Notarisation cost in Singapore is the combined price of the required notarial act, any notarial certificate and, where applicable, Singapore Academy of Law authentication. A published one-page passport example totals S$172.20: S$10 to certify the page, S$75 for the notarial certificate and S$87.20 for SAL authentication.[1] The correct answer to how much notarisation cost Singapore depends on whether the recipient wants a certified true copy, witnessed signature, notarised translation, Apostille or another form of legalisation.
How much does notarisation cost in Singapore?
A straightforward notarisation commonly starts with a prescribed notarial charge, but the complete bill can exceed S$170 after the notarial certificate and SAL authentication are included.
| Cost component | Published amount | When the charge applies |
|---|---|---|
| Certified true copy with a Notary Public seal | S$10 for the first page and S$2 for each subsequent page | The Notary Public examines a copy against the original and affixes a seal.[1] |
| Certified true copy without a Notary Public seal | S$5 for the first page and S$1 for each subsequent page | The requested certification does not require the Notary Public seal.[1] |
| Execution of a document by one person | S$40 | One person signs or executes the document before the Notary Public.[1] |
| Second party executing the same document | S$20 | A second party executes the same document.[1] |
| Each additional party | S$10 | More parties execute the same document.[1] |
| Each attached or marked exhibit | S$10 | The notarial act includes an exhibit.[1] |
| Notarial certificate and seal | S$75 | The transaction requires a notarial certificate and seal.[1] |
| Special notarial certificate | S$75 in addition to the other charges | The requested format requires a special certificate.[1] |
| SAL authentication | S$87.20 including GST | SAL authenticates the Notary Public’s signature and affixes an Apostille to the Notarial Certificate.[2] |
| Translation | Quoted separately unless a package includes it | A non-English document requires translation for the intended recipient. |
| Courier, extra copies or urgent handling | Provider-specific | The customer requests physical delivery, duplicate sets or priority processing. |
SingaporeLegalAdvice gives S$172.20 as the total for a one-page certified true copy of a passport when the S$10 certification fee, S$75 notarial certificate and S$87.20 SAL authentication fee apply.[1] Additional pages, exhibits, signatories, translations and delivery can increase the total.
Why can a low advertised fee differ from the final notary public cost?
A low advertised price may cover only one component of the document route rather than translation, notarisation, the notarial certificate, SAL authentication and delivery together.
A provider may describe the first-page certification fee as the notarisation fee. A complete transaction can also require a S$75 notarial certificate and S$87.20 SAL authentication.[1][2]
A translation quote may cover linguistic work and a translator’s certification without including a Notary Public. A certified translation and a notarised translation are different deliverables.
A quotation should identify whether GST, SAL fees, extra pages, exhibits, physical copies, courier charges and urgent handling are included. An itemised total provides a more reliable comparison than a headline starting price.
What is the difference between certification, notarisation, authentication and legalisation?
Certification, notarisation, SAL authentication and legalisation perform different functions, so the receiving authority determines which steps belong in the document route.
| Service | Main function | Typical service provider | Pricing consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified translation | A translator or translation provider confirms that the translated text accurately represents the source document. | Translation provider | Translation and certification charges depend on language, length and complexity. |
| Certified true copy | A qualified certifier confirms that a copy corresponds with the original document. | Notary Public or another certifier accepted by the recipient | The price depends on the accepted certifier and number of pages. |
| Notarisation | A Notary Public witnesses, certifies or authenticates the relevant act, signature or copy. | Singapore Notary Public | Prescribed notarial fees and a notarial certificate charge can apply.[1] |
| SAL authentication | SAL authenticates the signature of a Singapore Notary Public. | Singapore Academy of Law | The current authentication fee is S$87.20 including GST.[2] |
| Apostille | An Apostille authenticates the origin of the relevant public or notarised document for international use under the applicable route. | Singapore Academy of Law | SAL affixes an Apostille to a Notarial Certificate as the method of authentication.[2] |
| Further consular legalisation | A foreign mission performs an additional destination-country step where required. | Relevant embassy, high commission or consulate | Mission fees and processing charges can apply separately. |
SAL states that all documents requiring notarisation by a Singapore Notary Public must be authenticated by SAL. SAL also states that, from 16 September 2021, a Notarial Certificate is validly authenticated by affixing an Apostille to its back.[2]
Recipient instructions remain decisive. A document intended for a Singapore agency may follow a different route from a document intended for an overseas court, university, bank or land registry.
How much does a notarised translation cost?
A notarised translation has no single universal price because the total combines document-specific translation work with the required notarial and authentication steps.
Bablio lists pricing starting from S$68 for notarised translation and offers same-day turnaround for eligible documents.[3] The starting price should be distinguished from the final quote for a specific file, especially when SAL authentication, multiple pages, physical copies or urgent delivery are required.
