Worth knowing
Why Correct Translations Still Get Rejected When Filed in the Wrong Sequence
In our experience, most translation rejections have nothing to do with language. The translation was never connected to the legalisation chain, or was connected to the wrong document, so the receiver sees no official link between original and translation.
An apostille only confirms the signature and seal on the page it is attached to. If SAL apostilles your original and the translation sits loose beside it, the translation carries no verified signature at all. The reverse also happens: a translation is notarised and apostilled, but the receiver wanted it made in-country by a locally registered translator.
Sequencing mistakes we see from Singapore clients
- Apostilling only one of two documents. Some receivers want an apostille on the original and on the notarised translation — two apostilles, two SAL fees.
- Translating before the receiver confirms the format. Simplified or Traditional Chinese, name spellings and bilingual layouts are worth confirming first.
- Binding the set after the notary has signed. Where original and translation must be one set, binding happens before notarisation.
A certificate with English printed on the back is already bilingual, and SAL accepts documents that include English — so you may not need an English translation at all.
Translate First or Apostille First? The Order by Destination
There is no single correct order for certified translation attestation in Singapore. The destination sets it: some receivers want the translation made and legalised here, others want it made after arrival.
The table is our starting point; the receiver's written checklist always overrides it.
| Destination | Usual starting point | Where the translation is made |
|---|---|---|
| China (mainland) | Original apostilled; translation notarised and apostilled in Singapore, or made in China | Varies — some receivers want a PRC translation company's seal |
| Thailand (until 28 Feb 2027) | English translation bound with the original, then Notary, SAL, Royal Thai Embassy | English in Singapore; Thai usually in Thailand |
| UAE, Qatar, Kuwait | Full chain on the English original first | Often by a translator licensed in the destination — confirm |
| Korea, Hong Kong, other Apostille countries | Apostille on the original only | Ask whether a Singapore translation is accepted |
Whether you need an apostille or an embassy stamp at all is explained on our SAL apostille service page.
Arabic Translations for UAE, Qatar and Kuwait Submissions
For Gulf submissions, the English original normally goes through the full chain in Singapore first — Notary where needed, SAL, embassy. The Arabic translation is often made in the destination by a translator that country licenses.
So we ask Gulf clients one question before quoting: has the receiver confirmed in writing that it accepts an Arabic translation made in Singapore? If yes, the translation joins the chain as its own notarised document — translator's declaration, Notary, SAL, embassy. If not, translating here can mean paying twice.
Law firms sometimes need English-to-Arabic versions of corporate documents for an embassy file; we agree bilingual or separate format with the instructing lawyer first. The rest of the route is on our UAE embassy attestation page, and the general embassy chain for Qatar, Kuwait and other non-Apostille countries on our embassy attestation page.
Chinese Translations for China: Apostilling Both the Original and the Translation
When a Chinese receiver accepts a translation prepared in Singapore, the usual approach is to apostille twice: SAL apostilles the original, and separately apostilles the notarised Chinese translation. Each document then carries its own verified signature.
A typical case: a Singapore police Certificate of Clearance for a China work permit. The certificate is apostilled on its own; the translator signs the Chinese translation's declaration before our Notary Public, and SAL apostilles that too. The client submits two apostilled documents together.
Before starting, we confirm Simplified characters and your Chinese name spelling, and whether the receiver accepts a Singapore-made translation at all rather than one sealed by a PRC translation company. Receiver-by-receiver detail is on our China document apostille page.
Thai Translations Bound With the Original for the Royal Thai Embassy
For Thailand, the Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore requires every document to be in English or accompanied by an English translation, with the original and translation attached together as a single set and the Notary Public's signature on the first page.
Where a document is in Chinese, Malay or Tamil, we translate into English and bind before notarisation. Thai-language translations are usually made in Thailand after the embassy step; see our Thailand embassy attestation page.
How a Translator's Declaration Enters the Legalisation Chain
A translation becomes a legalisable document when the translator signs a declaration — stating their competence in both languages and that the translation is true and accurate — in person before a Singapore Notary Public. The notary's certificate is what SAL later authenticates.
| Who | What they confirm | What they do not confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Translator | The translation is complete and accurate | That the original is genuine |
| Notary Public | The translator's identity and signature on the declaration | The accuracy of the translation |
| SAL | The notary's signature and seal (Apostille) | The contents of either document |
| Embassy (non-Apostille countries) | SAL's signature and seal | The contents |
The declaration is bound with the translation and a copy of the original, so the set identifies exactly what was translated.
Singapore has no sworn-translator register of the kind some civil-law countries use, so a "sworn translation" from Singapore usually means this route: a translator's declaration made before a notary, then apostilled. You need not attend if the translator is the only signatory.
Transparent fees
One Order, One Price: Translation Plus Notary, SAL and Embassy
We quote the whole job at once — translation, notary, SAL, any embassy step, pickup and delivery — with SAL fees included where shown and embassy fees passed on at cost.
| Item | Who charges it | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Translation | Translator | From S$22 per page |
| Notarisation of translator's declaration | Notary Public | From S$219 per declaration, including SAL's S$87.20 authentication fee |
| SAL apostille of a public (government) document | Us and SAL | From S$29 per document, including SAL's S$10.70 fee |
| Embassy fee (non-Apostille countries only) | Embassy | At cost — e.g. Royal Thai Embassy S$30 per document, cash, at the time of writing |
| Embassy step (non-Apostille countries) | Us | From S$99 per document; S$49 for each extra document in the same order |
| Pickup and delivery | Us | From S$12 each, per order |
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.
To keep the total down, apostille the translation only if the receiver asks, and skip a Singapore translation if the receiver will re-translate anyway. Translation and notary time are within our control; SAL and embassy processing are not, so we quote ranges, never fixed dates.
What to send us for a quote
- A photo or scan of every page, including the back
- The receiver's checklist or email, in any language
- Destination country, purpose, and name spellings as in your passport
Translations for use inside Singapore (ICA, local courts) are a local matter, not overseas legalisation, and are not covered here.
Translation and Legalisation Questions
Does my translation need to be notarised?
Only if the receiver wants the translation itself verifiable, which usually means apostilled too. SAL can only apostille a translation once a notary has certified the translator's signature. For an informal translation, notarising adds cost for no benefit.
Does the translation also need an apostille, or just the original?
It depends on the receiver. Many Chinese receivers want both; many Apostille-country receivers want only the original. Ask the receiver in writing — "Do you require an apostille on the translation as well as the original?" — and forward us the reply.
Which comes first, the translation or the apostille?
For Thailand, the English translation is bound with the original before notarisation. For China, the original and the notarised translation are apostilled as two separate documents. For the Gulf, the translation often happens last, in the destination country.
My certificate already has English on the back. Do I still need a translation?
For SAL, usually not — bilingual documents that include English are accepted. The receiver may still want a version in its own language, so check their checklist before ordering a translation.
Do you translate into Arabic and Chinese?
Yes — Arabic, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Thai and other languages, with the translator's declaration notarised in Singapore. For the Gulf, we first check the receiver accepts a Singapore translation.
Can you translate a document from another country and apostille it here?
We can translate it, but SAL apostilles only Singapore documents; the original's legalisation must come from the country that issued it. Check first whether the receiver accepts a Singapore-notarised translation alongside it.
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Disclaimer: We are not a law firm and do not give legal advice. Acceptance of any translation or legalised document is decided by the receiving authority or embassy. Fees and requirements are stated as at the "Last verified" date and may change. Last verified: 1 October 2026.