Quick answer
Does MFA Still Legalise Documents in Singapore?
No. MFA legalisation in Singapore ended on 20 January 2021, when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) transferred the legalisation of Singapore public documents to the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL). Since then there is no need to go to MFA — SAL does this step.
Documents legalised by MFA up to 19 January 2021
can still be used.
Since 16 September 2021
, SAL affixes an apostille certificate on every document it legalises.
Non-Hague countries
such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Malaysia — still need the foreign embassy or high commission step after SAL.
So when a checklist says "MFA attestation", what you need today is SAL legalisation — plus embassy attestation if the country is outside the Hague Apostille Convention. See our embassy attestation in Singapore service for the full chain, or the SAL apostille service in Singapore if your country accepts apostilles.
Why Old "MFA" Instructions Cause Rejections
Out-of-date checklists
A checklist written before 2021 may still say "MFA". Following them literally leads to a wasted trip. We translate the old instruction into today's steps.
The embassy step is skipped
For non-Hague countries, SAL is not the last step. The document must then be attested by that country's embassy or high commission in Singapore.
Private documents go straight to SAL
Company papers, private school certificates and personal declarations need a Notary Public first. See notarisation and apostille.
Laminated or unverifiable originals
SAL cannot apostille a laminated document, and digital documents need a working QR code. We check these before submission.
Our MFA-Equivalent Legalisation Service
Checklist review
we map "MFA legalisation" in your instructions to the current SAL process
Notarisation when required
by an appointed Notary Public, for private and company documents
SAL submission and collection
we queue at the SAL legalisation counter for you
Embassy attestation
for non-Hague countries, completed after SAL
Translation
if your receiving authority asks for another language; see translation and apostille
Pickup and delivery
anywhere in Singapore
MFA Legalisation Price in Singapore (Now SAL)
| Package | Best for | Our fee | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct SAL Legalisation | Singapore government documents SAL can verify | From SGD 35 | 1–2 working days |
| Notarise + SAL | Private and company documents | From SGD 229 | 1–2 working days |
| SAL + Embassy | Documents for the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia and other non-Hague countries | From SGD 234 + embassy fee | 5–10 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: translation from SGD 29 per page · pickup and delivery from SGD 25 per trip · extra copies from SGD 19 per copy
Government fees (paid to SAL at cost, set by SAL): legalisation of a Singapore government document SGD 10.70 · SAL-made copy SGD 11.77 · SAL authentication of a notarised document SGD 87.20 · notarial certificate SGD 75. Embassy fees are set by each embassy and passed on at cost.
How Document Legalisation Works Now — 4 Steps
-
1
Send your checklist and document
on WhatsApp — even if it says "MFA".
-
2
Get the current steps and an all-in price
before you pay.
-
3
We notarise if needed, take it to SAL, then to the embassy
if the country requires it.
-
4
Collect it or we deliver it
anywhere in Singapore.
What to Send or Bring
- The original document — not laminated — or, for digital documents, the file and its QR code
- NRIC or passport, if notarisation is needed
- The checklist or email that mentions "MFA legalisation"
- The destination country and how many copies you need
Legalisation by Destination
Apostille only (after SAL): apostille for India · apostille for China · apostille for Philippines · apostille for Indonesia · apostille for Vietnam · apostille for Bangladesh · apostille for Pakistan · apostille for South Korea · apostille for Japan · apostille for Australia · apostille for Saudi Arabia · apostille for UK · apostille for USA
SAL + embassy attestation: UAE embassy attestation · Qatar embassy attestation · Kuwait embassy attestation · Malaysia document legalisation · Myanmar embassy attestation · Sri Lanka High Commission attestation · Egypt embassy attestation · Thailand embassy legalisation (Thailand joins the Apostille Convention on 28 Feb 2027)
Why Singapore Residents Choose Us
We read old checklists correctly
"MFA" becomes the right SAL and embassy steps.
One contact for every step
notary, SAL, embassy, translation and delivery.
Clear pricing
our fee, SAL's fee and embassy fee listed separately.
Singapore-based
Suntec Tower One, 7 Temasek Boulevard, with pickup across Singapore.
Samples of what you get back
In the order the documents are prepared — tap any sample to enlarge it.
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
“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 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 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 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.”
“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 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 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.”
MFA Legalisation — FAQs
Where do I get MFA attestation in Singapore now?
Is my document legalised by MFA before 2021 still valid?
Is SAL legalisation the same as MFA authentication?
The embassy asked for MFA legalisation first — what do I do?
Do I still need the embassy after SAL?
How much does ministry of foreign affairs document authentication cost now?
Are you MFA or SAL?
Legalise Your Document the Current Way
Send your checklist on WhatsApp — we'll reply with the exact steps 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