SAL Commissioners for Oaths & Notaries Public

What are your operating hours?

Does SAL provide authentication and legalisation services?

From 16 September 2021, the Apostille Convention will come into operation. SAL will affix an Apostille Certificate on every document which requires authentication and legalisation.

A document intended for use in a country or territory which is a Contracting Party to the Apostille Convention will no longer need to be legalised at the respective foreign consulate. Instead, members of the public can proceed to submit the document directly to the overseas recipient after the document has been legalised by SAL.

Those sending documents to non-Convention countries and territories will still require further legalisation through the relevant foreign missions in Singapore.

For more information on the Apostille Convention, please click here.

Do I need to make an appointment before coming to SAL for authentication services?

An appointment is not required. After notarisation of your documents, please proceed to the SAL Counter during the operating hours and present the notarised document for SAL’s authentication, where SAL will affix an Apostille on your document.

Will SAL still issue an Authentication Certificate after 16 Sep 2021?

From 16 Sep 2021, the Legalisation process will be streamlined. SAL will affix Apostilles for ALL documents irrespective of which country the document is destined to be used.

When the notarised document is presented at the SAL counter an Apostille will be issued in place of the Authentication Certificate and Legalisation stamp. The notarised document is deemed as authenticated and legalised by SAL. This will cut down on processing/waiting time for each document.

What are the documents that I need to submit to Singapore Academy of Law for authentication?

For notarised documents, we will require only the Notarial Certificate issued by the Notary Public and the documents attached to this certificate. Documents not accompanied by a Notarial Certificate will not be accepted. With effect from 1 Oct 2019, all documents that require notarisation by a Notary Public in Singapore will have to be authenticated by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL).

Why is there a need for Notarisation and Authentication?

The notarisation of a document by the notary public is but one step in the whole chain of authentication towards legalisation of documents for use abroad.

Authentication of the signature of the notary public by SAL is also part of the legalisation process. At SAL, an officer appointed by the Senate will verify the authority (stamp of appointment) and signature of the Singapore notary public as stated in Notaries Public Rules and ensure that the notarised document is in compliance with the Notaries Public Rules.

With effect from 16 September 2021, a Notarial Certificate shall be deemed to be validly authenticated by the affixing of an Apostille to the back of the Notarial Certificate.

Is it mandatory to notarise ALL private documents (non-government issued) for use overseas?

Legalisation is not compulsory and the need for notarisation is determined entirely by the party receiving the documents. SAL is unable to advise what is or is not acceptable by a foreign recipient overseas.

There is no need for notarisation if parties to the transaction can mutually agree to dispense with it. However, if notarisation is desired, then these documents must be authenticated by SAL.

If a private document requires legalisation, please be advised that SAL is unable to legalise a private document that has not been notarised.

Is a notarised document without an SAL authentication certificate/Apostille valid for use overseas if the receiving authority does not require an Authentication Certificate/Apostille?

A notarised document without an authentication certificate/Apostille is INVALID for use overseas.

Mandating authentication will ensure that all notarised documents originate from properly appointed notaries and are in compliance with the Notaries Public Rules. It will also bring about greater certainty and standardisation of the legalisation process.

What is the processing time for the authentication of the signature of a Notary Public?

The processing time will depend on the number of documents being submitted for Authentication. The documents will be processed on-the-spot, over the counter.

What is the fee for authenticating the signature of a Notary Public?

Do I need to submit the documents for authentication in person?

No. A representative may submit the document for authentication on your behalf.

Can I leave my documents with SAL to be processed and collect them at a later time or date?

No. The documents will be processed on-the-spot, over the counter and will be handed back to you immediately after processing.

How can I verify the authenticity of the notarised and authenticated documents?

Any recipient of the system-generated notarised document will be able to search and verify the authenticity of the notarised documents via a search register at https://legalisation.sal.sg/.

Am I allowed to bundle multiple documents together with one Notarial Certificate?

Subject to the requirements of the embassy and recipient country, bundling is allowed only for Certified True Copies, i.e. more than one document (i.e. Certified True Copy) can be bundled with one notary certificate.

Can I submit my documents to SAL or to any embassy without binding the documents in the SAL prescribed format?

No. A Notarial Certificate must be issued for ALL documents notarised by a Notary Public and be bound by a Red Ribbon in the SAL prescribed format. This is mandatory regardless of any embassy requirement. A notarised document that does not conform to the prescribed format is invalid.

Can a notary public issue one single notarial certificate for multiple documents?

Rule 8 of the Notaries Public Rules (Cap 208, R1) states that it is mandatory for all notaries public to issue a Notarial Certificate for each document attested by the notary public. For multiple copies of the same document, a separate Notarial Certificate is required for each copy. The only exception applies for Certified True Copies.