ICA Translation Services in Singapore
ICA needs every document that is not in English to come with an official translation. ICA accepts three kinds: a translation by the embassy of the country that issued the document, a translation by a notary public (in Singapore or in that country), or a private translation that the embassy has attested or a notary public has notarised. ICA does not endorse any private translation company, so a company stamp alone is not enough. We do the translation and arrange the Notary Public and the SAL step for PR, citizenship, LTVP, Student's Pass and other ICA files.
Quick answer: A certified translation starts from S$40 a page and takes 24 to 48 hours. The ICA version (translation + notary + SAL) starts from S$202.20 for a 1-page document and usually takes 3 to 7 working days. Need it fast? Send a short document before 11am on a weekday for same-day translation. The notary and SAL steps then add a few working days.
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Looking for a Translation "Certified by ICA"? What ICA Actually Accepts
ICA does not certify, approve or list any translation company, so no one can sell you a translation "certified by ICA". What ICA checks is the route the translation took. For most private translations, that means a notary. Filing with ICA? You only need card 2.
1. Certified Translation
- Who signs it: Our translator and our company, with a signed and dated statement that the English is complete and correct.
- Used for: Checking your papers before you file, MOM passes, schools, banks and offices that take a certified translation.
- Time: 24 to 48 hours.
- From: S$40 per page.
2. Notarised Translation (for ICA)
- Who signs it: A Notary Public in Singapore (a senior lawyer), who notarises our certified translation.
- Used for: ICA PR, citizenship, LTVP and LTVP+, PMLA follow-up papers, Student's Pass, registrations and IC updates.
- Extra step: SAL then authenticates every notarised document with an apostille. The S$87.20 SAL fee is included.
- Time: 3 to 7 working days.
- From: S$202.20 for a 1-page document (S$40 translation + S$75 notary + S$87.20 SAL).
3. Going Abroad: Apostille or Embassy Legalisation
- Who signs it: The Notary Public, then SAL, and for some countries the embassy too.
- Used for: Papers that leave Singapore, such as an ICA letter translated for your old country's embassy when you give up that citizenship.
- Time: 3 to 7 working days, plus the embassy's own time where needed.
- From: Included with notarisation; embassy legalisation quoted on request.
One thing we will always tell you straight
ICA does not endorse any private translation company. No company in Singapore can promise you that ICA will say yes. What ICA looks at is the route the translation took: an embassy, a notary, or a private translation that was notarised or attested later. So we do not sell you a promise. We build your file in the exact shape ICA asks for, and we tell you honestly when you do not need an extra step. Applying for PR? Our PR application document translation page has the full PR checklist.
ICA Translation From Malay, Chinese, Indonesian and 200+ Languages
Most ICA files we see come in Malay, such as a Malaysian Sijil Kelahiran (birth certificate) or SPM and school papers; Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), such as a 出生医学证明, a household register (户口簿) or a 离婚证; Indonesian, such as an Akta Kelahiran or a Kartu Keluarga; German, French and Japanese, such as birth, divorce and family records; and Tamil, Hindi, Thai and Burmese, such as birth certificates and family registers.
Also: Ukrainian, Hungarian, Dutch, Latin and other rarer languages
We also translate papers that are only partly in another language, such as a birth certificate with Tamil entries or an English record with a foreign stamp. Every seal, stamp and side note is translated. Rarer languages such as Ukrainian, Hungarian, Dutch or Latin may cost more and take a little longer, so tell us the language and we confirm both before we start.
Documents We Translate for ICA, by Application
ICA may ask for papers beyond these lists, so always check the checklist in your own application. Several documents? Send them together for one bundled quote.
PR
Birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce papers, degree certificates and transcripts, payslips and employment letters. The full list by applicant type is on our PR application page.
Citizenship
The same family papers, plus a household register where your country uses one. ICA asks for certified true copies of the originals.
LTVP for a Spouse
An overseas marriage certificate, divorce judgments, the death certificate of a former spouse, a deed poll for a name change, an employment letter, 6 months of payslips and, if you work overseas, 3 years of tax papers.
LTVP for a Parent of a Student, and Student's Pass
The student's birth certificate, the parents' birth certificates or household register, the parents' marriage certificate, and any divorce, separation or custody papers.
Registrations, IC Re-registration and Update of Particulars
Registrations: a foreign death certificate when a citizen dies overseas, or a foreign marriage certificate when you register a birth in Singapore. IC re-registration and update of particulars: a foreign marriage certificate for a married name, a deed poll, or a baptism or religious certificate.
ICA Translation From Overseas or in Singapore: 4 Steps in the Right Order
Four simple steps, from your scan to a set that is ready to upload.
