Quick answer
How Does Certificate of Origin Legalisation Work in Singapore?
Certificate of origin legalisation in Singapore is done by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), after the document has been endorsed by one of the recognised chambers: SCCI, SCCCI, SICCI, SICC, SMCCI or SMF. SAL then affixes an apostille certificate to the endorsed document. If the importing country is not in the Hague Apostille Convention — for example the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait or Egypt — the document then goes to that country's embassy for attestation.
The same route applies to commercial invoices, bills of sale and fumigation certificates. SAL is the only authority that legalises Singapore documents for use overseas; see our SAL apostille service in Singapore for how the counter works, and embassy attestation in Singapore for the step after SAL.
Not sure which chain your buyer's country needs? WhatsApp us the destination and we confirm the route before you pay.
Why Commercial Documents Get Held Up at SAL
No chamber endorsement
SAL legalises certificates of origin and commercial invoices only after one of the six recognised chambers has endorsed them. We check this before anything is paid to SAL.
An endorsement SAL cannot verify
SAL has to verify the chamber endorsement — through a physical endorsement on each page, a QR code, or the chamber's verification website. If a page is missing its endorsement, we flag it before the counter, not at it.
The wrong order for a non-Hague buyer
Embassy attestation comes after the SAL apostille, not before it. We arrange the steps in the order the destination asks for.
A company document that isn't chamber-endorsed
A company letter, declaration or authorisation that no chamber has endorsed is a private document. It goes through a Notary Public first — see notarisation and apostille.
Wording not in English
SAL accepts documents in English or bilingual with English, and does not translate. If the importing authority asks for another language, we arrange translation and apostille in the right order.
Our Certificate of Origin and Commercial Invoice Legalisation Service
Document pre-check
we check each page for an endorsement SAL can verify, before the counter
Chamber endorsement guidance
we tell you which endorsement SAL needs to see; coordination of the chamber step on request
SAL submission and collection
we queue at the SAL legalisation counter for you
Embassy attestation
for non-Hague destinations, such as UAE embassy attestation, Qatar embassy attestation, Kuwait embassy attestation and Egypt embassy attestation
Arabic translation
when the receiving authority asks for it (Arabic translation attestation)
Pickup and delivery
from your office or forwarder anywhere in Singapore
Certificate of Origin Legalisation Price in Singapore
| Package | Best for | Our fee | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAL Apostille | Chamber-endorsed certificates of origin and invoices for Hague destinations such as China or Saudi Arabia | From SGD 249 per document (10% off 5+) | 1–3 working days |
| Apostille + Embassy | Documents for non-Hague destinations such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait or Egypt | From SGD 448 + embassy fee | 5–10 working days |
| Shipment Set | Certificate of origin, commercial invoice and supporting documents for one shipment | From SGD 249 per document (10% off 5+) | 1–3 working days |
The prices shown above are starting prices. Your final price depends on the document type, number of pages and destination country, and will be confirmed in a written quotation before any work begins.
Add-ons: Arabic translation from SGD 29 per page · pickup and delivery from SGD 25 per trip · same-day service +SGD 49 per document
Government fees (paid at cost): SAL legalisation fee SGD 10.70 per document, set by SAL. Chamber endorsement fees are set by the chamber and embassy fees by the embassy; both are shown on your quote and passed on at cost.
How to Legalise a Certificate of Origin — 4 Steps
-
1
Send a photo
of your endorsed documents on WhatsApp and tell us the destination country and the deadline.
-
2
Get the exact chain and an all-in price
chamber, SAL, embassy — before you pay anything.
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3
We pre-check, take your documents to SAL and, if needed, to the embassy.
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4
Collect them, or we deliver them
to your office or forwarder.
What to Send or Bring
- The original chamber-endorsed documents, with the endorsement on each page, a QR code, or a verification reference
- The letter of credit, tender clause or buyer's instruction stating what legalisation is required
- The destination country and how many legalised sets you need
- Any company letters or declarations in the same bundle, so we can tell you whether they need a notary
Commercial Document Legalisation for Your Destination
Apostille countries (no embassy step): apostille for China · apostille for Saudi Arabia · apostille for India · apostille for Indonesia · apostille for Vietnam · apostille for South Korea · apostille for Japan
Embassy attestation needed: UAE embassy attestation · Qatar embassy attestation · Kuwait embassy attestation · Egypt embassy attestation · Malaysia document legalisation · Myanmar embassy attestation · Sri Lanka High Commission attestation
Other company documents: ACRA bizfile apostille · power of attorney · company documents apostille for China
Why Singapore Exporters Choose Us
We check before SAL does
a missing endorsement on one page can be spotted from a photo.
One contact for the whole chain
chamber guidance, SAL, embassy, translation and delivery.
Clear pricing
our fee, SAL's fee and embassy fees listed separately; total agreed upfront.
Built for business paperwork
shipment sets, repeat orders and corporate invoicing.
Samples of what you get back
In the order the documents are prepared — tap any sample to enlarge it.
Tap to enlarge
Tap to enlarge
Tap to enlargeWatermarked illustrations with fictitious details. Your real documents stay private.
