ACRA Document Notarisation in Singapore
The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) is the national regulator of business entities in Singapore. Companies, partnerships, and sole proprietorships registered with ACRA are frequently required to produce notarised copies of their ACRA documents for use overseas. Whether you are incorporating a subsidiary abroad, opening a foreign bank account, or satisfying regulatory requirements in another jurisdiction, a Notary Public in Singapore can certify true copies of your ACRA documents and arrange for the Apostille to be issued by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL).
ACRA documents are digital documents. As ACRA documents are issued digitally, clients may submit them by email or upload without attending our office in person. The Notary Public verifies the document digitally (e.g. via ACRA’s verification system for Business Profiles). Please contact our office to confirm the arrangement for your specific document.
What ACRA Documents Can Be Notarised
A Notary Public in Singapore can notarise the following ACRA-issued documents:
- Business Profile — The official extract from ACRA showing the company’s registered details, including its name, registration number, date of incorporation, registered address, share capital, directors, shareholders, and company secretary.
- Company Constitution — Formerly known as the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Company Constitution sets out the rules governing the internal management and operations of the company.
- Certificate of Incorporation — The certificate issued by ACRA upon the registration of a new company, confirming the company’s legal existence and its unique entity number (UEN).
- Certificate of Change of Name — Issued by ACRA when a company changes its registered name, confirming the previous and new names of the company.
- Annual Returns — The annual filing lodged by companies with ACRA, containing particulars of the company’s directors, shareholders, and financial statements.
- Other ACRA-issued company documents — Including certificates of good standing, notices of resolution, and other statutory filings maintained by ACRA.
Why You May Need ACRA Documents Notarised
There are a number of common situations in which notarised copies of ACRA documents are required:
- Overseas company registration — When incorporating a subsidiary, branch office, or representative office in a foreign jurisdiction, the local authorities typically require notarised and apostilled copies of the parent company’s ACRA documents as proof of its legal existence and corporate details.
- International business transactions — Cross-border contracts, joint ventures, and commercial agreements may require notarised ACRA documents to verify the identity and standing of the Singapore company.
- Foreign regulatory compliance — Regulatory bodies in other countries may require notarised copies of ACRA documents as part of licensing, permit, or compliance applications.
- Bank account opening overseas — Foreign banks routinely require notarised copies of the company’s Business Profile, Certificate of Incorporation, and Company Constitution before opening a corporate bank account.
- Due diligence requirements — Counterparties, investors, or professional advisers conducting due diligence on a Singapore company may request notarised ACRA documents to verify the company’s corporate information.
Your Options for ACRA Documents
Depending on the requirements of the overseas recipient, there are two options available for ACRA documents:
Option A: Notary Public CTC + Apostille
Choose this option when the overseas recipient requires a Notarial Certificate in addition to the Apostille. This is the more common requirement and provides the highest level of authentication.
Email or upload the original digital ACRA file (Open Attestation / verification-capable). Physical attendance is usually not required for these digital documents; we will confirm. Do not confuse this with signature witnessing, which always requires the signer in person (or an in-Singapore outcall) with wet ink — Zoom/video witnessing is not offered.
Process:
- Email or upload the original digital ACRA file (Open Attestation / verification-capable).
- The Notary Public verifies the digital document and issues a certified true copy (CTC) with a Notarial Certificate. We will confirm if attendance is needed.
- The Apostille is applied for through the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) at $80 + GST per Apostille certificate.
Option B: Direct SAL e-Apostille (No Notary Needed)
Choose this option when the overseas recipient requires only an Apostille without a Notarial Certificate, and confirms they will accept the e-Apostille. This is a simpler and less costly process.
Since 4 March 2023, ACRA documents issued in Open Attestation format are eligible for a direct e-Apostille from SAL. You do not need to visit a Notary Public.
Process:
- Obtain your ACRA document in Open Attestation format from ACRA.
- Apply directly to the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) for an e-Apostille at $10 + GST per certificate.
Important: Always confirm with the overseas recipient whether they require a Notarial Certificate or just an Apostille before proceeding. Choosing the wrong option may result in your documents being rejected by the foreign authority.
Direct e-Apostille for ACRA Documents
Since 4 March 2023, ACRA documents issued in Open Attestation format are eligible for a direct e-Apostille from the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) at $10 + GST ($10.70) per certificate, without requiring notarisation by a Notary Public. You can apply directly at the SAL Legalisation Portal.
The direct SAL e-Apostille option ($10.70 inclusive of GST) is available for ACRA documents that do not require notarisation. This is the most cost-effective option when the overseas recipient requires only an Apostille and confirms acceptance of the e-Apostille.
Important Advisory
Before opting for the e-Apostille, please confirm with the overseas recipient that they will accept the e-Apostille for the intended purpose. If the recipient has not confirmed acceptance, a physical Apostille will be issued instead.
If the overseas recipient requires a Notarial Certificate in addition to the Apostille, you will still need to engage a Notary Public. Notarised ACRA documents with an e-Apostille are available through our office if the overseas recipient requires notarisation and accepts the e-Apostille. Alternatively, a physical Apostille can be issued for notarised ACRA documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. ACRA documents such as the Business Profile, Company Constitution, Certificate of Incorporation, Certificate of Change of Name, and Annual Returns can be notarised by a Notary Public in Singapore. The Notary Public issues a certified true copy (CTC) with a Notarial Certificate, which is then apostilled by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) for use overseas.
If the ACRA document has been notarised by a Notary Public, an Apostille is mandatory under Singapore law. The Apostille is issued by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) at $80 + GST per certificate. Alternatively, if the overseas recipient only requires an Apostille without notarisation, you may apply directly to SAL for an Apostille at $10 + GST, provided the document is in Open Attestation format.
Yes. Since 4 March 2023, ACRA documents issued in Open Attestation format are eligible for a direct e-Apostille from the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) at $10 + GST per certificate, without requiring notarisation by a Notary Public. However, you should first confirm with the overseas recipient whether they require only an Apostille or a Notarial Certificate with an Apostille.
Yes. ACRA documents issued in Open Attestation format from 4 March 2023 onwards are eligible for a direct e-Apostille from SAL at $10 + GST ($10.70) per certificate. You can apply at the SAL Legalisation Portal. However, before opting for the e-Apostille, please confirm with the overseas recipient that they will accept it. If the recipient does not accept the e-Apostille, a physical Apostille can be obtained instead.