A notary public in Singapore handles documents going overseas. A commissioner for oaths handles affidavits and statutory declarations used here in Singapore. That’s the whole difference in one line, and it decides which one you should book and whether you pay S$25 or closer to S$200.
I’m Wahab, a commissioner for oaths in Singapore. I’m not a notary public, and neither is anyone else at A.W. Law, so I’m not trying to sell you the expensive option. I’ve written this because people turn up at a notary with a Singapore declaration all the time, and pay for something they didn’t need. Others do the opposite and have a document bounced by an overseas registry.
The one question that decides it
Where is the document going to be used?
- In Singapore (a Singapore court, HDB, CPF Board, ICA, a Singapore bank, insurer, school or employer): you need a commissioner for oaths.
- Outside Singapore (a foreign court, registry, embassy, university, bank or company): you need a notary public, and usually an apostille from the Singapore Academy of Law after that.
Where the document is going is what counts. The kind of document matters much less. A statutory declaration can need either one. So can a copy of your degree.
Notary public vs commissioner for oaths in Singapore, side by side
| Commissioner for Oaths | Notary Public | |
|---|---|---|
| Appointed under | Oaths and Declarations Act 2000 and the Commissioners for Oaths Rules | Notaries Public Act 1959 and the Notaries Public Rules |
| Appointed by | Singapore Academy of Law | Singapore Academy of Law |
| Document used | In Singapore | Overseas |
| What they do | Take your oath or affirmation on an affidavit or statutory declaration | Witness signatures, certify copies and facts, and issue a sealed notarial certificate |
| Fee | S$25 per affidavit or declaration, plus S$5 per exhibit | S$75 per notarial certificate, plus other items, plus S$87.20 to the Academy |
| How common | Many practising lawyers | A much smaller group of senior lawyers |
Both appointments come from the same body and both people are lawyers. That’s why they get mixed up. But a notary’s certificate is built to be checked by someone abroad. Under rule 8 of the Notaries Public Rules, every notarial certificate has to be ribboned to the document, sealed, and then authenticated by the Singapore Academy of Law. A commissioner’s stamp goes through none of that, because nobody in Singapore needs it to.
Common documents and which one you need
This is the list I’d give you if you rang me. Always check the instructions from whoever asked for the document, because they win over any general rule.
| Document | Where it’s going | Who you need |
|---|---|---|
| Affidavit for a divorce, maintenance or civil case in Singapore | Family Justice Courts, State Courts or Supreme Court | Commissioner for oaths |
| Statutory declaration for HDB, CPF Board or ICA | Singapore agency | Commissioner for oaths |
| Statutory declaration for a lost share certificate or insurance claim | Singapore company or insurer | Commissioner for oaths |
| Declaration supporting a deed poll name change | Singapore agencies | Commissioner for oaths |
| Power of attorney for selling a flat in Malaysia, India or China | Overseas land office or bank | Notary public, then apostille or legalisation |
| Certified true copy of your degree for a job or university overseas | Overseas employer or university | Notary public |
| Board resolution or company documents for an overseas deal | Foreign registry or counterparty | Notary public |
| Lasting Power of Attorney for your own affairs in Singapore | Office of the Public Guardian | Neither: an accredited certificate issuer |
That last row trips people up. If you want someone to manage your affairs in Singapore if you lose mental capacity, the instrument is a Lasting Power of Attorney, and it has its own certification process. It isn’t a notarised document.
What each one costs
A commissioner for oaths costs S$25 for each affidavit or statutory declaration, plus S$5 for each exhibit. The Commissioners for Oaths Rules fix that fee, so it’s the same at every firm.
A notary is dearer. The Notaries Public Rules set S$75 for a notarial certificate for one person, S$40 to witness one person’s signature, and S$10 for each exhibit, among other items. Then the Singapore Academy of Law charges S$87.20 to authenticate or apostille it. For a single signed document you’re usually looking at S$200 or more in total. I’ve broken the schedule down line by line in notary public fees in Singapore.
So if your document stays in Singapore, going to a notary costs you about eight times as much for no benefit.
Where people go wrong
In my practice, three mistakes come up again and again.
Paying for a notary when the document stays here. Someone is told to get a declaration “notarised” by a Singapore bank or agency. What they actually wanted was a commissioner’s stamp. People say “notarise” loosely when they mean “get it sworn”. If the form came from a Singapore body, ask them directly whether a commissioner for oaths is acceptable. It almost always is.
Using a commissioner when the document is going abroad. A commissioner’s stamp can’t be apostilled. The foreign registry sends it back, and weeks are gone.
Signing before the appointment. It doesn’t matter which one you see. Both have to watch you sign after checking your NRIC or passport. A document signed at home usually has to be printed and signed again.
What to do next
Work out where your document is going. If it’s staying in Singapore, you need a commissioner for oaths. You can swear your affidavit or statutory declaration with us at Chinatown Point for the fixed S$25 fee. Message us first with what the document is, and we’ll tell you what to bring.
If it’s going overseas, you need a notary public, and our guide to how to notarise a document in Singapore covers the apostille step and how to find one. And if you aren’t sure which it is, send us a photo of the instructions. We’ll tell you straight, even when the answer is that you need someone else.
