Certified Singapore Document Translation

We translate all types of Singapore documents including birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, NRIC-related documents, academic transcripts and diplomas (GCE O-Level, A-Level, polytechnic, and university certificates), police clearance certificates, ACRA business profiles and certificates of incorporation, employment records, medical reports, powers of attorney, and court orders. We also translate foreign-language documents into English for submission to Singapore government agencies such as ICA, MOM, and ACRA. All translations include a signed certification statement attesting to accuracy and completeness.

Yes. Our translations include a signed certification statement from a qualified translator confirming the translation is accurate and complete. For ICA permanent residence and citizenship applications, we additionally arrange notarization by a Singapore Notary Public appointed by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), as required by ICA since January 2016. Our notarized translations are accepted by ICA for PR applications, citizenship applications, and Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) processing. For other agencies such as MOM, MOE, and ACRA, certified translations without notarization are generally sufficient.

Standard certified translation is delivered within 4-6 business days from the time we receive your clear document scans. Express processing is available for 2-3 business day delivery, and rush service delivers select document types within 24 hours. If notarization is required (for ICA submissions), allow an additional 1-2 business days for scheduling with a SAL-appointed Notary Public. Apostille processing through the Singapore Academy of Law typically adds 5-10 business days to the total timeline.

We translate to and from all four of Singapore's official languages — English, Chinese (Mandarin), Malay, and Tamil — as well as 100+ additional languages. The most common language pairs for Singapore documents include Chinese-to-English, Malay-to-English, Tamil-to-English, and English to Japanese, Korean, Thai, Hindi, Indonesian, and Vietnamese. We handle both simplified and traditional Chinese characters, and our Chinese translators are experienced with Singapore's Hanyu Pinyin romanization system as well as dialect-based name romanizations commonly found on older documents.

Yes. Our certified translations are accepted by Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for all immigration-related applications. For ICA submissions (PR, citizenship, LTVP), we provide notarized translations as required. Our translations are also accepted by immigration authorities in other countries — including USCIS (United States), UK Visas and Immigration, IRCC (Canada), and the Australian Department of Home Affairs — for applications involving Singapore-issued documents. Our current acceptance rate across Singapore government agencies is 98.5%.

For ICA submissions (permanent residence and citizenship applications), yes — since January 2016, ICA requires all translated documents to be notarized by a Singapore Notary Public appointed by the Singapore Academy of Law. The Notary Public must sight the original physical document and witness the translator's certification before affixing the notarial seal. For other agencies such as the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Ministry of Education (MOE), Land Transport Authority (LTA), ACRA, and most courts, a certified translation without notarization is typically sufficient. DoVisa can advise on the specific requirements for your receiving authority and arrange notarization when needed.

An apostille is an international authentication certificate issued under the Hague Apostille Convention, which Singapore joined on 16 September 2021 through the Apostille Act 2020. The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) is Singapore's sole Competent Authority for issuing apostilles. You need an apostille if your Singapore document (or certified translation) will be used in another Hague Convention member state — the apostille replaces the old multi-step consular legalization process. For documents staying within Singapore, no apostille is needed. DoVisa coordinates the complete apostille process through SAL, with standard processing taking 5-10 business days.

Our Singapore certified translation pricing follows a transparent per-page structure with volume discounts that apply automatically for larger documents. Pricing varies based on document length, language pair, and the processing speed you select (standard, express, or rush). Notarization by a Singapore Notary Public and apostille processing through SAL are quoted as separate add-on services. Upload your documents on our order page to receive an instant, detailed quote before any work begins — there are no hidden fees. We accept payment in Singapore dollars (SGD) and 30+ other currencies.

Yes, we translate handwritten documents including older Singapore civil registry records, personal letters, and handwritten legal declarations. Handwritten Chinese documents require translators experienced with both simplified and traditional character forms, as well as cursive variations. Handwritten Malay documents in Jawi script (Arabic-based script historically used for Malay) are handled by our specialized Jawi-literate translators. For best results, provide the highest quality scan possible — clear, well-lit photographs or 300+ DPI scans. Our intake team will contact you if any portion of the handwriting is illegible before translation begins.

You will receive your certified translation as a high-resolution PDF delivered via email, suitable for digital submissions and personal records. The original hard copy with the translator's wet-ink signature and certification statement is shipped via tracked courier to your Singapore or international address. For ICA submissions requiring notarization, the notarized hard copy with the Notary Public's seal is the document you present to ICA. If an apostille is requested, the physical apostille certificate from SAL is attached to the hard copy. We retain encrypted copies of all translations for 12 months in case you need a reprint.

Yes, but currently with limited scope. In 2025, the Singapore Academy of Law launched an e-Apostille system in collaboration with IMDA. The first phase covers documents issued by ACRA, including Business Profiles and Certificates of Incorporation. Users can submit these documents through the SAL Legalisation Portal and receive a digital apostille via email within minutes. SAL has announced plans to expand e-Apostille coverage to documents from other public agencies. For document types not yet covered by e-Apostille, the standard physical apostille process through SAL remains available. DoVisa can advise on whether your specific document qualifies for e-Apostille processing.

For the translation process, clear digital scans or high-quality photographs are sufficient — our translators work from digital copies uploaded through our secure portal. However, for notarization (required for ICA submissions), the Singapore Notary Public must sight the original physical document in person before notarizing the translation. This is a legal requirement under the Notaries Public Act. DoVisa coordinates the notarization appointment and can arrange for original documents to be presented on your behalf where authorized. For apostille processing, SAL requires the notarized document in physical form. We recommend keeping your originals safe and accessible throughout the process.

Singapore's Chinese community uses multiple romanization systems, which can create inconsistencies between documents. Official documents issued after 1980 typically use Hanyu Pinyin, but many Singaporeans' NRIC and passport names follow older dialect-based romanizations — for example, a Hokkien rendering like 'Tan' instead of the Pinyin 'Chen' for the surname 陈, or 'Goh' instead of 'Wu' for 吴. Our translators carefully match the romanization used on the applicant's NRIC or passport to ensure consistency across translated documents. Any discrepancy between the document's name and the applicant's official identification is flagged and noted in the translator's certification to prevent issues with ICA or other agencies.