Yuen Law offers a comprehensive range of Notary Public services, from certifying true copies of original documents, witnessing and attesting to the signing of document, to obtaining consular or embassy legalisation.
Notarisation of Documents to be Presented Outside of Singapore
A Notary Public, appointed by the Board of Commissioners for Oaths and Notaries Public, is responsible for certifying the authenticity and valid execution of documents. Typically, a Notary Public is a qualified lawyer with at least 15 years of experience.
At Yuen Law, we can notarise your documents for use abroad. After notarisation, you will need to get the documents authenticated by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL).
Apostille Act 2020 (in force since 16 October 2021)
Before Singapore joined the Apostille Convention, legalising documents was a complex and expensive process. It involved visiting a Notary Public, the SAL, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and finally the consulates or embassies of the destination country to get the documents signed and sealed according to the foreign country’s legal requirements.
On 18 January 2021, Singapore acceded to the Apostille Convention, eliminating the need for legalisation of foreign public documents. Starting 16 September 2021, SAL began issuing Apostilles for all Singapore documents destined for overseas use, including:
- Public documents issued by the Singapore government (e.g., marriage/birth certificates, education certificates)
- Private documents (e.g., power of attorney, title deeds)
- Commercial documents (e.g., invoices, certificates of origin, bills of sale)
For private documents, the process has been streamlined to a two-step process for documents that need to be recognized in member countries of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty.
Apostillation of Private Documents: A Two-Step Process
For private documents needing authentication for recognition in member countries of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty, the process has been simplified:
Step One – Notarisation
Our Notary Public will stamp the document and issue a Notarial Certificate. Yuen Law offers same-day turnaround for notarisation. Our office is open on weekdays from 9 am to 6 pm. Call us at +65 6536 6037 to make an appointment.
Step Two – Authentication
Bring the notarised document to the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) at The Adelphi for authentication. SAL will authenticate the Notarial Certificate by affixing an Apostille to the back of the Notarial Certificate. No appointment is necessary, SAL accepts walk-ins during operating hours from 9 am to 4:30 pm.
Legalisation of Public or Government Documents
If you need documents legalised for use in a country that is a Contracting Party to the Apostille Convention, you no longer need to have them legalised at the foreign embassy in Singapore. Simply visit SAL to have your documents legalised.
Please refer to this chart or the Singapore Academy of Law’s website for more details. Do note that you will still need to follow the usual legalisation process for documents intended to be used in non-contracting countries of the apostille convention.
Preparing for the Notarisation
When visiting Yuen Law for notarisation, please do not pre-sign your document as our Notary Public needs to witness its execution. Additionally, remember to bring your original identification documents.
If you require certification of a true copy of a document, please bring the original document to our office.
We also provide on-site notary services and can assist with document authentication or submissions to foreign embassies for legalisation upon request.
Notary Fees
Notarial Fees are prescribed under the Notary Public Rules.
Notary Fees for Witnessing the Signing of a Document
Individuals
| Notary Service | Fees |
| Witnessing the signing of Private Documents by an Individual | $40 for the first person signing $20 for the second person signing the same document $10 for each additional person signing the same document $10 for each exhibit attached to the document |
| Notary Certificate | $75 for one certificate $20 for each additional person in the same certificate |
| SAL Authentication Fees | $87.20 |
Companies
| Notary Service | Fees |
| Witnessing the signing of Private Documents by a Company | $150 |
Notary Fees for Certifying True Copies
| Notary Service | Fees |
| Examining and certifying as to the correctness of a document, where seal is required | $10 for the first page $2 for each subsequent page |
| Examining and certifying as to the correctness of a document, where seal is not required | $5 for the first page $1 for each subsequent page |
| Notary Certificate | $75 for one certificate |
| SAL Authentication Fees | $87.20 per notarial certificate |
Figuring out what you need and how much it will cost can be confusing. Get in touch with us with specific requirements, and we will explain everything step-by-step. We will give you a clear price before you decide to proceed.
For assistance in matters concerning Notaries Public, do contact us to make an appointment.
