All services are carried out in Singapore by a Singapore Notary Public.
Moved Overseas but Need a Singapore Document Notarised?
A registry, university or employer abroad wants a Singapore document with an Apostille, and flying back for one counter visit makes no sense. The good news: when you need to notarise a Singapore document from overseas, the paper has to be here, but usually you don't.
Clients living abroad have asked us to:
- apostille an NTU degree for a job application in Spain
- apostille a Singapore marriage certificate for use in Europe
- have Singapore company letters notarised and couriered abroad
- get Singapore certificates legalised while they are "unable to travel" or want it "100% remote"
Searching how to "notarize" a Singapore document from abroad? Same answer: the document travels, and we handle it here. This page is part of our proxy service for documents handled on your behalf, which covers every step from Notary to courier.
What We Can Complete in Singapore While You Stay Where You Are
- Direct SAL legalisation of Singapore government documents. The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) can usually legalise verifiable Singapore government documents without a Notary. That includes ROM and ROMM marriage certificates, ICA birth certificates, court documents, ACRA documents, and original certificates from NUS, NTU, SMU, SIT, SUSS, SUTD, the polytechnics and ITE. We submit them as your proxy.
- Certified true copies by the Notary. When the original is sent to us, the Notary compares it with the copy and certifies it. This is the route for foreign documents, private documents and copies.
- The Apostille. SAL attaches an Apostille, which is Singapore's authentication for use abroad. Here is what the Apostille does for your document.
- Embassy legalisation. If your country is not an Apostille party, we arrange the embassy step in Singapore.
- Courier to you. Tracked, to your door abroad.
| Your document | Usual route (confirm with the receiving authority) |
|---|---|
| Singapore marriage certificate (ROM or ROMM) | SAL directly → courier. See the marriage certificate route |
| Singapore birth certificate | SAL directly → courier. See birth certificates for use abroad |
| Original degree or diploma from a Singapore university, polytechnic or ITE | SAL directly, or a Notary-certified copy if the recipient wants a copy. See degree and transcript notarisation |
| Foreign or private document kept in Singapore | Notary certified true copy → SAL → courier |
| Any document you must sign or swear | You must appear before a notary in person (next section) |
Information checked: October 2026.
When You Must Sign Personally: The Honest Answer
Some documents need your own signature or oath: a power of attorney, a statutory declaration (for example, a single status declaration), an affidavit or a consent letter. For these, you must sign in person before a notary. A proxy can't sign for you, and neither can a relative.
Remote or video notarisation is not in force for notaries in Singapore. The Oaths, Declarations and Notarisations (Remote Methods) Act 2023 was passed, but remote notarisation has not started, so a Singapore Notary cannot witness your signature over a video call. We'll update this page if that changes.
Your honest options are:
- 1Sign before a notary where you live, then follow that country's legalisation route. We can't do this part for you, because we work only in Singapore.
- 2Ask your nearest Singapore embassy or consulate whether it offers notarial services for your document. Some Singapore missions do, for example taking statutory declarations in person.
- 3Sign on your next trip to Singapore. We book a short slot, or send the Notary to your hotel or family home. We then finish SAL and the courier after you fly out.
The document can travel even when you can't; the signer can't be replaced.
Getting Your Original to Us: From You, Your University or Your Employer
From you. Send it by tracked courier to 7 Temasek Boulevard, #12-07 Suntec Tower One, Singapore 038987 and message us the tracking number. Keep a scan for yourself. We confirm receipt on WhatsApp, with photos of what arrived.
From your university. Ask your registrar whether they can post an original, a replacement or a certified copy directly to us. Policies differ. NTU, for example, certifies true copies at its One Stop centre when the original is presented with a photocopy. We give your registrar our address and your job reference, and tell you which version SAL can accept.
From your employer or a Singapore company. Company letters can be sent to us for a certified copy. If the recipient needs the letter's signature notarised, the person who signed it must appear before the Notary in Singapore.
Digital duplicates. ROM can email a digital duplicate of a marriage certificate, typically by the next working day, for a fee set by ROM. You forward the file to us, and we print it exactly as SAL requires. Old laminated certificates cannot be apostilled, so a duplicate or extract is often the better route anyway.
Only Have an OpenCerts or PDF Certificate? Here's What We Check
We check digital certificates first, and never promise acceptance before we have.
