Notarised Translation Services in Singapore

Certified or Notarised Translation: Which Is the Authority Asking For?

Most translation problems start with one word in the instructions. "Certified", "notarised", "official", "sworn" and "legalised" can mean very different things. Getting it wrong can mean a rejected document and a second fee.

Here's the difference in plain words:

• Certified translation: the translator or translation company signs a statement that the translation is accurate. No Notary Public is involved.
• Notarised translation: a Singapore Notary Public notarises the translation. The Notary is a senior practising lawyer appointed to perform notarial acts, mostly for documents going overseas.
• Notarised and apostilled: the notarised translation also carries an Apostille from the Singapore Academy of Law, so countries in the Apostille Convention recognise it.
• Notarised, apostilled and legalised: for countries outside the Convention, the embassy of that country in Singapore adds its own legalisation.

Since 1 October 2019, every document notarised in Singapore for use overseas must also be authenticated by SAL. SAL states that a notarised document without an authentication certificate or Apostille is invalid for use overseas. So if your translation is going abroad, plan for SAL from the start.

Asked for a "sworn translation"? That term comes from countries that appoint their own sworn translators. Some of those authorities will accept a translation notarised in Singapore and apostilled by SAL. Others only accept their own sworn translators. Ask the receiving authority before you order. If you can't get an answer, send us their instructions and we'll help you read them.

People who contact us usually fit one of these situations:

• A foreign marriage certificate or household register must be in English for a Singapore authority.
• An English degree, power of attorney or company document must be in Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Italian or another language for an authority abroad.
• A lawyer needs a foreign-language contract or court document in English.
• A university or visa office overseas has asked for a "sworn" or "legalised" translation.

Choose Your Level: Translation + Notary, + SAL Apostille, or + Embassy

Pick the level that matches where your document is going. If you're unsure, just tell us where the document is going and we'll tell you.

Three things worth knowing:

1. 1A translation can't go to SAL on its own. SAL doesn't legalise private documents that haven't been notarised. A translation is a private document, so it's notarised first.
2. 2The order of steps can matter. Some authorities want the original document apostilled before it's translated. Others want the Apostille translated too. Send us their instructions and we'll plan the order.
3. 3Country rules change. Vietnam joined the Apostille Convention on 11 September 2026. Thailand joins on 28 February 2027. We check the current position for your destination, and you should confirm with the receiving authority.

Read more about what the SAL Apostille adds, or about the extra embassy step for non-Apostille countries.

Country information checked: October 2026.

Documents and Languages We Translate and Notarise

We translate to and from English in Chinese, Malay, Tamil and many other languages. Common documents include:

• Personal: birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates, household and family registers, name-change documents, driving licences
• Education: degree certificates, diplomas and transcripts
• Legal: powers of attorney, statutory declarations, court judgments and orders, contracts, wills and estate papers
• Business: company certificates, board resolutions, financial statements and commercial agreements

If a birth certificate is going overseas, there may be a shorter route than translation alone. See birth certificates needed abroad. Graduates sending documents to an employer or university overseas should also read about degree certificates for jobs and study abroad.

Only have a digital document? We can translate from a PDF or scan. Some digital certificates have their own verification rules. For example, OpenCerts states that printed OpenCerts certificates are not to be considered authentic. For those, we check the right route first, such as using your physical certificate or a university-certified copy.

Applying to ICA? Use Our Dedicated ICA Translation Service

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has its own list of accepted translations for PR, citizenship and LTVP applications. Our translation service for PR, citizenship and LTVP applications follows that list and matches every name to your passport.

Notarised Translations for Singapore Courts and Law Firms

Law firms and in-house legal teams send us foreign-language contracts, judgments, exhibits and correspondence. We translate them and arrange notarisation where it's needed.

Two different situations come up:

• Documents going to a court or authority abroad. The translation is notarised in Singapore and apostilled by SAL. We add embassy legalisation for non-Apostille countries.
• Documents for proceedings in Singapore. The court's own rules set the format for translations and how their accuracy is confirmed. Your lawyer will tell you what's required. Send us the instructions and we'll prepare the translation to match.

For firms, we offer:

• one point of contact
• a company invoice
• confidential handling of case documents
• a clear turnaround for each job

Regular work? Ask about a business account.

How Long a Notarised Translation Takes and How It's Priced

Here's how an order runs from your first message to delivery:

1. 1Send a photo or scan of every page, the destination country and any instructions from the receiving authority.
2. 2Get one all-in quote for translation, notarisation, SAL and embassy steps as needed, and delivery.
3. 3Check the draft. You confirm names and dates, spelt exactly as in your passport.
4. 4Notarisation. A Singapore Notary Public notarises the translation.
5. 5SAL Apostille, if needed. We submit at the SAL counter for you through our notary proxy and courier service. SAL processes documents over the counter, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm.
6. 6Embassy legalisation, if needed. Timing is set by each embassy, so we give you an estimate, not a promise.
7. 7Delivery. You get a scan first, then the original by courier in Singapore or overseas.

Timing. Translation usually takes 1–2 working days for a single page, and notarisation is done the same day once the translation is ready. SAL usually adds no waiting time beyond the counter visit. Embassy steps vary by country. Tight deadline? See our urgent and same-day appointments.

What you pay:

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 see every line before you pay. The notary fees are the same wherever you go, so what you're choosing is the service around them. See a full breakdown of notary and SAL fees.

Your translation is notarised by our partner Singapore Notary Public, a senior lawyer appointed to practise as a Notary Public in Singapore.

Before You Send Your Document for Translation

A few minutes of preparation saves days later. Have these ready:

• photos or scans of every page, including stamps and the back of the document
• the destination country and the name of the receiving authority
• any written instructions from that authority
• the passport spelling of every name on the document
• your deadline