Passport Translation Services in Singapore
Need a certified passport translation in Singapore? Most of our passport jobs go the other way: a Singapore passport translated into Thai, Chinese, Russian or Spanish for an embassy or office abroad. Those offices usually want the translation notarised and apostilled by SAL. For ICA files in Singapore, a non-English passport page needs an embassy translation, a notary's translation, or a private translation that is notarised. Banks, schools and MOM accept a certified one. We tell you which you need, then handle the translation, the Notary Public and SAL for you.
Quick answer: A certified passport translation starts from S$40 a page and takes 24 to 48 hours. The notarised version for an embassy or ICA (translation + notary + SAL) starts from S$202.20 for the 1-page photo page and usually takes 3 to 7 working days. Need it fast? Send it before 11am on a weekday for same-day translation of a short document. The notary and SAL steps then add a few working days.
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Certified, Notarised or Apostilled Passport Translation: Which One Do You Need?
There are three levels of official translation. The right one depends on who will read your passport pages. Most people only need one level. Sending it to an embassy or to ICA? You need card 2.
1. Certified Translation
- Who signs it: Our translator and our company, with a signed statement that the translation matches the original.
- Used for: Banks, schools and universities, employers and MOM work pass files.
- Time: 24 to 48 hours.
2. Notarised Translation
- Who signs it: A Notary Public in Singapore, after our translator signs the translation.
- Used for: Foreign embassies and offices abroad, and ICA PR, citizenship and LTVP files.
- Extra step: A Notary Public's signature in Singapore must then be authenticated by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL). We arrange it, and the S$87.20 SAL fee is included.
- Time: 3 to 7 working days.
3. Going Abroad: Apostille or Embassy Legalisation
- Who signs it: SAL adds an apostille. Some countries also want their embassy's stamp.
- Used for: A passport copy or translation leaving Singapore for a visa, marriage, company or property file.
One thing we will always tell you straight
ICA does not endorse any private translation company, and no company can promise that your file will be approved. What matters is that your translation is in the form the office accepts. We tell you which form that is before you pay. If your passport is going into a PR, citizenship or LTVP file, see how our ICA translation service handles the full set.
Passport Translation From and Into 200+ Languages
Most passports already have an English photo page. You may still need a translation when you need your Singapore passport in Thai, Chinese, Russian, Spanish or Arabic for an office abroad; when your passport has pages only in its own script, such as Chinese observation (备注) pages, Burmese, Thai or Arabic notes; when an office wants your visa, entry and residence stamps in English; or when your name is written in its own script, such as Chinese characters or Korean Hangul, and must match your other papers.
Also: Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Burmese, Bahasa Indonesia, Malay, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, French, Arabic
We work from and into more than 200 languages. Rare languages cost more, so tell us the language and we will quote.
Singapore Passport Translation for Overseas Use
Most of our passport jobs are Singapore passports going to an embassy or office abroad. Here is what each country usually wants.
Thailand
Long-stay visa and marriage files often want a Thai translation. Thailand joins the Apostille Convention on 28 Feb 2027. Until then, we add Thai embassy legalisation after SAL.
China and Russia
Both accept the SAL apostille. We translate the passport, a Notary Public signs it, and SAL apostilles it. No embassy stamp is needed.
Spain and Latin America
Company and residence files often want a Spanish translation of a notarised and apostilled passport copy. Some offices want their own sworn translator, so we check with them first.
Gulf Countries
Saudi Arabia accepts the SAL apostille. The UAE and Qatar still want an Arabic translation plus embassy legalisation. We prepare the file in the right order.
Good to Know
Singapore has no state-appointed sworn translators. A "sworn translation" means a translator's affidavit of accuracy, sworn before a Notary Public in Singapore and then apostilled by SAL, or a translator on an embassy's own list.
How to Get Your Passport Translated in Singapore
Four steps, and we handle the notary and SAL for you.
Send a clear scan
Send the photo page, any page with stamps or notes you need, and your other passports if your name was spelt differently before. Lay the passport flat, with no flash, and show all four corners.
