Documents issued in one country to be used in another country must be authenticated (also known as legalised) before they can be recognised as valid in the foreign country.
On 18 January 2021, Singapore deposited its instrument of accession to the HCCH Convention of 5 October 1960 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention). Please refer here for the details. If you require clarification on Apostilles, please contact the Singapore Academy of Law at legalisation@sal.org.sg.
For documents issued by US federal offices, please note the following:
1) Procedures For Authentication or Notorisation of Documents to be Used in Singapore
- Have the document(s) notarised by a US Notary Public.
- Have the Notary Public’s signature certified by the Clerk of Court of the county in which the notary is commissioned. (This step maybe omitted if the Secretary of State in step 3 will certify directly to the notary.)
- Have the County Clerk’s signature certified by the Secretary of State of the state in which the documents are recorded.
- Have the Secretary of State of the state's signature certified by the Secretary of State of the United States in Washington, DC. For more information, visit Office of Authentications.
Office of Authentications
U.S. Department of State
600 19th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
+1 (202) 485-8000
aoprgsmauth@state.gov
- After obtaining the signature of the Secretary of State of the United States in Washington DC, you may now forward the document(s) to the Singapore Embassy for certification. Please provide original set of documents, and one copy of the complete set. The copy of the documents is for our retention and file.
- Thereafter, you may transmit the document(s) directly to Singapore for use.
2) Processing Fee
- US$ 8.00 per notarial certificate and seal on certificate of origin.
- All fees are subject to change without notice.
3) Processing Time
- Processing time is approximately 1 to 2 days from the date of receipt. Please allow additional time for possible delays in postal delivery.
4) Additional Notes If You Are Applying Through
- SINGAPORE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON DC
3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
All applications submitted in person to the Singapore Embassy in Washington DC will only be accepted between 9.00am to 1.00pm on weekdays on an appointment-only basis.
- Please issue a cashier’s cheque or money order in US currency made payable to the "Singapore Embassy". Personal/corporate checks are not accepted.
- Payment by exact cash if applying in person. Do not send cash through the mail.
- To facilitate the return of your documents by post, please provide a self-addressed and stamped US Postal Service (USPS) Express Mail Flat Rate envelope OR a self-addressed prepaid envelope from a courier service of your choice. For the latter, please make sure that pick-up service from our location is available.
- SINGAPORE CONSULATE-GENERAL IN SAN FRANCISCO
595 Market Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94105
Hours: 9:00am to 1:00pm, Mondays to Fridays
www.mfa.gov.sg/sanfrancisco
- Please issue a cashier’s cheque or money order in US currency made payable to the "Singapore Consulate-General". Personal/corporate checks are not accepted.
- To facilitate the return of your documents by post, please provide a self-addressed and stamped US Postal Service (USPS) Express Mail/Priority Mail envelope OR a self-addressed prepaid envelope from a courier service of your choice. For the latter, please make sure that pick-up service from the Consulate is available.
- SINGAPORE CONSULATE IN NEW YORK
318 East 48th Street, New York, NY10017
Hours: 9.00am - 1.00pm, Mondays to Fridays
www.mfa.gov.sg/newyork-consul
- Please issue a cashier’s cheque or money order in US currency made payable to "The Consulate of Singapore". Personal/corporate checks are not accepted.
- To facilitate the return of your documents by post, please provide a self-addressed and stamped US Postal Service (USPS) Express Mail envelope. Federal Express, DHL, UPS, Airborne, Certified mail, etc. are not acceptable.
- SINGAPORE CONSULATE-GENERAL IN MIAMI
1515 Sunset Drive, Suite No. 44, Coral Gables, FL 33143
Hours: 9:00am - 3:00pm, Mondays to Fridays
www.mfa.gov.sg/miami
- Authentications can only be done by the Honorary Consul-General in person. Please call ahead to make an appointment.
- Payment can be made by cash. Alternatively, please issue a cashier’s cheque or money order in US currency made payable to the "The Consulate of Singapore". Personal/corporate checks are not accepted.
The Government of the Republic of Singapore is not responsible for any document lost in the mail or transmitted through courier services.