Send clear photos or scans
Include the back of each page, the stamps and the small print. Add the passport page of each person named so we can match the spelling. Tell us which ICA application it is for. Keep your originals at home.
Get a price and a plan
We reply within an hour with a fixed, itemised price, and we tell you which papers need the notary and SAL steps and which do not.
Translation and check
A human translator does the work. A second person checks every name, date, number and seal against the original and the passports.
Notary, SAL and your upload file
We send the translation to a Notary Public in Singapore and then to SAL for the apostille. You get one PDF per document with the original, the translation, the notary page and the SAL page, ready to upload in ICA's e-Service, plus the signed paper set. Courier for a small fee, or collect from our office.
Why Applicants Trust Us With Their ICA Translations
What you get with every ICA translation we prepare.
We Tell You What ICA Accepts
We quote ICA's own rule, not a sales line. If an embassy translation or a notary in your home country is easier for you, we say so.
Names Matched to Passports
Every name is spelt the way your passport spells it. Where two papers differ, we add a short translator's note so the officer sees one person, not two.
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. With the notary and SAL steps, the whole job usually takes 3 to 7 working days. We tell you the real date, not a nice one.
A Typical Job: Hindi Birth Certificate and Transcripts for a PR File, Sent From Overseas
This is how a typical job of this kind runs. A client living overseas was preparing a Singapore PR application and sent us a Hindi birth certificate and a set of academic transcripts. The client could not come to Singapore, so everything ran on scans.
Birth Certificate and Transcript Translation
Original
A Hindi birth certificate and a set of academic transcripts, sent as scans from overseas.
What the client needed
Overseas client preparing a Singapore PR application
- The client could not come to Singapore, so everything had to run on scans.
- The names and the date of birth had to match the passport, and every subject name and grade had to match the originals.
What we did
One order, run fully on scans
- We worked from the client's scans.
- We matched the names and the date of birth to the passport.
- We checked every subject name and grade on the transcripts against the originals.
- The English translation was ready in 48 hours.
- The notary and SAL steps followed, and the full set was ready within the quoted time for upload in ICA's e-Service.
How Much Does ICA Translation Cost in Singapore?
You pay per page and per document, and you get a fixed price before we start. Most ICA files have more than one paper, so send them together for one bundled quote with an itemised breakdown.
Notarised for ICA
3-7 daysStarting from, 1-page document, notary + SAL included
- Includes the notary fee (S$75) and the SAL fee (S$87.20)
- +S$40 for each extra page
- PDF for the ICA e-Service upload plus the signed paper set
Certified Translation
24-48 hrsStarting from
- Signed and stamped by our company
- For MOM, schools, banks, and for checking your papers before you notarise
- Signed PDF, paper copy on request
Urgent
Same day*Extra charge
- *Same-day translation if sent before 11am on a weekday (short documents)
- The notary and SAL steps still take a few working days, depending on the notary's schedule
Worked example: a citizenship set (from a real enquiry). A Malaysian applicant needs a 1-page birth certificate and a 5-page divorce certificate translated from Malay for a citizenship file. Birth certificate, notarised: S$202.20. Divorce certificate, notarised: S$202.20 + 4 extra pages × S$40 = S$362.20. Total: from S$564.40, ready in 3 to 7 working days. This assumes each document gets its own notarial certificate and SAL apostille. Your quote shows the exact count before you pay. Rare languages: Malay, Chinese, Indonesian and the other main languages are standard for us. Rarer languages, old handwritten records and very faded papers may cost more or take longer, and we tell you before we start.
What ICA Applicants Say
Here is what clients said after we translated papers for their ICA files.
Real Client Experiences
Swipe to read more success stories
A Big Relief Before Submission Deadline
"After my ICA documents were returned due to wrong translation, I felt very stressed. A friend suggested this team. I resubmitted through the ICA online portal without worry. Price was..."
Clear Guidance for ICA Online Upload
"Choosing the right translator was confusing. I needed income proof translated for PR submission. The team guided me on file format and ICA portal upload. The translation matched my payslips..."
Deadline Saved for Same?Day Submission
"During my PR appeal, ICA asked for extra translated documents urgently. I contacted them in the morning. By evening, everything was ready and certified. They responded quickly on WhatsApp and..."
Easy Process for Spouse PR Papers
"Even though this was my first time handling PR for my husband, the process felt simple with their help. They translated our marriage certificate clearly and kept formatting neat. ICA..."
Fast Fix for Name Mismatch Issue
"Facing a name spelling difference between passport and birth certificate was stressful. They noticed it immediately and adjusted the translation correctly. ICA did not raise any issue after that. Communication..."