Get a price and a plan
Tell us the office and the country. Within an hour you get a fixed, itemised price and we tell you if you need certified, notarised, a certified true copy or an embassy stamp.
Translation and check
A translator works on every page you need. A second person checks your name, birth date, place of birth and passport number against the original. You can see the draft before anything is signed.
Notary and SAL if needed
Embassy and ICA files go to a Notary Public and then to SAL. You get one PDF with a copy of the original, the translation, the notarial certificate and the SAL certificate, plus the signed paper set. Certified files come as a signed PDF, with a paper copy on request. Courier for a small fee, or collect from our office.
Why People Trust Us With Passport Translation in Singapore
Four things we do on every passport file.
One Spelling on Every Paper
Your name is matched across every document in the same file. If an old passport spelt it differently, we add a note.
Nothing on the Page Is Skipped
Every seal, stamp, issuing office and handwritten note you need is translated, not left out.
Notary Step Handled Here
We work with a partner Notary Public in Singapore and send the paper on to SAL after that. You do not have to book a lawyer or queue anywhere yourself.
Honest Timelines
Certified translation takes 24 to 48 hours. The notarised set with SAL takes 3 to 7 working days. If an embassy stamp is needed, we tell you the extra time before you pay.
A Real Job: Chinese Passport Pages Translated and Notarised for an ICA PR File
An Employment Pass holder was applying for PR and had six days to submit. He needed six pages: the photo page and five pages of red stamps.
Passport Translation
Chinese passport issued by the Exit and Entry Administration, Shanghai: photo page and five stamp pages
Six pages, with red stamps. The family name was printed before the given name.
What the client needed
Employment Pass holder applying for PR
- His family name was printed before his given name.
- His birth county was also written two ways on his older papers.
- He had six days to submit.
What we did
One order, from translation to SAL
- We read every seal and the issuing office, and kept all dates as printed.
- We set the name order to match his other papers and added a note on the old county name.
- The six pages stayed in passport order.
- He saw a first draft the next morning.
- The Notary Public signed it and SAL authenticated it. The set was ready in about 3 working days.
How Much Does Passport Translation Cost in Singapore?
Most people need only the photo page, which is one page. Stamp pages are added only if your office asks for them. You get a fixed, itemised price within an hour. Several documents? Send them together for one bundled quote with an itemised breakdown.
For Embassies and ICA: Certified + Notarised
3-7 daysper 1-page photo page, notary + SAL included
- Translation, notarial certificate and SAL apostille in one price
- +S$40 for each extra page
- Embassy legalisation quoted separately, only if the country needs it
- PDF of the full set, plus the signed paper set
Certified Translation
24-48 hrsStarting from
- Signed translator statement and company seal
- Name, birth date, birth place and issuing office checked
- For banks, schools, employers and MOM
- Signed PDF, paper copy on request
Urgent
Same day*Extra charge
- *Same-day translation if sent before 11am on a weekday (short documents)
- PDF first, paper copy after
- The notary and SAL steps still take a few working days.
Rare languages: Rare languages cost more. Tell us the language and we will quote.
What Clients Say About Our Passport Translation Service
Real Client Experiences
Real Client Experiences
Swipe to read more success stories
Bank Opening Finally Done
"While opening a bank account, they asked for translated passport. I did not expect that. This team explained clearly and kept things simple. I sent photo on WhatsApp. File was..."
Work Pass Stress Reduced
"My work pass application was on hold due to passport language issue. I felt stuck. They guided me step by step. Translation matched every detail. MOM accepted it after upload...."
Embassy Asked Last Minute
"Just before embassy visit, they asked for translated passport. Time was short. This service handled it calmly. They worked fast and sent correct file. Embassy accepted without question. Very thankful..."
Name Order Finally Correct
"My passport name order always causes problem. This time they checked carefully before final copy. They asked questions and confirmed. ICA accepted without any follow?up. That attention saved me from..."
