Apostille for Digital Certificates Issued in Singapore

Which Singapore certificates are now digital

Paper certificates issued before these dates remain valid and can still be apostilled as originals. Document-specific points are on our pages for birth certificate apostille, marriage certificate apostille, police certificate apostille and degree certificate apostille.

When SAL accepts a printout

SAL's published guidance sets four conditions for a printout of a digitally issued document:

1. 1Exact reproduction. The print must match the digital version, with every detail clear, legible and not cut off, including headers, footers, page numbers and borders. No reformatting, cropping or "fit to page" shrinking.
2. 2Working QR code. SAL scans it. If the code is faulty or unreadable, SAL cannot attach an apostille.
3. 3Matches the verification page. What is printed must be identical to what appears when the QR code is scanned.
4. 4No CTC stamp. If the document already carries a QR code that lets SAL verify it, SAL asks you not to request a certified-true-copy stamp. Any stamp or endorsement that is not on the verified online version may mean reprinting, and stamps from anyone other than the issuer count as alterations.

When these are met, the printout is treated like an original public document and costs SGD 10.70, the same as a paper certificate. You can print several copies and apostille each one.

Where printouts run into trouble

• Photocopies of printouts. QR quality drops with each copy; SAL warns it may not read.
• Handwritten names. Some older birth records include names that were handwritten. A digital extract must show those names before it is printed, or SAL cannot confirm them.
• OpenCerts. The file is verified by uploading it to opencerts.io, not by a printed QR code, and universities warn that printing removes its protection.

When a notarised copy or e-notarisation is needed

A notary public becomes useful when the printout route does not fit:

• The certificate has no QR code SAL can scan, as with OpenCerts files.
• The receiving office asks for a notarised document, not only an apostille.
• You need a certified copy because you cannot print a new original (for example, a laminated paper certificate).
• The recipient wants the whole package delivered digitally.

In the first three cases, the notary checks the digital file against its official verification source, issues a notarial certificate with the copy attached, and SAL authenticates the notary's signature and seal. Government-scale fees for a one-page document are about SGD 172.20 (notarial certificate SGD 75, certified copy SGD 10, SAL SGD 87.20).

For the fourth case, some notaries take part in SAL's e-notarisation pilot. They issue an electronic notarial certificate, and SAL adds an e-Apostille for SGD 87.20. Nothing is printed; the client receives digital files.

Remember that ICA, ROM and SPF certificates are public documents. Notarisation is an option for special cases, never a requirement for them.

Paper apostille or e-Apostille for a digital certificate

SAL launched its e-Apostille in 2025. It covers two situations today:

• ACRA Business Profiles and Business Certificates in OpenAttestation format issued from 4 March 2023, uploaded directly to SAL's portal (SGD 10.70; usually emailed within minutes). See our company documents apostille page.
• E-notarised documents from notaries in SAL's pilot (SGD 87.20).

SAL has said support for documents from other public agencies will be announced in due course. Until then, ICA, ROM, SPF and university certificates get a paper apostille (directly or via a notary) unless they go through e-notarisation.

Recipient acceptance is the deciding factor. Many consulates, civil registries and courts still work with paper files.

Checklist before you print a digital certificate

Use this before sending a printout to SAL or to us:

• Download the certificate from the official source (ICA e-service, ROM email, FileSG), not a forwarded or edited copy.
• Print at 100% scale on clean A4 paper. Do not tick "fit to page".
• Print every page; check that nothing is cropped at the edges.
• Scan the QR code on the printout with a phone and confirm the verification page opens and matches.
• Check names, especially any names that were handwritten on an older original.
• Do not staple, laminate, stamp or write on the printout.
• Confirm with the receiving office whether it wants a paper apostille or accepts an e-Apostille.
• Decide how many sets you need; each extra apostille costs another SAL fee.