement at all.
Embassy legalisation
If it is not
The document is authenticated and then presented to the destination country's embassy or consulate, which applies its own stamp. Timings and fees are set by that country and vary a great deal.
Check before you start, not after. The order of these steps cannot be rearranged, and a document that has gone down the wrong route usually has to be redone from the beginning, including the fees already paid. If you are not certain which applies, ask the authority that wants the document, or ask us.
Apostille
Common questions
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a standardised certificate that allows a public document issued in one country to be accepted in another, without further legalisation. It exists because of the Hague Apostille Convention, which many but not all countries have joined.
Does my document need one?
Only if the destination country is party to the Convention. If it is not, the document goes to that country's embassy or consulate for legalisation instead, which is a different process with different timings and fees.
Some receiving authorities also ask for legalisation even where an apostille would be sufficient. Where the instructions you have been given say something specific, follow those and tell us.
Can you get the apostille for me?
Tell us the destination and we will set out the full chain, handle the notarial work, and tell you exactly what has to happen at each subsequent stage and how long it takes.
How long does the whole chain take?
The notarial appointment is minutes. Authentication and apostille are measured in working days, and embassy legalisation varies considerably by country. Give us your deadline at the outset and we will tell you plainly whether it is achievable.
Not sure which route your document takes?
Tell us the destination country and the authority asking for it. We will set out the chain and the total cost before anything is signed.