A notarised translation cost usually changes with the language pair, legibility, word count, page count, stamps, handwritten entries, tables and specialist terminology. A birth certificate with clear printed text generally requires less translation work than a multi-page court judgment or academic transcript.
Bablio states that its translations are 100% human-produced and formatted for submission to ICA, MOM, LTA, ROM and the courts.[3] Acceptance still depends on the receiving authority’s current requirements and the facts of the individual submission.
How can you calculate the likely total before ordering?
An accurate estimate requires the customer to identify the recipient, document type, language and complete authentication route before comparing quotes.
- Identify the receiving authority. Record whether the document will go to ICA, MOM, LTA, ROM, a Singapore court, an overseas authority or a private organisation.
- Obtain the current written requirement. Ask whether the recipient wants a certified translation, certified true copy, notarised translation, SAL authentication, Apostille or further consular legalisation.
- Count complete documents and pages. Include reverse sides, annexes, stamps, handwritten notes and exhibits because these elements can affect the scope.
- Confirm the required language. Specify the source language and target language, including any bilingual formatting requirement.
- Separate each fee component. Request separate figures for translation, certification, notarisation, notarial certificates, SAL authentication, extra copies, GST and delivery.
- Confirm the turnaround. Ask whether the quoted deadline covers the translation draft, notarised hard copy, SAL step and delivery.
- Check revision handling. Confirm whether corrections caused by an inaccurate source transcription are included and whether client-requested changes attract another fee.
- Compare complete totals. Compare like-for-like packages after every required component has been included.
A customer should send a clear scan of the entire document when requesting a quote. Cropped seals, missing reverse sides and unreadable handwriting can change the scope after work begins.
When does ICA require a notarised translation?
ICA requires applicants to follow the translation options stated for the relevant application, and ICA accepts privately created translations when an embassy attests them or a Notary Public notarises them.[4]
ICA’s Permanent Residence application guidance requires original documents and official translations for documents that are not in English. ICA accepts translations provided by the embassy of the issuing country, translations produced by a Notary Public in Singapore or the issuing country, and privately created translations attested by the issuing country’s embassy or notarised by a Notary Public in Singapore or the issuing country.[4]
ICA does not endorse private translation companies.[4] A translation provider’s role is to prepare the required document accurately and in the appropriate format, while ICA decides whether the submitted evidence satisfies the application requirements.
An applicant should check the live ICA checklist for the specific immigration transaction. Permanent Residence, citizenship, Long-Term Visit Pass and birth-registration processes can present their document instructions on different pages.
Does every foreign-language document need notarisation?
Every foreign-language document does not automatically require the same notarisation route because the receiving authority specifies the accepted translation and certification method.
ICA accepts several translation routes for Permanent Residence documents, including translations produced by an embassy or Notary Public and privately created translations with the required embassy attestation or notarisation.[4] The applicant should match one accepted route rather than purchase additional steps without checking.
An overseas recipient may request an Apostille even when a Singapore recipient only requires a certified or notarised translation. A destination outside the applicable Apostille framework may also request a foreign-mission step.
A written checklist or email from the recipient provides the strongest basis for ordering. A verbal statement from an unrelated provider should not replace the receiving authority’s instructions.
What factors increase a notarisation fee in Singapore?
Document volume, execution requirements, authentication steps and urgency are the main drivers of the final notarisation fee Singapore customers pay.
| Cost driver | Why the total changes | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Additional pages | Certified true copy fees can increase after the first page.[1] | Does the quote include every page and reverse side? |
| Multiple signatories | Execution fees increase for additional parties to the same document.[1] | How many people must appear before the Notary Public? |
| Exhibits and annexes | Each marked or attached exhibit can attract a separate fee.[1] | Will each annex count as an exhibit? |
| Special certificate wording | A special notarial certificate can add S$75.[1] | Does the recipient prescribe exact certificate wording? |
| SAL authentication | SAL charges S$87.20 including GST for authentication.[2] | Is the SAL fee included in the quoted total? |
| Translation length | Longer or denser documents require more linguistic work. | Is translation priced per word, page or document? |
| Specialist terminology | Legal, medical and technical documents can require specialist review. | Does the quote include subject-matter review? |
| Poor source quality | Blurred scans and handwritten entries require additional checking. | Can the provider quote from the current scan? |
| Urgency | Same-day work can require priority handling. | Does the urgent fee cover every step through delivery? |
| Physical delivery | Courier and duplicate hard copies create additional disbursements. | How many originals and copies are included? |
What do common pricing examples look like?
Common examples show why the same document can produce different totals when the required route changes.
Example 1: One-page passport certified true copy. SingaporeLegalAdvice calculates S$172.20 from S$10 for the first-page certification, S$75 for the notarial certificate and S$87.20 for SAL authentication.[1]
Example 2: One-person execution. A one-person notarial execution carries a published S$40 charge, while the notarial certificate and SAL authentication can add S$75 and S$87.20 respectively.[1][2] Exhibits, additional parties and other services can increase the total.
