Singapore Directors List & Shareholders List Notarization and Apostille: Complete Guide
When conducting overseas business, some foreign banks, government authorities, and business partners require a certified Directors List or Shareholders List to verify the company's management structure and shareholding composition. Both documents are available for download from the ACRA Bizfile platform and follow the same certification process as the Business Profile. This guide explains the full notarization and apostille process and the most common situations where these documents are required.
1. What Are the Directors List and Shareholders List?
The Directors List and Shareholders List are official company documents issued by ACRA through the Bizfile platform. Each contains the following information:
Directors List
Lists the names, identity document numbers, nationalities, and appointment dates of all current directors — used to confirm the company's current management composition.
Management informationACRA official documentShareholders List
Lists the names of all shareholders, their shareholding quantities and percentages — used to confirm the company's ownership structure and beneficial controllers.
Shareholding informationACRA official documentHow these relate to the Business Profile (Bizfile): The Business Profile already contains basic director and shareholder information, but some foreign institutions require more detailed standalone lists. If the receiving institution only requires the Business Profile, separate certification of the Directors or Shareholders List is not needed. We recommend confirming the specific requirements with the receiving institution before proceeding.
2. Certification Options
Both documents are official ACRA electronic documents issued through the Bizfile platform with QR codes for verification. The certification options are the same as for the COI and Business Profile:
Standalone — Direct Apostille
Submitted on their own as PDFs, they can proceed directly to apostille without notarization. Suitable for situations where only these documents need to be certified.
Simplest processLower costCombined with Other Documents — Notarization + Apostille
When they need to be certified alongside other company documents (such as the COI, Business Profile, or power of attorney), notarization is required first, with all documents bound together in one notarization booklet.
When combining documentsAll-in-one3. Step-by-Step Process
Download document PDFs from Bizfile
→
Lervice reviews your documents
→
Notarization by lawyer (if combined)
→
Apostille
→
Translation (if required)
→
Collect or courier delivery
4. Documents Required
Case A: Standalone — Direct Apostille
- Directors List and/or Shareholders List PDF downloaded from the ACRA Bizfile website (with QR code)
- We recommend downloading a fresh copy just before submission to ensure the information reflects the company's current state
Case B: Combined with other documents — Notarization + Apostille
- Directors List and/or Shareholders List PDF
- Other documents to be included (e.g. COI, Business Profile, company constitution, power of attorney)
- 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 Directors List / Shareholders List after notarization and 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. How do I download the Directors List and Shareholders List from ACRA?
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 Directors List and/or Shareholders List to download the official PDFs with QR codes. If you need assistance, contact our team and we will guide you through the process.
2. The Business Profile already contains director and shareholder information — why would I need separate lists?
The Business Profile contains an overview of company information including some director and shareholder details, but the level of detail is limited. Some foreign institutions require more complete standalone documents — for example, a full Shareholders List showing all shareholders and their exact shareholding percentages. If the receiving institution only requires the Business Profile, you do not need to obtain separate lists. We recommend confirming the specific requirements before proceeding.
3. Can the Directors List and Shareholders List be combined in the same notarization?
Yes. Both documents can be bound together in a single notarization booklet and apostilled together. They can also be combined further with other company documents such as the COI and Business Profile, all processed in one go.
4. Does a director need to sign or appear in person?
No. Both documents are official ACRA documents — no signatures from anyone are required. Simply provide the PDFs and we will handle the rest. If other documents requiring signatures are being included in the same package, 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 Are Directors List or Shareholders List Certifications Required?
Here are the most common situations that require notarized and apostilled Directors or Shareholders Lists:
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.