What our clients say
4.9/5 from 18,000+ reviews
on WhatsApp, Google and Trustpilot
“I had several company documents that needed to be prepared for use overseas. They checked the paperwork before starting and explained what needed to be completed first. The documents were handled professionally and returned as agreed.”
“I needed company documents legalised for use in China. There were several documents involved and I wasn't familiar with the process. They explained what needed to be done at each stage and kept me updated throughout.”
“Needed my degree certificate and transcript apostilled for an overseas job application. They checked the documents first and confirmed the process before starting. The final documents were returned neatly and within the agreed timeframe.”
“Needed a police certificate apostilled quite urgently for an overseas application. I asked about the same-day option and they confirmed the timing before I went ahead. Really appreciated the clear communication.”
“I needed several personal documents apostilled and didn't have time to arrange everything myself. The team explained the process and kept me updated until the documents were ready. Very convenient service.”
“My degree certificate needed legalisation for Indonesia. I was mainly worried about whether additional certification was required before the apostille. They checked the document and explained the correct process before proceeding.”
“I needed a single status certificate legalised for an overseas application. I had quite a few questions because it was my first time doing this. They were patient with the explanations and gave me a clear idea of the process.”
“I needed a certified true copy before proceeding with the legalisation of my documents. The appointment was straightforward and they explained what was being certified before completing the process. Very efficient service.”
“I booked a mobile notary because travelling to an office wasn't convenient for me. The appointment was arranged around my availability and everything was handled professionally. It saved me quite a bit of time.”
“My Malaysian documents needed to be legalised and I wasn't familiar with the Singapore procedure. They explained the difference between the steps clearly and checked the documents before proceeding. Very straightforward experience.”
“I needed my divorce certificate legalised for use abroad. I already had the original document but wasn't sure what authentication was required next. They explained the process step by step and made it much easier to understand.”
“I needed my A-Level certificate apostilled before sending it to a university overseas. The price and turnaround were explained before I confirmed the service. Everything was straightforward and I received the completed document as expected.”
“I needed an urgent apostille and had a fairly tight deadline. Before taking the order, they checked my document and confirmed whether the requested turnaround was possible. I appreciated the honest explanation about the timing.”
“Needed my birth certificate apostilled for use in India. I wasn't sure whether I needed to get anything notarised first, so I messaged them on WhatsApp. They explained the steps clearly and handled everything without any confusion.”
“My marriage certificate needed attestation for the UAE. I contacted them through WhatsApp because I had a few questions about the embassy requirements. The replies were quick and everything was explained in simple terms.”
“I had a power of attorney that needed notarisation before it could be used overseas. I wasn't familiar with the procedure, so their explanation over WhatsApp was really helpful. Everything was handled in the order they explained.”
“My documents had already been notarised but still needed authentication. I wasn't sure what the next step was, so I sent them a copy through WhatsApp. They checked everything and explained what was still required.”
“I needed my documents apostilled for the Philippines and had no idea where to start. They explained the process clearly and confirmed what I needed before taking the documents. The whole experience was much easier than I expected.”
“I needed several documents attested for Qatar and wasn't familiar with the embassy process. They went through the documents with me and explained which steps were required. Communication was clear from beginning to end.”
“My father's death certificate needed to be legalised for use overseas. It was a sensitive family matter, so I appreciated how professionally the documents were handled. The process was explained clearly and there was no unnecessary back and forth.”
“I needed both translation and apostille for an overseas application. I initially thought I would have to arrange the two services separately. They explained the order of the steps and made the whole process much simpler.”
“I needed my documents attested for Kuwait and wasn't sure which certificates needed to be included. The team went through everything with me before I started. The process was organised and I always knew what stage the documents were at.”
“I needed my power of attorney notarised for an overseas property transaction. They explained what I needed to prepare beforehand, which made the appointment much easier. The document was handled carefully and professionally.”
“My O-Level certificates needed apostilling for an overseas education application. I wasn't sure whether the older certificates could still be processed, so I sent them over for checking first. They confirmed what was needed and handled the rest.”
“I had documents from Vietnam that needed to be legalised for use in Singapore. I wasn't sure about the terminology and kept confusing attestation with legalisation. They explained the difference clearly and told me what stage my documents needed.”
Certificate of Origin Legalisation — FAQs
How much does certificate of origin legalisation cost in Singapore?
How long does certificate of origin legalisation take?
Can SAL legalise a certificate of origin without chamber endorsement?
Does a commercial invoice for the UAE need embassy attestation?
Can a freight forwarder or agent collect the legalised documents for me?
Do I need a notary for a certificate of origin?
How can the importing country check the apostille?
Are you the Singapore Academy of Law or a chamber of commerce?
Get Your Certificate of Origin Legalised This Week
Send a photo of your documents on WhatsApp — we'll reply with the exact chain and an all-in price.
Mon–Fri 9 am – 9 pm · Sat–Sun 10 am – 6 pm 7 Temasek Boulevard, #12-07 Suntec Tower One, Singapore 038987