Commissioner for Oaths in Singapore
For documents used inside Singapore. Oaths and affirmations, statutory declarations, affidavits, witnessing signatures and certified true copies, at the prescribed fee, at our office beside Raffles Place MRT.
Clear, predictable commissioner for oaths fees.
These are prescribed rates rather than our own, so they are the same at every Commissioner for Oaths in Singapore. What differs between firms is how quickly you are seen and whether anyone checks that a Commissioner for Oaths is the right thing for your document at all.
A Commissioner for Oaths is appointed by the Singapore Academy of Law to administer oaths and affirmations, take statutory declarations and affidavits, and witness the execution of documents.
The single most important thing to know is what a Commissioner for Oaths is for: documents used inside Singapore. If your document is going overseas, you almost certainly need a notary public instead, and coming in for the wrong one wastes a trip and a fee.
Which do you need
Inside Singapore: a Commissioner for Oaths. Court affidavits, statutory declarations for local authorities, declarations required by a government agency, bank or employer here.
Going overseas: a Notary Public. Documents for a foreign court, a foreign authority, an overseas property transaction, or an embassy.
A frequent source of confusion is a form that asks for a Commissioner for Oaths but originates abroad. That usually means the drafter did not consider that it would be signed outside their country, and the receiving party will expect notarisation. If you are not sure, send us the document and the destination before you come in, and we will tell you which you need.
What we do
Administering oaths and affirmations, for affidavits, statutory declarations and other documents requiring a sworn or affirmed statement of truth. An affirmation is available to anyone who prefers not to swear an oath, and carries exactly the same weight.
Taking statutory declarations, including drafting them where you do not already have the wording. See statutory declarations.
Witnessing the execution of documents, including powers of attorney, contracts and other instruments where a witness is required.
Certifying true copies of original documents, for visa applications, educational institutions, employers and official submissions here.
Before you come in
- Bring the original identification named in the document, so we can verify who you are
- Do not sign in advance. The whole point is that the signature is made in front of the Commissioner, and a pre-signed document has to be redone
- Bring the original documents where copies are to be certified, since a copy cannot be certified against another copy
- Bring everything at once. The fee is per document, so a single visit with four documents costs less than four visits
We are at 6 Battery Road, next to Raffles Place MRT, and most appointments take a few minutes.
A word on what you are declaring
An oath or a declaration is a statement of truth with legal consequences. Making a false statutory declaration is an offence, and the Commissioner’s role is to satisfy themselves that you understand what you are signing rather than simply to add a signature.
If you are unsure whether what the document says is accurate, say so before it is sworn rather than afterwards. Correcting the wording is easy; correcting a sworn declaration is not.
Commissioner for Oaths in Singapore: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
S$25 for the first document and S$10 for each additional one. These are prescribed rates, so they are the same wherever you go, and the number of pages does not change them. Anyone charging more is adding a fee of their own.
Do I need an appointment?
It is much better to make one, and it takes a moment. Tell us what the document is when you book, because occasionally the answer is that you need a notary public instead, and it saves you the journey.
What is the difference between an oath and an affirmation?
An oath is sworn, usually on a religious text; an affirmation is a solemn declaration without one. They have identical legal effect, and you may choose either. Nobody will ask you to explain your choice.
Can you certify a copy of my passport or degree certificate?
Yes, provided you bring the original. A true copy is certified by comparing it against the original in front of us, so a scan or a photocopy of a photocopy will not do. Note that if the certified copy is going overseas, you will need a notary public instead.
I already signed the document. Is that a problem?
Usually yes. The signature has to be made in the Commissioner’s presence, so a document signed in advance generally has to be signed again on a fresh copy. Bring an unsigned copy if you can.
Can you help me write the declaration itself?
Yes. Many people arrive with a requirement rather than a document. We can draft the statutory declaration so that it says what it needs to say, which matters, because a declaration that is vague or overstated is worse than useless.
My document says "before a Commissioner for Oaths" but it is going to another country. What now?
Treat that wording with caution. Foreign forms are frequently drafted on the assumption that they will be signed in their own country. Where a document is going abroad, the receiving authority will normally expect notarisation, and often authentication after that. Send it to us and we will confirm the chain before you commit to anything.
What clients say.
Was looking for a Notary Public to witness the signing of some documents for use in Malaysia and found JCP Law firm which had good reviews on the internet. True enough, it had been a wonderful and smooth process from the first phone call to find out more,…
We engaged JCP Law to assist a dear friend with her divorce. From the initial enquiry through to the conclusion of the matter, the team was respectful, professional, and supportive throughout.
I recently had certificates translated from Indonesian to English and certified by JCP. The service was excellent from start to finish. The team was professional, efficient, and the translations were accurate.
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