Arrange for Commissioner for Oaths services

Who is a Commissioner for Oaths

A Commissioner for Oaths (CFO) may be a lawyer, court interpreter, government official or any other individual who is authorised to administer oaths and affirmations.

Legal documents that need to be sworn or affirmed before a CFO include affidavits and statutory declarations to be used in Singapore.

CFOs are appointed by the Board of Commissioners for Oaths and Notaries Public.

Differences between swearing and affirming

Both swearing and affirmation have the same legal effect: you promise that you will tell the truth. Whether you swear or affirm depends on your religion:

• If you are a Christian or a Catholic, you are required to hold the bible while swearing your affidavit.
• In all other cases, you will make an affirmation instead.

How to arrange for the courts' Commissioner for Oaths services

The SG Courts provide CFO services for documents to be used in proceedings in the following courts:

• Supreme Court
• State Courts
• Family Justice Courts

By appointment only

CFO services at the courts are available by appointment only. To request SG Courts’ CFO services, you must submit the Request for Commissioner for Oath Services Form. A confirmation email with the appointment date and time will be sent to you thereafter.

Mode of Commissioning

You may choose between attending physically or virtually via video conference (e-commissioning). 

Physical Attendance

Book your appointment at least 2 working days in advance (this would exclude the day the request is made and the weekends. For example, if the request for an appointment is made on a Monday, the earliest available appointment will be on Wednesday, or if the request is made on a Friday, the earliest available appointment will be on Tuesday of the following week).

What to bring: 

• (For Singapore citizens or permanent residents) National Registration Identity Card (NRIC). 
• (For foreigners) Foreign Identification Number card (FIN) or passport.
• Your document(s) to be affirmed or sworn.

At the court: 

• Take a queue number at the kiosk (at the Supreme Court and State Courts) or inform the counter officer (at the Family Justice Courts) that you have an appointment for CFO service.
• Pay the commissioning fee after the CFO has checked and confirmed that your document is in order.
• The CFO will administer the oath or affirmation for your document thereafter.

Virtual Attendance (e-commissioning)

Book your appointment at least 8 working days in advance (this would exclude the day the request is made and the weekends. For example, if the request for an appointment is made on a Monday, the earliest available appointment will be on Thursday of the following week).

Requirements for e-commissioning

The service is applicable only to deponent(s) who are swearing or affirming affidavits for use in court proceedings in Singapore. Appointments for e-commissioning must be made at least 8 working days in advance. Deponent(s) must:

• Be physically present in Singapore during the e-commissioning session.
• Have a Singpass account and the app downloaded in your smart phone.
• Have a laptop or computer to access internet and Zoom for the purposes of appearing before the commissioner via video conferencing.
• Have a smart phone to access the Singpass app to facilitate digital signing.
• Be alone in a room or space when affirming or taking the oath.
• Engage a competent interpreter if unable to converse in English, local languages or local dialects. 
• Have valid government-issued photo identification documents (For example, NRIC, passport, employment pass or Singpass) ready for identification during the e-commissioning session. The same applies for the interpreter (if any).
• Have a bible with you during the e-commissioning session if you wish to swear on instead of affirm your affidavit.

Requirements for affidavit format:

• A space of at least 13.5cm (W) x 4.5cm (H) must be provided at every signing field.
• Indication in the jurat(s) and marks on the exhibits that commissioning was administered remotely, and that both the CFO and deponent (and interpreter, if any) were physically in Singapore at the time of the commissioning.
• Sample jurat format:

Sworn (or affirmed) remotely on the ______day of ______2024 in
Singapore (through the interpretation of ________).

Attach your unsigned affidavit and exhibits (if any) in PDF or Word format for commissioning in your request for e-commissioning appointment.

Instructions on payment for the service and accessing the digital signing platform will be provided in our confirmation email to you.

Estimated Fees

Interpretation Services

The SG Courts offer interpretation services in Chinese (Mandarin), Malay, Tamil and local dialects for those who need assistance understanding or communicating during their appointment.

• For interpretation in the above languages, please indicate when filling in the Request for Commissioner for Oath Services Form.
• For other languages, you are required to engage a qualified interpreter to be present at your appointment.

Documents not used in court proceedings

Members of the public who require CFO services for non-court matters should approach CFOs outside of the courts.

Refer to the Singapore Academy of Law's CFO directory.

Who cannot commission your document

If you have a lawyer, the CFO who administers your oath or affirmation cannot be:

• Your lawyer.
• A person who belongs to the same law firm or practice as your lawyer.

Documents to be used overseas

Court CFOs are not authorised to sign documents for use in foreign countries. Such documents must be notarised by a Notary Public.

Refer to directory of Notaries Public at SAL Commissioners for Oaths & Notaries Public.

Resources