Singapore Certificate of Good Standing Notarization and Apostille: Complete Guide
When a Singapore-registered company engages in overseas business, some foreign banks, government authorities, and business partners require a Certificate of Good Standing to verify that the company is currently in compliance, has not been struck off, and is not subject to compulsory winding-up proceedings. This guide explains the notarization and apostille process for this certificate and the most common situations where it is required.
1. What Is a Certificate of Good Standing?
A Certificate of Good Standing is an official company certificate issued by Singapore's ACRA through the Bizfile platform. It certifies that, as of the date of issue, the company is in the following status:
How it differs from the COI and Business Profile: The COI confirms that the company was incorporated; the Business Profile (Bizfile) shows the company's complete current details; the Certificate of Good Standing specifically confirms that the company's current compliance status is satisfactory. Each serves a different purpose, and some foreign institutions require all three documents to be submitted together.
2. Direct Apostille or Combined Notarization?
The Certificate of Good Standing is an official government document issued by ACRA and, like the COI and Business Profile, can be certified in two ways:
Standalone — Direct Apostille
Submitted on its own as a PDF, it can proceed directly to apostille without notarization. Suitable for situations where only the Certificate of Good Standing itself needs to be certified.
Simplest processLower costCombined with Other Documents — Notarization + Apostille
When it needs to be certified alongside other signed documents (such as a power of attorney or board resolution) or other company certificates (COI, Business Profile), notarization is required first, with all documents bound together in one booklet.
When combining documentsAll-in-one3. Step-by-Step Process
Download certificate PDF from Bizfile
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Lervice reviews your documents
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Notarization by lawyer (if combined)
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Apostille
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Translation (if required)
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Collect or courier delivery
4. Documents Required
Case A: Standalone — Direct Apostille
- Certificate of Good Standing PDF downloaded from the ACRA Bizfile website (with QR code)
- We recommend downloading a fresh copy just before submission so the certificate date is as close as possible to the submission date
Case B: Combined with other documents — Notarization and Apostille
- Certificate of Good Standing PDF
- Other documents to be included (e.g. COI, Business Profile, power of attorney, board resolution)
- For documents requiring signatures: signed originals can be submitted by courier — no in-person attendance required
About translation: If the receiving institution requires a translation, the standard approach is to translate the entire notarization booklet into the target language. For Chinese-English translation, Lervice provides a complete one-stop service. For other languages, we recommend taking the completed certified booklet to a qualified translation agency in the destination country.
Singapore Certificate of Good Standing after apostille — completed document package (example)
5. Timeline
Direct apostille
2
business days
Combined notarization + apostille
2–3
business days
With CN-EN translation
+3–5
additional business days
Lervice offers standardized, transparent pricing. Contact us directly for a quote.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where do I download the Certificate of Good Standing?
Log in to the ACRA Bizfile website (www.bizfile.gov.sg) using Corppass or your personal Singpass, navigate to the company documents section, and select the Certificate of Good Standing to download the official PDF with QR code. If you need assistance, contact our team and we will guide you through the process.
2. How recent does the certificate need to be?
The certificate records the company's status as of the date it is issued and does not carry an expiry date. However, foreign institutions typically require a certificate issued within a recent period — usually 3 to 6 months — to ensure it reflects the company's current status. We recommend downloading a fresh copy just before submitting for notarization.
3. Do I also need to provide the COI and Business Profile?
It depends on the receiving institution. Some require only the Certificate of Good Standing; others require all three documents — COI, Business Profile, and Certificate of Good Standing — to be submitted together. We recommend confirming the specific requirements with the receiving institution before proceeding. If multiple documents are needed, we can combine them in a single notarization booklet and process everything together.
4. Does a director need to sign or appear in person?
No. The Certificate of Good Standing is an official ACRA document — no signatures from anyone are required. Simply provide the PDF and we will handle the rest. If the package also includes documents requiring signatures, signed originals can be submitted by courier.
5. Can I get copies of the notarized document?
No. Singapore notarizations are issued as originals only — no certified copies are produced. If you need multiple sets, each must be ordered and paid for separately. We recommend confirming the number of sets needed before placing your order.
6. The document is for use in a country that has not joined the Hague Convention — is embassy legalization required?
Yes. If the document needs to be used in a country that is not a Hague Convention member, the apostille will not be recognized there and consular legalization at the relevant country's embassy will be required. Please contact us with the destination country and we will advise whether embassy legalization is needed and how to arrange it.
7. When Is a Certificate of Good Standing Required?
Here are the most common situations that require a notarized and apostilled Certificate of Good Standing:
Not sure which company documents you need certified, or need to process multiple documents together?
Contact our team, describe your business purpose and destination country, and we'll confirm the right approach for you.
