Getting a power of attorney apostille in Singapore is usually the last step before someone overseas can act for you: sell your flat in Chennai, close a bank account in Manchester, collect an inheritance in Madrid or sign for your company in Bangkok. This page is for Singapore residents and Singapore companies who need a POA signed here and recognised in another country.
We are a private service provider and are not affiliated with the Singapore Academy of Law. We arrange the notary appointment with an appointed notary public, handle the SAL submission and return the finished POA to you in Singapore.
Why a POA must be signed before a notary
A power of attorney is written by you or your lawyer, not issued by a government body, and SAL has no record of your signature. So the chain is fixed: a Singapore notary public witnesses the signing and issues a notarial certificate, and SAL then authenticates the notary's signature and seal.
When you sign, the notary is checking three things:
- Identity. Your face matches the original passport or NRIC you produce, and the name on the POA matches that ID.
- Free will. You are signing voluntarily and nobody is pressuring you.
- Understanding. You know what the document does. The notary may ask you to explain in your own words what powers you are giving and to whom.
The notary attests to the signature and the circumstances of signing. A notary does not guarantee that the POA's contents are legally effective in the other country. That is a question for the lawyer or bank on the receiving side, which is why we always ask for the foreign party's template before the signing.
If you have already signed the POA at home, it will normally need to be signed again in front of the notary.
Types of power of attorney we handle
The route is the same for every POA; only the wording and the foreign checks change.
General power of attorney
Gives your attorney (agent) wide authority in a country. Many foreign banks and land offices prefer a single-purpose POA.
Special or specific power of attorney
Limited to named acts, such as selling one property, registering a vehicle or representing you in one court case. This is the usual form for property and bank matters in countries such as India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Property power of attorney
Used for buying, selling, leasing or mortgaging land abroad. Foreign land registries often want the property address, title or survey number, and sometimes the sale price written into the POA.
Bank power of attorney
Lets someone operate or close a foreign bank account. Many banks insist on their own form, even with a valid apostille.
Company (corporate) power of attorney
Signed by a director on behalf of a Singapore company, usually backed by a board resolution. See the FAQ below and our page on company documents apostille.
A Singapore company prepared a POA appointing a Thai attorney, signed by its director, and assumed an apostille alone would be enough. Thailand's accession to the Apostille Convention only takes effect on 28 February 2027, so until then the POA also needs legalisation by the Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore after SAL.
What to bring to the POA signing
Send us the final draft before the appointment so the notary can review it. On the day, bring:
- 1The unsigned POA, printed single-sided, with every page complete. Leave the signature blocks blank.
- 2Your original passport or NRIC. For foreign nationals living here, your passport, plus your pass card if the POA mentions your Singapore address.
- 3The attorney's details exactly as the foreign authority wants them: full name, ID or passport number and address.
- 4Supporting documents referred to in the POA, such as a property title copy or account statement, if they are to be attached as exhibits (each exhibit carries a scheduled SGD 10 notary fee).
- 5Passport photos, if the receiving authority wants them affixed to the POA.
- 6Witness arrangements. Some jurisdictions require one or two additional witnesses besides the notary. Tell us early so we can arrange them.
Using your POA overseas: stamping, translation and registration
The apostille proves the notary's signature and seal are genuine; local formalities still depend on the country.
Apostille or embassy legalisation. For Apostille Convention members such as India, China, South Korea, Spain, the UK and Australia, the SAL apostille is the final Singapore step. For non-members such as the UAE and Malaysia, and Thailand until 28 February 2027, the destination's embassy or high commission in Singapore legalises the document after SAL. See embassy legalisation for how that works, or check your country on the apostille countries list.
Stamping and registration. Several countries require a POA to be stamped or registered locally after it arrives before an attorney can use it for property. For India, stamp duty is usually paid within a set period after the POA is received, and the rules are explained on our India apostille page.
Translation. SAL only accepts documents in English, or bilingual documents with English as one of the languages. A POA wholly in Chinese, Thai or Bahasa Indonesia needs extra care: our partner notaries can witness your signature on it if you understand the content and an English translation is attached, which we can arrange. Simpler options are a side-by-side bilingual POA, or an English POA translated in the destination country. Ask the receiving lawyer which they want before you sign.
Validity. Many banks and registries only accept a POA signed within the last three to six months. Do not sign too early if the transaction is months away.
POA apostille price and time
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Notarial certificate and seal | SGD 75 |
| Witnessing (Notaries Public Rules) | SGD 40 first signer, SGD 20 second party, SGD 10 each further party |
| Exhibits attached | SGD 10 each |
| SAL authentication (apostille) | SGD 87.20 |
| Our all-in price, one signer | From SGD 215, all fees above included |
A simple POA signed by one donor is from SGD 215 all-in, covering SGD 202.20 in government-scale fees (SGD 40 witnessing + SGD 75 certificate + SGD 87.20 SAL). Extra signers, exhibits, a mobile notary visit (from SGD 69) and any embassy step (from SGD 69 plus the embassy fee) cost more. See apostille price for the breakdown.
Timing: once the wording is final, signing at our Suntec office and the SAL apostille usually take 1–2 working days. Evening and weekend notary signings can be arranged for a supplement from SGD 29; SAL then adds the apostille on the next working day. For urgent flights, see our same-day apostille service. If the donor cannot travel, the doorstep apostille service brings a notary to your home, office or hospital in Singapore.
Ready when you are
Get your power of attorney apostilled in Singapore
Send us your draft POA and tell us which country it is for. We confirm the route, arrange the notary and SAL, and return the finished document to your Singapore address.
- The draft POA or the foreign party's template, in Word or PDF
- Destination country and purpose (property, bank, court, company)
- Donor's name and a copy of their ID, plus preferred signing date
- Contact: WhatsApp +65 3129 4104, Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm, weekends 10am to 6pm
Not sure whether your country needs embassy legalisation? Check the apostille countries list and see all fees on the apostille price page.
Last verified 29 September 2026. We are a private service provider and are not affiliated with the Singapore Academy of Law.