Example 3: Foreign birth certificate for an ICA application. The customer may need human translation and an accepted certification or notarisation route under ICA’s document requirements.[4] The final amount depends on the translation quote and the chosen accepted route.
Example 4: Document for overseas use. The customer may need notarisation followed by SAL authentication and an Apostille.[2] The destination authority may require an additional foreign-mission step.
Example 5: Urgent notarised translation. Bablio lists pricing from S$68 and same-day turnaround for eligible documents.[3] The customer should confirm whether the written total includes the Notary Public, notarial certificate, SAL authentication, GST and physical delivery.
How long does notarisation and authentication take?
Simple documents can sometimes be completed on the same day, but the end-to-end timeline depends on translation, signing, Notary Public availability, SAL processing and delivery.
Bablio states that most eligible single-page documents can receive same-day handling.[3] A same-day translation promise should be checked against the deadline for the complete notarised and authenticated package.
SAL accepts authentication submissions at its counter from Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm, with shorter hours on the eves of Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year.[2] SAL closes the counter on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.[2]
A customer with a fixed filing date should state the exact deadline and delivery format before payment. Processing times can vary when the document requires specialist translation, multiple signatories or further overseas legalisation.
How can you avoid paying for unnecessary document steps?
Customers can control costs by verifying the recipient’s exact requirement and rejecting quotations that combine unexplained services.
- Ask the recipient for the requirement in writing. Use the authority’s checklist, portal instruction or direct email.
- Avoid assuming that certified and notarised mean the same thing. Each label describes a different form of assurance.
- Ask whether SAL authentication is mandatory. SAL authentication adds S$87.20 including GST when the notarised route applies.[2]
- Ask whether an Apostille is sufficient. The destination may require no further step after the applicable Apostille route, or it may require consular action.
- Request one itemised quote. The quote should identify professional fees, official fees, GST, copies, delivery and urgency.
- Submit complete files at the start. Full scans reduce the risk of later page-count or scope changes.
- Check names and numbers before notarisation. Corrections after execution or certification can require documents to be produced again.
- Retain digital and physical copies. A reusable copy can reduce repeat administrative work, subject to the next recipient’s requirements.
What should an itemised notarisation quote include?
A useful quotation states the deliverable, every fee component, the deadline and the number of physical or digital copies.
| Quote field | Required detail |
|---|---|
| Document scope | Document name, language, page count, reverse sides and annexes |
| Translation | Human translation, proofreading, formatting and certification |
| Notarial act | Certified true copy, witnessed execution, notarised translation or another specified act |
| Notarial certificate | Standard or special certificate and the applicable charge |
| SAL step | Authentication or Apostille requirement and S$87.20 official fee where applicable.[2] |
| Additional legalisation | Embassy, high commission, consulate or destination-country step |
| Taxes | GST treatment for each component |
| Delivery | Digital copy, collection, local courier or overseas shipping |
| Turnaround | Draft date, notarisation date, SAL completion and final delivery |
| Revisions | Included correction rounds and charges for source-file changes |
A complete quote allows customers to compare the same route across providers. A headline price cannot establish value when one quotation includes SAL authentication and another excludes it.
What are the most common questions about notarisation costs?
The most common questions concern the minimum fee, the S$87.20 SAL charge, translation pricing and whether notarisation is required at all.
How much does notarisation cost Singapore applicants for one passport page?
A published certified true copy example totals S$172.20, comprising S$10 for one page, S$75 for the notarial certificate and S$87.20 for SAL authentication.[1]
What is the current SAL authentication fee?
SAL charges S$87.20 including GST for authentication of a document notarised by a Singapore Notary Public.[2]
Is the S$87.20 SAL fee included in the Notary Public fee?
The S$87.20 amount is payable to SAL and remains separate from the Notary Public’s notarisation fee.[2]
How much does a certified true copy cost before the certificate and SAL fee?
A certified true copy with a Notary Public seal costs S$10 for the first page and S$2 for each subsequent page under the published schedule summarised by SingaporeLegalAdvice.[1]
How much does document execution before a Notary Public cost?
Execution by one person costs S$40, a second party to the same document costs S$20, and each additional party costs S$10 under the published schedule.[1]
How much does a notarised translation cost?
Bablio lists pricing from S$68, while the exact notarised translation cost depends on the file and whether the quote includes the Notary Public, SAL authentication, GST and delivery.[3]
Can a notarised translation be completed on the same day?
Bablio offers same-day turnaround for eligible documents, but completion depends on the document, confirmation time and required authentication route.[3]
Does ICA accept a translation from any private company?
ICA does not endorse private translation companies and instead specifies accepted translation and notarisation routes for each application.[4]
Where can customers find a Singapore Notary Public?
SAL maintains information and a directory relating to appointed Notaries Public in Singapore.[5]
Should a customer order an Apostille automatically?
The receiving authority should confirm whether an Apostille is required because domestic and overseas document routes differ.