Document Translation Requirements in Singapore
Official bodies in Singapore generally require a certified translation of foreign-language documents, and many documents also need an apostille or legalization before they are translated. Below: who can translate, when an apostille is needed, and where the official rules are published.
Singapore follows a certified-translation standard: a document not in English needs a certified translation by a competent professional translator with a signed statement of accuracy. The ICA, universities, and the courts accept this. Singapore joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 16 September 2021, so a Singapore document used abroad is apostilled by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) — replacing the old notarization-and-legalization chain.
Singapore requirements at a glance
| Translation standard | Certified translation |
|---|---|
| Who can translate | Any competent professional translator providing a signed certification of accuracy |
| Apostille | No (for use in Singapore). Apostilles are mainly used when Singapore-issued documents are presented abroad. |
| Apostille authority | The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), Singapore's designated competent authority. |
| Accepted languages | English (official working language of government) |
| Responsible authority | Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) (apostille for Singapore documents used abroad) |
Who can translate documents for use in Singapore?
What makes a translation official in Singapore?
How does Singapore treat documents from abroad?
Legal context
Apostille & legalization for Singapore
Singapore is part of the Hague Apostille Convention (since 2021), so public documents are authenticated with a single apostille — no consular legalization.
Documents from Singapore
The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), Singapore's designated competent authority.The Convention entered into force for Singapore on 16 September 2021.
U.S. documents going to Singapore
A U.S. document going to Singapore is apostilled in the United States — the state Secretary of State, or the U.S. Department of State for federal documents — and, since 16 September 2021, Singapore accepts the apostille in place of consular legalization.
The apostille should be obtained before the translation, so the apostille certificate is translated too. See how apostilles work, or order a translation with e-apostille.
How to get a Singapore document translation accepted
- 1
Order a certified English translation of any non-English part
A Singapore document can carry Chinese, Malay, or Tamil text; those portions need a certified English translation.
- 2
Keep the statement of accuracy with the translation
It must confirm the translation is complete and accurate and identify the translator.
- 3
Submit the original plus the certified translation
File them with the ICA, the university, or the court.
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Certified for USCIS, universities, and credential evaluators — from $24.95/page.
Which direction are your documents going?
Submitting foreign documents in Singapore?
Authorities in Singapore accept certified English translations with a signed Certificate of Accuracy. We translate from 60+ languages with delivery in 24–48 hours.
Sending U.S. documents to Singapore?
U.S.-issued documents usually need an apostille before they can be used in Singapore — and the apostille should be obtained before the translation, so the certificate itself gets translated too. We offer e-apostille processing as an add-on to any order.
Popular certified translations
The document types we certify most often — each with its own pricing and requirements page.
Why Singapore document translations get rejected
The mistakes we see most often on Singaporean documents — and what a correct certified translation does instead.
Non-English text on a document left untranslated
A Singapore certificate can include Chinese, Malay, or Tamil; leaving those portions untranslated makes the certified translation incomplete.
Statement of accuracy missing
The translation must carry a signed statement identifying the translator and confirming accuracy.
Only part of the document translated
The whole document, including seals, must be rendered.
Cost & turnaround
A one-page certificate is priced as a single page; multi-page records are priced by their page count. Standard delivery is 24–48 hours, with notarization and e-apostille available as add-ons. See full pricing.
Singapore translation requirements — FAQ
What translation does Singapore require?
A certified translation by a competent professional translator, with a signed statement of accuracy. Singapore has no sworn-translator system, so a US-style certified translation is accepted.
what a certified translation isDid Singapore join the Hague Apostille Convention?
Yes. The Apostille Convention entered into force for Singapore on 16 September 2021. Singapore documents used abroad are apostilled by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), replacing the old legalization chain.
how apostilles workWho issues an apostille in Singapore?
The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), Singapore's designated competent authority since September 2021.
requirements for other countriesWhich languages do you translate for Singapore?
We translate from 60+ languages into English, each with a signed certification, for the ICA, Singapore universities, and the courts.
languages we translateDoes the translation need to be notarized for Singapore?
Generally no — a signed certification is enough for most bodies. Notarization is available as an add-on if a specific office requests it.
certified vs notarizedHow much does a certified translation for Singapore cost?
Pricing is per page. A one-page certificate is a single page; multi-page records are priced by page count.
see live pricingCan I translate my own documents for Singapore?
No. The translation must come from an independent professional translator and be certified.
what a certified translation isRequirements in related countries
Neighbors and countries with a similar translation standard.
Sources
- Translation and certification of documents (ICA)Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore
- Apostille Convention enters into force for SingaporeMinistry of Law, Singapore
- Apostille Convention — specialised sectionHague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH)
Information verified against official sources. Last verified June 2026.
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Signed Certificate of Accuracy with every order, a revise-free-or-refund acceptance guarantee, optional notarization and e-apostille — delivered in 24–48 hours.