How it works
How Notarisation Works in Singapore
Notarisation is rarely the whole job. For most documents leaving Singapore it is the first of three or four steps, and the order matters. Here is the sequence, so nothing about it is a surprise.
- 01
Tell us what the document is and where it is going
The destination decides everything that follows. Send the document, or a photograph of it, along with any instructions the receiving party gave you. We will tell you which officer it needs, what the full chain looks like, and what the whole thing will cost.
- 02
Come in and sign
The appointment itself takes a few minutes. Bring the original document unsigned, your passport, and anything the receiving party specified. We are at 6 Battery Road, #11-01A, beside Raffles Place MRT.
- 03
Authentication by the Academy of Law
Most documents going overseas need the notary's signature verified by the Singapore Academy of Law. This is a separate step with its own fee, and it takes working days rather than minutes.
- 04
Apostille, or legalisation at an embassy
If the destination country is party to the Hague Convention, the document receives an apostille and is then ready to use. If it is not, the document goes to that country's embassy or consulate for legalisation instead.
The most important thing to get right
Do not sign the document before the appointment. The notary is attesting that they witnessed you signing, so a form that arrives already signed has to be executed again. It is the most common reason a document takes two visits instead of one.
Tell us what you need notarised
Send the details and we will tell you what is required, what it costs, and how quickly it can be done. There is no charge for asking.