Great Support for Family PR Bundle
"Getting documents ready for my whole family PR application was overwhelming. They handled three birth certificates and one marriage certificate together. Everything was consistent and clear. The price package was..."
Helpful Advice Before Appeal Submission
"Having a rejected PR once already made me very careful this time. They reviewed my translated employment letter properly. You corrected small date errors. I felt more confident before sending..."
Instant Response When ICA Asked Extra Docs
"Just two days before deadline, ICA requested additional income documents in English. I contacted them urgently. This service replied within minutes and started work the same day. The translation looked..."
Job Letter Translation Done Right
"Keeping my employment letter accurate was very important for PR. They double checked company name, salary amount, and dates carefully. The translated copy matched my original document clearly."
Knowledgeable Team for ICA Requirements
"Looking for someone who understands ICA rules was my main concern. This team knew exactly what format ICA prefers. My birth certificate translation was done neatly and stamped properly. No..."
Other Papers and Guides for Your ICA Application
An ICA file rarely has one paper. We run the set as one job, so every name is spelt the same way on every page.
Helpful guides
Several Documents? One Bundled Quote
Send them together for one bundled quote with an itemised breakdown.
Common Questions About ICA Translation
Short, direct answers to the questions clients ask us most.
FAQ Group
Does ICA accept a certified translation, or does it need to be notarised?
For a private translation, plan for notarised. ICA accepts an embassy translation, a translation by a notary public in Singapore or the issuing country, or a private translation that the embassy has attested or a notary has notarised. ICA does not endorse any translation company, so a company stamp alone is not enough. We do the translation and the notarisation in one order.
How much does ICA translation cost in Singapore?
A certified translation starts at S$40 a page. The ICA version, with translation, notary and SAL, starts at S$202.20 for a 1-page document, and each extra page adds S$40. Same-day translation costs S$20 more a page for short documents sent before 11am on a weekday. Send us your papers and we will give you a fixed, itemised price within an hour.
Do I need SAL authentication or an apostille for ICA?
You do not need a separate step. When a Singapore notary signs your translation, SAL must authenticate it, and since 16 September 2021 it does this with an apostille. We arrange it, and the S$87.20 fee is included in our notarised price. Embassy legalisation is only needed for some countries abroad, not for ICA.
My ICA deadline is in a few days. Can you still help?
Often, yes. 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 schedules and usually add a few working days. Message us on WhatsApp today with your deadline, and we will tell you honestly whether it is possible.
Do I get a PDF for the ICA e-Service and a paper copy? Do you need my originals?
Yes to both, and no. A clear photo or scan is enough to start, and your originals stay with you. We email one PDF per document with the original, translation, notary and SAL pages, ready to upload in ICA's e-Service. The signed paper set is yours to keep in case ICA asks to see it. Collect it from our office, or we courier it for a small fee.
Can I translate my own documents, or use Google Translate or a freelancer?
Not on their own. A translation by you, a friend, an app or an online freelancer is not one of the three routes ICA lists. It would still need to be notarised by a notary or attested by your embassy, and a notary will not sign a translation they cannot rely on. It is simpler to start with a professional translation that goes straight to the notary.
Do I need translated documents for the PMLA?
Usually not for the assessment itself. The PMLA is a free online form in English that asks about you and your partner. After the marriage, the LTVP application asks for the papers, such as an overseas marriage certificate, divorce judgments and payslips. Any paper not in English then needs an official translation. Getting them ready early stops them holding up the LTVP.
What do I need translated for a Student's Pass?
Any paper you upload that is not in English, such as school certificates, birth certificates or medical reports. If a parent applies for an LTVP to stay with the student, ICA also asks for the student's and parents' birth certificates, the parents' marriage certificate and any custody papers. Each follows the same ICA rule, so plan for notarised. Tell us the school's list and we price the set.
My document is mostly English, or I only need some pages translated. Is that allowed?
Every part that is not in English needs translating, including stamps, seals and handwritten notes. If a document is already in English except for a stamp or a few entries, we translate those parts and keep the layout clear. If only some pages of a long document are in another language, send it all and we tell you which pages need work before you pay.
My Singapore citizenship was approved. Do I need a translation for my old embassy?
Often, yes. Many countries ask you to renounce your old citizenship at their embassy, and some want the ICA letter or your marriage certificate in their own language. We translate it into that language and have it notarised with the SAL apostille. If the country is not in the Apostille Convention, we also arrange the embassy's stamp. Check your embassy's list first.
Get Your ICA Translation Done the Right Way
Send photos of your papers, tell us which ICA application they are for, and get a fixed, itemised price within an hour.