All services are carried out in Singapore by a Singapore Notary Public.
Destination Country Doesn't Accept an Apostille? Here's the Longer Route
You've been told your document needs "attestation" or "consular legalisation". That usually means the country receiving it is not part of the Apostille Convention. For those countries, the SAL Apostille alone isn't the last step. The document also goes to that country's embassy or high commission in Singapore.
People usually come to us in one of these situations:
- A company director is signing a company POA for an overseas representative in Thailand.
- A graduate has a job offer in the UAE, and the employer wants the degree attested.
- A family needs a property or bank document for use in Malaysia.
- An exporter's buyer in the Middle East wants invoices or certificates of origin legalised.
- An employer in Qatar or Kuwait has asked for attested documents before a work visa.
Good news for some destinations: you may no longer need an embassy at all. Vietnam joined the Apostille Convention on 11 September 2026, and Saudi Arabia on 7 December 2022. For both, the SAL Apostille is now normally enough. Older guides that say otherwise are out of date. If you're unsure, see how the SAL Apostille works first.
Countries That Still Need Embassy Legalisation
These common destinations are not parties to the Apostille Convention. Documents for them usually need legalisation at the country's embassy or high commission in Singapore after SAL:
| Destination | Apostille Convention status | Usual route from Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | Not a party | Notary → SAL → Malaysian High Commission, if the Malaysian authority receiving it requires legalisation. We confirm with you first |
| UAE | Not a party | Notary → SAL → UAE Embassy in Singapore. Some documents, such as degrees for certain professions, may need further steps in the UAE |
| Qatar | Not a party | Notary → SAL → Qatar Embassy in Singapore. We confirm the current requirements before quoting |
| Kuwait | Not a party | Notary → SAL → Kuwait's diplomatic mission. We confirm which mission and its current requirements before quoting |
| Sri Lanka | Not a party | Notary → SAL → Sri Lanka's diplomatic mission. We confirm which mission and its current requirements before quoting |
| Myanmar | Not a party | Notary → SAL → Myanmar's diplomatic mission. We confirm which mission and its current requirements before quoting |
| Thailand | Joins on 28 Feb 2027 | Until then: Notary → SAL → Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore. From 28 Feb 2027, the SAL Apostille should be enough |
| Vietnam | Party since 11 Sep 2026 | SAL Apostille. No embassy step normally needed |
| Saudi Arabia | Party since 7 Dec 2022 | SAL Apostille. No embassy step normally needed |
Country status checked: October 2026, against the HCCH Apostille Convention status table. Embassies set their own rules and change them without much notice. Always confirm with the authority receiving your document. We check the current requirements for your country before we quote.
Notary, SAL, Embassy, Destination Ministry: Every Step Explained
This is the full chain, sometimes called consular legalisation or document attestation:
- 1Route check. You send a photo of the document and tell us the destination and purpose. We confirm the chain and the embassy's current requirements.
- 2Notary Public. Private documents, copies, signatures and foreign documents are notarised by a Singapore Notary Public. Verifiable Singapore government documents, such as ROM marriage certificates or ACRA documents, can skip this step and go straight to SAL. If you need to sign, you sign in person: remote or video notarisation isn't available for notaries in Singapore. So we come to you, with a notary visit to your home or office.
- 3SAL. SAL attaches an Apostille to every document it authenticates, whatever the destination. For a non-member country, this is the Singapore step the embassy checks before it acts.
- 4Embassy or high commission. The destination country's mission in Singapore legalises or attests the document. Requirements vary. For example, the Royal Thai Embassy's page asks for the original plus a copy bearing the Singapore Notary Public's seal, and SAL legalisation first.
- 5Destination ministry, sometimes. Some countries add a final step after arrival, often at their foreign ministry or an education ministry. For the UAE, the government portal says some professions need a Ministry of Education step for degrees. The receiving employer or authority will tell you. We explain what we know when we quote.
Degrees for the UAE and Middle East. The UAE route for a Singapore degree runs through SAL and then the UAE Embassy in Singapore. Printed OpenCerts certificates are not treated as authentic, so we check the right route for digital certificates first. Details are on our page about degree certificates for UAE and Middle East jobs.
Invoices and Certificates of Origin: The Chamber of Commerce Route
Commercial documents follow a different route. SAL legalises invoices, certificates of origin and similar trade documents only after they have been certified or endorsed by one of these approved bodies:
- Singapore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI)
- Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI)
- Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI)
- Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC)
- Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI)
- Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF)
After that, the chain continues to SAL and the embassy. Commercial documents issued directly by a Singapore government agency, such as ACRA or SFA, don't need a chamber endorsement.
