Have you ever got a document legalised? If yes, you will probably be well aware of the whole process. However, if you are new to this and do not know the process, there is no need to worry. In this article, you will learn complete details about the legalisation process that can help you meet your mandatory legal requirements.
What is a Notary Public?
A notary or a Notary Public is a public official appointed by the government and is concerned with preventing any fraudulent means in the paperwork. The main responsibilities of a notary include attesting to the signing on legal documents, powers of attorney, agreements, identity documents, etc.
Notarise documents Singapore
When you get the documents notarised, the notary services in Singapore will ask you to verify your identity by showing the relevant identification documents. Besides this, you will be asked if you know all the documents’ contents. After this, the notary will stamp and sign the documents to increase their credibility.
What is Legalisation?
Legalisation or notarisation is the process that helps in the authentication of the documents for foreign use. It is essential when you intend to move abroad. The international governments accept only those documents that are legalised and authenticated by the Singapore Government. The legalisation process varies from country to country, so you must research in detail when preparing for Legalisation.
If you wish to get Legalisation done, you will have to get your documents authenticated by Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) and may need the foreign country’s embassy verification or purely Apostille it with SAL.
Common documents that can be legalised in Singapore are;
- Birth certificates
- Death certificate
- Marriage certificates
- Educational degrees
- Commercial or business documents
- Other private document
Four steps Legalisation of Documents Singapore
The four basic and simple steps in the Legalisation of documents include;
Step 1
In the first step, you need to get certified copies of the desired documents from the government officials. This step can take some time, so better to apply on time.
Step 2
In this step, you will get the notary certificate from a notary public after signing the documents.
Step 3
In this step, you need to get the documents authenticated by the Singapore Academy of Law and maybe even apostilled.
Step 4
This is the final step in which the relevant Embassy authenticates documents.
Legalisation Requirements
When you come for the process of Legalisation, it is important to follow all the guidelines and instructions given to you. You should bring your documents like id cards, passport, photographs, etc.