This guide shows how to apostille a document in Singapore yourself, using the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) process as it stands in September 2026. Many people do it themselves, especially for a single public document such as a birth certificate. We also explain where a service can save time, so you can decide which suits you.
Everything below applies to documents issued or signed in Singapore. SAL cannot apostille a document issued in another country.
Step 1: Check whether your document is public or private
The route depends on who issued the document.
- Public documents (issued by a Singapore public authority) go straight to SAL. Examples: ICA birth and death certificates, ROM marriage certificates, court orders, Police Certificates of Clearance, NUS or polytechnic certificates, ACRA business profiles.
- Private documents (signed or created by you, a company or a private body) must go through a notary public first. Examples: powers of attorney, statutory declarations, board resolutions, certified copies of passports, translations.
Also check the document's condition. SAL rejects laminated, altered or faded originals, faulty QR codes and documents not in English or bilingual with English. The public vs private documents guide covers the edge cases.
Step 2: Get it notarised if required
Skip this step for a public original.
For a private document, book a Singapore notary public. Bring your passport or NRIC and, for copies, the original. Do not sign beforehand if the document needs to be witnessed; the notary must see you sign. The notary then attaches a notarial certificate.
At the notary's office you pay the notary's fees and SAL's authentication fee for the notarised document, which the notary collects upfront. Our sister site notarypublicservices.sg handles notary bookings, and full costs are on our apostille price page.
Step 3: Submit a request on the SAL portal
For a public document, go to the SAL legalisation portal at legalisation.sal.sg:
- 1Read and accept the terms, then start a new legalisation request.
- 2Enter the requester's details and describe each document.
- 3Pay SGD 10.70 per document online by Visa or Mastercard. Payment is non-refundable, so double-check the details.
- 4Save the invoice. It carries a QR code that you present at the counter with the original.
For a notarised document, SAL's SGD 87.20 fee has already been paid at the notary's office. SAL asks you not to pay it again; take the notarised document to the counter.
Some public documents need SAL to check them against an agency's records. If that check requires the requester's own Singpass or email login, the requester may need to attend in person. SAL does not accept instructions by phone or email.
Step 4: Visit the SAL counter or send a proxy
Take the QR-coded invoice and your original public document, or your notarised document, to:
SAL Service Counter, 1 Coleman Street, #08-06, The Adelphi, Singapore 179803
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm |
| Eve of Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year | 9:00am to 12:30pm |
| Weekends and public holidays | Closed |
| Appointment | Not needed; walk in |
| Payment at counter | None; cash is not accepted |
| Processing | Over the counter, returned the same visit |
The Adelphi is a short walk from City Hall MRT. A friend, relative or agent can go instead of you without an authorisation letter, as long as they carry the invoice and originals and know the document details.
Before leaving, check the apostille shows the correct country, name and date. Recipients can verify it on SAL's online search register.
Step 5: Add embassy legalisation if needed
If your destination is a Hague Convention member, you are finished. If it is not, such as the UAE, Qatar or Malaysia, or Thailand until 28 February 2027, take the apostilled document to that country's embassy or high commission in Singapore. Each mission sets its own hours, fees and forms, and some countries add a further step at home, such as the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Check the apostille countries list and our embassy legalisation service page.
Doing it yourself vs using an apostille service
| DIY | Using our service | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Government and notary fees only | All-in from SGD 25 per public document, SGD 185 per notarised copy |
| Your time | Portal, notary visit, SAL trip during office hours | One drop-off at our Suntec office (7 Temasek Boulevard, #12-07 Suntec Tower One) or doorstep pickup |
| Document checks | Your own | We check names, pages and SAL rules before submission |
| Embassy step | You queue at each embassy | We handle it |
DIY is sensible for one public document when you can visit The Adelphi on a weekday. A service helps with notarised or multi-document jobs, embassy chains, tight deadlines or when you cannot get away from work. We are a private service provider and are not affiliated with the Singapore Academy of Law.
Ready when you are
Start your SAL apostille the easy way
Prefer not to do the steps yourself? Send us a photo, the destination and your deadline, and we will send a written quote and handle the notary, SAL and any embassy. Public and notarised documents usually take 1–2 working days with us. Request a quote or see apostille prices.
Related services: same-day apostille service · doorstep apostille service · embassy legalisation service
Last verified 29 September 2026. We are a private service provider and are not affiliated with the Singapore Academy of Law.