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Certified True Copy (CTC) by Notary Public in Singapore

Have your documents certified as true copies by a Notary Public for overseas use, with Apostille by the Singapore Academy of Law.

Notary Public certifying true copy of document in Singapore

What Is a Certified True Copy (CTC)?

A Certified True Copy is a copy of an original document that has been verified and certified by a Notary Public as being a true and accurate copy of the original. The Notary Public examines the original document, compares it with the copy, and issues a Notarial Certificate confirming the copy is a true copy of the original.

The Notarial Certificate is a formal document prepared by the Notary Public, bearing the Notary Public's signature and seal. Once the Notarial Certificate has been issued, it is submitted to the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) for the issuance of an Apostille, which authenticates the Notary Public's signature for acceptance by overseas authorities.

A Certified True Copy by a Notary Public differs from a simple certified copy issued by other persons (such as a Commissioner for Oaths or Justice of the Peace). Notarisation by a Notary Public is specifically required when the document is intended for use overseas, as the Notarial Certificate can be authenticated with an Apostille under the Hague Apostille Convention.

Two Types of Certified True Copy

The process for obtaining a certified true copy depends on whether your document is a physical document or a digital document.

Physical Document

e.g. passport, degree certificate, hardcopy documents

You must attend in person with the original document. The Notary Public needs to sight and verify the original document before certifying the copy.

  • Bring the original document and photocopies
  • The Notary Public examines the original and certifies the copy
In-person attendance required

Digital Document

e.g. ACRA Business Profile, digital certificate, PDF bank statement

You may submit the digital document by email or upload. The Notary Public verifies the digital document (for example, via ACRA’s verification system for Business Profiles). Please contact our office to confirm whether physical attendance is required for your specific document.

  • Submit the digital document by email or upload
  • The Notary Public verifies the document digitally
Attendance may not be required

Apostille options: For both physical and digital document CTCs, the Apostille may be issued as a physical Apostille or an e-Apostille, if the overseas recipient accepts the e-Apostille.

Identification: In all cases, we may require a valid form of identification (passport or NRIC).

When You Need a Certified True Copy by a Notary Public

A Certified True Copy by a Notary Public is typically required when an overseas authority or institution needs to verify the authenticity of your Singapore documents. Common situations include:

  • Overseas authorities and government agencies — Foreign government bodies may require notarised copies of your personal or corporate documents as part of regulatory, licensing, or compliance processes.
  • Foreign company registration — When incorporating or registering a business entity overseas, the foreign registry may require notarised copies of your passport, ACRA business profile, company constitution, or board resolutions.
  • Immigration and visa applications — Immigration authorities in various countries may require notarised copies of passports, educational certificates, professional qualifications, and other supporting documents.
  • International business transactions — Cross-border commercial dealings, including opening overseas bank accounts, entering into foreign contracts, or establishing business partnerships abroad, often require notarised copies of identity and corporate documents.
  • University and professional body verification — Overseas universities, professional associations, and licensing boards may require notarised copies of educational certificates, transcripts, and professional qualifications for admission, membership, or licensing purposes.

Common Documents for Certified True Copy

The following documents are commonly presented for certification as true copies by a Notary Public in Singapore:

  • Passports — Singapore passports and foreign passports, including bio-data pages and relevant visa pages.
  • Educational certificates and transcripts — Degree certificates, diplomas, professional examination certificates, and academic transcripts from local and overseas institutions.
  • Professional qualifications — Practising certificates, professional memberships, and licences issued by recognised professional bodies.
  • ACRA documents — Business profiles, certificates of incorporation, company constitutions (memorandum and articles of association), and certificates of good standing.
  • Birth, marriage, and death certificates — Certificates issued by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) or the Registry of Marriages (ROM).
  • Financial statements and corporate documents — Audited financial statements, board resolutions, shareholders' resolutions, and other corporate records required by overseas parties.

If your document is not listed above, please contact us to confirm whether it can be certified as a true copy by a Notary Public.

Fee Structure for Multiple Documents

When you have multiple documents to be certified as true copies, there are two options for structuring the Notarial Certificates and Apostilles. The choice of option affects the total fee.

Option A: Single Notarial Certificate

All documents are covered under a single Notarial Certificate, and one Apostille is issued for the entire set. This is the more cost-effective option, as you pay the Notary Public fee for multiple documents under one certificate and only one Apostille fee of $80 + GST.

Recommended when: The overseas recipient accepts a single Notarial Certificate covering all documents.

Option B: Individual Notarial Certificates

Each document receives its own individual Notarial Certificate, and a separate Apostille is issued for each document. This option results in a higher total fee, as each document incurs its own Notary Public fee and an individual Apostille fee of $80 + GST per certificate.

Recommended when: The overseas recipient specifically requires each document to have its own separate Notarial Certificate and Apostille.

Important: Please verify with the overseas recipient which option they require before proceeding. This will ensure that your documents are prepared in the correct format and will avoid unnecessary additional costs or delays.

Notary Public fees in Singapore are prescribed by law. Use the fee calculator below to obtain a specific quote based on the number of documents and your preferred option.

Calculate Your CTC Fee

What to Bring to Your Appointment

To ensure that your appointment proceeds smoothly, please bring the following items:

  • Original documents — The Notary Public must examine the original documents in order to certify the copies as true copies. Without the originals, the Notary Public cannot issue a Notarial Certificate.
  • Copies of the documents — Bring clear, legible photocopies of each original document. These copies will be the ones certified by the Notary Public. If you do not have copies, please arrange to have them made before your appointment.

If you have any questions about what to bring or how to prepare your documents, please contact us before your appointment.

Book Notary Appointment

After Your Appointment: Collection of Apostille

During your appointment, the Notary Public will examine your original documents, compare them with the copies, and issue the Notarial Certificate. The Notarial Certificate will then be submitted to the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) for the issuance of the Apostille.

The Apostille is not issued on the same day as the notarisation. SAL requires a few working days to process and issue the Apostille. Once the Apostille is ready, you will need to collect it directly from the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) — not from our office. Please refer to SAL's legalisation website for collection arrangements and contact details.

Collect Apostille from SAL

Frequently Asked Questions

A Certified True Copy (CTC) is a copy of an original document that has been verified and certified by a Notary Public as being a true and accurate copy of the original. The Notary Public examines the original document, compares it with the copy, and issues a Notarial Certificate confirming the copy is a true copy of the original. The Notarial Certificate is then submitted to the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) for the issuance of an Apostille.

Yes, in many cases multiple documents can be covered under a single Notarial Certificate with one Apostille, which is more cost-effective. However, some overseas recipients may require each document to have its own individual Notarial Certificate and Apostille. You should verify the requirements with the overseas recipient before proceeding.

The notarisation of documents by the Notary Public is completed during your appointment. However, the Apostille is issued separately by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) and typically takes a few working days. Once issued, the Apostille is collected directly from SAL, not from the Notary Public's office.

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Calculate your fee, book an appointment, or call us for assistance with your Certified True Copy requirements.

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