Singapore has become the latest jurisdiction to adopt the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, which is also commonly referred to as the Apostille Convention or the Hague Convention.
The Apostille Convention provides a set process by which member jurisdictions to the Convention can authenticate a public document by issuing a single apostille certificate through a competent authority in the place where the document originates. This one-step process reduces time and costs for cross-border use of public documents by avoiding additional certification or legalization at an embassy or consulate of the foreign/destination country. Apostilled documents are commonly needed for registering a company, opening a bank account, and other business or legal transactions being conducted in a member jurisdiction to the Convention.
The Apostille Convention officially entered into force in Singapore on September 16, 2021, by way of the Singaporean Parliament’s passage of the Apostille Act 2020 in November 2020. As a result, contracting parties are now obliged to waive the legalization requirement for public documents issued by Singapore authorities and must accept apostilles issued by Singapore’s designated competent authority, the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL). Likewise, Singapore authorities must accept apostilles in place of legalization for incoming foreign public documents from contracting parties, as prescribed by the terms of the Apostille Convention.
With Singapore as its newest member, the Apostille Convention now has 90 full members as well as 65 other connected parties that, although are not full members to the Convention, have signed, ratified, or acceded to one or more of the relevant Hague agreements or are in the process of becoming a full member.
How CT Corporation can help
With so many steps and considerations to take before, during, and after the issuance or execution of a document that originates in one jurisdiction for use in a foreign jurisdiction, it’s important to have the right support.
Whether you already have the document in hand or you are somewhere in the process of making arrangements to have it issued or signed, CT Corporation provides the assistance and support that companies need to finalize the deal. Count on a one-stop shop and seamless support across local and international jurisdictions. For more information on our Authentication or Apostille services, contact a CT representative.