OpenCerts. OpenCerts itself states that printed certificates are not to be considered authentic, because printing removes the file's digital protections. So we won't ask a Notary to certify an OpenCerts printout. Instead, we check the right route for your digital certificate:
- your physical degree scroll or certificate, if you have one (NUS, for example, still issues graduates a hardcopy scroll), which SAL can legalise directly
- a university-certified copy
- requesting a physical or replacement certificate from your registrar
Some recipients will verify the OpenCerts file themselves, so ask them first whether they need an Apostille at all.
PDF certificates from Singapore agencies. Singapore birth certificates registered from 29 May 2022 are digital, and ROM has issued digital marriage certificates since 25 September 2023. SAL legalises printouts of verifiable government documents if the printout is an exact copy and its QR code works. If a document has no QR code, SAL may need someone to log in to the issuing agency's portal to verify it. We tell you before quoting if that applies.
Scans in Your Inbox First, Originals by Courier Next
Before we dispatch anything, we send you scans or photos of the finished pages, including the Apostille. You can check names and dates, and tell the receiving authority it's on the way. Anyone can check a Singapore Apostille on SAL's online register.
Most authorities still want the original apostilled paper, so a scan shows it's ready but doesn't replace it. The original then goes out by tracked courier, and you get the tracking number on WhatsApp or email.
How Long Until It Reaches You, and What It Costs All-In
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Your original reaches Singapore | Depends on your courier and country |
| Notary certification, if needed | Usually same day after arrival, subject to the Notary's availability |
| SAL Apostille | Processed on the spot at SAL's counter, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm; closed weekends and public holidays |
| Embassy legalisation (non-Apostille countries only) | Usually 5–10 working days in total; each embassy sets its own time, so we never promise it |
| Courier back to you | Depends on your country |
Most destinations clients write from, including Spain, Italy, the US, the UK and Australia, are Apostille parties, so there is usually no embassy step. Vietnam has been an Apostille party since 11 September 2026. Thailand joins from 28 February 2027, and until then needs the embassy route. Always confirm with the authority receiving your document.
Your all-in quote, in Singapore dollars, before you send anything:
- statutory notary fees, if a Notary is needed: fixed by law and the same at every notary
- SAL: S$87.20 per notarial certificate (incl. GST), or S$10.70 per government document legalised directly, as listed by SAL
- our handling fee: from S$39 per document + government fees
- courier to you, and embassy fees if needed
For worked examples, see how our fees are built up. Payment can be made online from abroad by card or bank transfer.
Your documents are handled by our partner Singapore Notary Public, a senior lawyer appointed to practise as a Notary Public in Singapore. See how we work with our partner Notary Public.
“I was living outside Singapore and needed documents notarised here for an overseas transaction. The communication was easy and they helped coordinate the appointment with the person handling the documents locally. Very useful when you're not in the country.”
Elena Rossi — Singapore
Overseas Client · June 2025
Questions From Clients Living Abroad
Do I need to fly to Singapore?
Usually not, if you don't need to sign anything. Certified copies, direct SAL legalisation of Singapore government documents, embassy steps and courier can all be handled here while you stay abroad. If the document needs your own signature or oath, you must appear before a notary in person, either where you live or on your next trip to Singapore.
Can my university send the original directly to you?
Often, yes, if your university agrees to post it. Give your registrar our address and your job reference, and we'll confirm when it arrives. Policies differ: some universities issue certified copies or replacement certificates instead of posting originals. Check with your registrar first, and we'll tell you which version SAL can accept.
Can you work from my OpenCerts or PDF certificate?
We check first; we don't promise. OpenCerts states that printed certificates are not authentic, so we won't certify an OpenCerts printout. We'll look at other routes, such as your physical scroll or a university-certified copy. Singapore government PDFs with a working QR code can usually be printed and taken to SAL, subject to SAL's checks.
Can I sign my document by video call?
No. Remote or video notarisation is not in force for notaries in Singapore, so every signature must be made in person before a notary. While you're abroad, you can sign before a notary where you live, or ask your nearest Singapore mission. You can also sign during your next visit to Singapore, and we can book that slot in advance.
How long does it take, including courier?
It depends mostly on couriers and embassies. Once your original reaches us, the Singapore steps usually take 1–2 working days: the Notary if needed, then SAL over the counter on a weekday. Embassy legalisation, where needed, adds whatever that embassy requires. International courier each way adds several days, depending on your country. Your quote includes a dated estimate.
Which countries do you courier to?
We send finished documents by tracked international courier to most countries. Tell us the delivery address when you ask for a quote, and we'll include the courier cost and expected delivery time. You get the tracking number on WhatsApp or email as soon as the document is dispatched.
All services are carried out in Singapore by a Singapore Notary Public.
Information checked: October 2026.