Student Admission Went Smooth
"University asked for English passport copy during admission. I felt confused. They explained clearly and kept things simple. Translation was neat. Upload to school portal went through easily. No extra..."
Same Day Saved Everything
"ICA portal deadline was closing. I contacted them early morning. They replied fast and delivered translation same day. I uploaded just in time. Without this service, my submission would fail."
Clear Talk No Confusion
"Some services use hard words. This team spoke simply. They told me what was needed and what was not. Translation was accurate. I felt calm during submission instead of worried."
Rejected Once Fixed Fast
"My first passport translation from another place got rejected. I came here next. They corrected format and details quickly. New file was accepted. I wish I came here first."
Travel Paper Made Easy
"For overseas visa, embassy asked for translated passport. I was worried about mistakes. They handled it carefully and kept details exact. Embassy accepted without question. Travel planning continued smoothly."
Family Application Felt Lighter
"Handling family documents is tiring. This service took care of passport translation calmly. They guided patiently. ICA accepted the file. It reduced stress during family application time."
Other Papers You May Need for the Same Application
Send your passport pages with the other papers in your file, so your name is spelt the same way on every page.
Helpful guides
Send Your Passport and We Will Take It From There
Send your passport pages and the other papers in your file in one go. One order means one price and one spelling of your name on every page.
Common Questions About Passport Translation
Straight answers to the questions we hear most about passport pages.
FAQ Group
Does ICA accept a certified passport translation? Is your company approved by ICA?
No. ICA does not endorse any private translation company. For PR, citizenship and LTVP, ICA accepts an embassy translation, a notary's translation, or a private translation that is notarised or embassy-attested. We do the notarised route for you. Banks, schools and MOM accept a certified translation.
How much does passport translation cost in Singapore?
Certified translation starts at S$40 a page. The notarised version with SAL starts at S$202.20 for the 1-page photo page, and each extra page adds S$40. Same-day translation adds S$20 a page. Send us the scan and you get a fixed, itemised price within the hour.
Do I need SAL authentication or an apostille?
If a Singapore notary signs your translation, SAL must authenticate it with an apostille. We arrange this, and the S$87.20 fee is included. Apostille countries need nothing more. Countries outside the Convention, such as the UAE, Qatar and, until 28 Feb 2027, Thailand, also need their embassy's stamp.
My appointment is in a few days. Can you still help?
The translation can be ready the same day if you send a short document before 11am on a weekday. The notary and SAL steps depend on their diaries and usually add a few working days. Message us on WhatsApp today and we will tell you honestly whether your date is possible.
Do I get a paper copy as well as the PDF? And do you need my passport?
A clear scan is enough to start, and your passport stays with you. Notarised sets are made on paper because the notary signs a physical page. You also get a PDF of the full set. If the notary must see the passport itself, for example for a certified true copy, we tell you first.
Part of my passport is already in English. Do I still need a translation?
Not always. If every page your office needs is fully in English, no translation is needed. Pages with notes, stamps or names only in another script usually do. Send us a photo and we will check for free.
Can you translate my Singapore passport into Thai, Chinese or Russian for an embassy?
Yes. We translate the photo page, a Notary Public signs it, and SAL adds the apostille. China and Russia accept that directly. Thailand also needs Thai embassy legalisation until it joins the Apostille Convention on 28 Feb 2027.
What is the difference between a passport translation and a certified true copy?
A translation puts the passport's words into another language. A certified true copy is a copy that a notary confirms matches your real passport. Many offices abroad want the true copy, and some want it translated too. We can arrange both in one order.
Do I send only the photo page, or the stamp pages too?
Usually only the photo page. Stamp pages are needed only when an office asks to see where and when you travelled or lived. Ask your office first, so you do not pay for pages you do not need.
My old passport spells my name differently. Is that a problem?
Usually not, if you send both passports. We follow the spelling on your current passport and add a short note that the old spelling belongs to the same person.
Get Your Passport Translation Done the Right Way
Send a photo of your passport page and tell us the office and country. You get a fixed price and the right route within an hour.