Birth Certificate Notarisation Services in Singapore

Birth Certificate Needed Abroad for a Visa, PR or School Place?

A birth certificate is often the first document an overseas authority asks for. These are the situations we see most:

• a family relocating needs each child's birth certificate apostilled for a school place or residence permit
• an applicant for permanent residence abroad is asked for legalised civil documents
• someone living in Singapore holds a birth certificate from India, China or the Philippines, and an authority in a third country wants it certified
• a son or daughter is handling a parent's documents for a visa or an overseas pension

Here's how the route usually works out:

If the destination isn't in the Apostille Convention, an embassy step usually follows. Always check with the authority receiving your document.

Getting it done, step by step

1. 1Send a photo and the destination. We confirm the route and send an itemised quote.
2. 2Singapore certificate: pass us the original or the digital file. Foreign certificate: the Notary comes to your home or office to certify it.
3. 3We take it to SAL as your proxy, so you don't have to go. SAL processes documents over the counter, on the spot.
4. 4Embassy (if needed), then delivery. Collect it, or we courier it to you in Singapore or overseas.

Moving as a couple? Your marriage certificate for the same application usually follows the same SAL route.

Singapore-Issued Birth Certificates: Often a Shorter Route

SAL says it directly legalises Singapore public documents and names the birth certificate as an example. So an original ICA birth certificate can usually go straight to SAL for an Apostille. No notary fee applies, and we'll tell you so upfront.

Why hand it to us, then? Because the details trip people up:

• We check it qualifies first. SAL needs the original, because copies aren't accepted. It also can't apostille a laminated certificate. If yours is laminated, you'll need a fresh certificate or extract from ICA.
• We submit it for you. SAL accepts a proxy with no authorisation letter, so you don't need to take leave or queue.
• We courier it to your home in Singapore or to you abroad.

The Apostille is issued on your original certificate. If an authority specifically asks for a notarised copy instead, a Notary can certify a copy against the original, and SAL then apostilles the notarial certificate. Ask the authority before you choose. For passports, NRIC and other ID, see our certified copies of other personal documents.

Foreign Birth Certificates Kept in Singapore

SAL can't legalise a foreign birth certificate by itself, because it isn't a Singapore public document. The route is a Singapore Notary Public first:

1. 1The Notary compares a copy with your original certificate and certifies it.
2. 2SAL adds an Apostille to the Notary's certificate.

Be clear about what this proves. The Apostille confirms the Notary's signature and seal. It doesn't confirm the contents of the foreign certificate. Some authorities accept this. Others want the certificate legalised in the country that issued it. Check before you pay for anything.

Overseas checklists sometimes say "notarize the birth certificate". A Singapore Notary does that by certifying a copy, not by stamping your original.

The Notary must see the original, so you attend in person with your ID. If a family has several certificates to certify, a Notary visit at your home often works better than bringing everyone to an office. Busy at work? The Notary can also come to your workplace.

One more thing we're asked: "Do I need an Apostille on a foreign birth certificate for a Singapore application?" Usually not. An Apostille is for documents going out of Singapore. For use here, ask the Singapore authority what it needs. The Registry of Marriages, for example, tells applicants to legalise foreign documents in the issuing country and have them endorsed by the Singapore embassy there, if applicable.

Printed a Digital Birth Certificate? Will It Be Accepted?

ICA issues digital birth certificates for births registered from 29 May 2022. Earlier paper certificates remain valid and aren't converted. Parents download the PDF from ICA's e-Service, and anyone can verify it by scanning its QR code on the ICA website.

For SAL, a printout of a verifiable Singapore government document can be legalised directly if:

• the print is an exact reproduction, including headers, footers and borders
• the QR code on the printout works (SAL can't apostille a document with a faulty QR code)
• no certified-copy stamp is added, because the QR code does the verifying

SAL may ask for some computer-generated documents to be certified by the issuing agency first. We check this for your certificate before submitting it.

Before paying for an Apostille, ask the overseas authority whether it accepts the QR-verified PDF on its own. Some verify it themselves, which saves you the SAL step. If an Apostille is needed, send us the file. We print it correctly, test the QR code and submit it.

Not in English? Get It Translated Before Notarisation

Singapore birth certificates are in English. Many foreign ones aren't, and most authorities want a translation they can rely on.

• For ICA applications (PR, citizenship, LTVP), ICA accepts translations by the issuing country's embassy, by a notary public in Singapore or the issuing country, or private translations attested by that embassy or notarised by a notary public. ICA doesn't endorse private translation companies. Our translations prepared for ICA applications follow that list, and we confirm for your case whether anything more is needed.
• For overseas authorities, the translation is usually notarised and then apostilled by SAL. See translation and notarisation for use abroad.

Names are spelt exactly as in your passport, so the certificate and your ID match. Languages: Chinese, Malay, Tamil and many others. Translation: from S$25 per page (Chinese, Malay, Tamil ↔ English) or from S$35 per page (other languages).

Apostille or Embassy Legalisation for Your Birth Certificate

For Apostille Convention countries, such as India, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada and most of Europe, the SAL Apostille is normally the last Singapore step (what the SAL Apostille covers). Vietnam joined on 11 September 2026. Thailand joins on 28 February 2027, so until then documents for Thailand generally still go to the Royal Thai Embassy after SAL. Malaysia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Sri Lanka and Myanmar aren't parties, so they usually need embassy legalisation after the Apostille.

What it costs. Notary fees are fixed by law and are the same at every notary. SAL sets its own fees.

The prices shown above are starting prices. Your final price depends on the document type, number of pages and destination country, and will be confirmed in a written quotation before any work begins.

Courier and embassy fees are quoted separately. See every fee explained in one place.

How long it takes. SAL works over the counter at The Adelphi, 1 Coleman Street #08-06, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm. A Singapore certificate can often be apostilled in one SAL visit. A foreign certificate adds a Notary appointment first. Our usual turnaround is 1–2 working days. Embassy timelines vary and we never promise them. Checked October 2026.

Who handles your certificate. Notarial work is done by our partner Singapore Notary Public, a senior lawyer appointed to practise as a Notary Public in Singapore (about our partner Notary Public). While we hold your original, you get a WhatsApp update at each step.

Birth Certificate Questions From Parents and Applicants