Company documents that aren't trade documents, such as board resolutions, go through a Notary instead. See board resolutions and ACRA documents for overseas use. Shipping regularly? Ask about a business account with one monthly invoice.
Skip the Embassy Queue: We Submit on Your Behalf
Embassy legalisation is where most people lose days: different counters, different opening hours, different payment rules and return visits. You don't need to do any of it.
- We submit and collect. We act for you at SAL, which allows proxies with no authorisation letter, and at the embassy wherever it accepts an agent. If an embassy insists on the applicant, we tell you before you pay.
- Your originals stay safe. We log every document we receive, keep it secure and record each hand-over.
- You always know where it is. WhatsApp updates at each step: notarised, at SAL, at the embassy, out for delivery.
- Scans first. You get scans of the finished document before the original is couriered, in Singapore or overseas.
Learn more about our done-for-you notary proxy service.
How Long Embassies Take and What It Costs
Time. Notarisation usually takes one appointment. SAL processes documents over the counter the same day. The embassy step is the variable. Each embassy sets its own processing time, and it can change. Embassy legalisation usually takes 5–10 working days in total. We give you a realistic estimate for your country, but we can't promise an embassy's timeline.
Cost.
| Item | Who sets it | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Notary fees | Fixed by law, the same at every notary | Shown in your quote |
| SAL authentication | Singapore Academy of Law | S$87.20 per notarial certificate (incl. GST) |
| Embassy legalisation fee | Each embassy | Passed on at cost, confirmed in your quote |
| Chamber of commerce endorsement (commercial documents only) | The chamber | Passed on at cost |
| Our handling of SAL and embassy steps | Us | From S$39 per document + government fees + from S$149 per document + embassy fee at cost |
| Notary visit to your location (optional) | Us | From S$99 per visit (Central / CBD); from S$119 (other areas) |
| Courier | Courier company | Quoted by destination |
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.
You get every line before you commit. See what each notary and SAL fee covers.
Your document is notarised by our partner Singapore Notary Public, a senior lawyer appointed to practise as a Notary Public in Singapore.
“I needed embassy legalisation after getting my documents notarised. I wasn't sure which step came next, so I contacted them for guidance. They explained the process clearly and helped me avoid going through the wrong procedure.”
Daniel Pereira — Singapore
Embassy Legalisation · December 2025
Embassy Legalisation Questions
Which countries need embassy legalisation?
Countries outside the Apostille Convention. Common examples for documents from Singapore are Malaysia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Thailand also needs it until it joins the Convention on 28 February 2027. Vietnam and Saudi Arabia are now members, so an SAL Apostille is normally enough. Always confirm with the receiving authority.
Do I need to go to the embassy myself?
Usually not. We submit and collect for you wherever the embassy accepts an agent, and SAL accepts proxies without an authorisation letter. If a particular embassy requires you in person, we tell you before you pay. The only step you must do yourself is sign, if your document needs a signature.
How long do embassies take?
It depends on the embassy. Each one sets its own processing time, and these change. Embassy legalisation usually takes 5–10 working days in total. Notarisation and SAL are usually quick. We give you a realistic estimate for your country, but we never promise an embassy's timeline.
Is there another step in the destination country?
Sometimes. Some countries add a final step after the document arrives, often at the foreign ministry or an education ministry. For example, the UAE says some professions also need a Ministry of Education step for degrees. The employer or authority receiving your document will know. We explain what we know when we quote.
Can commercial invoices be legalised?
Yes. Commercial invoices, certificates of origin and similar trade documents must first be endorsed by an approved body, such as SCCI, SCCCI, SICCI, SICC, SMCCI or the Singapore Manufacturing Federation. SAL then legalises them, and the embassy follows for non-Apostille countries. We can coordinate the SAL and embassy steps for regular shipments.
Does Vietnam still need embassy legalisation?
Normally not. Vietnam joined the Apostille Convention with effect from 11 September 2026, so a document notarised in Singapore and apostilled by SAL should now be accepted without the Vietnam Embassy step. Older guides, including some official pages, still describe the old route. Check with the receiving authority, or ask us to notarize and apostille it.
All services are carried out in Singapore by a Singapore Notary Public.
Information checked: October 2026. Learn more about the Notary Public behind this service. Sources: HCCH Apostille Convention status table; Singapore Academy of Law legalisation pages; Singapore MFA mission pages; Royal Thai Embassy Singapore.