For criminal cases
If you are representing yourself in a criminal case, you should inform the court of the language you are comfortable communicating in when you are first charged in court.
Your language preference will be recorded by the court and an interpreter for the language you have selected will be requested by the court to attend your future court sessions (if any).
Estimated fees
Court interpretation services for criminal cases heard in the State Courts are free of charge.
For Magistrate's Complaints
If you are filing a Magistrate's Complaint, you may indicate your preferred language when you submit the Magistrate’s Complaint Form.
Arrangements will be made to assign an interpreter when required.
Estimated fees
Court interpretation services for Magistrate's Complaints are free of charge.
For civil cases (District Court and Magistrates' Court)
If you are representing yourself in a civil case heard in the District Court and Magistrate's Court, you should file a Request for Hearing Administrative Support via eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau for court interpretation services.
Parties who are represented may submit their request through their lawyer.
The request should contain the following information:
- The case number.
- The parties to the suit.
- The names of witnesses requiring an interpreter (if applicable).
- The court or chamber number the court proceeding is held.
- The stage of the proceedings (for example, fresh or adjourned hearing).
- The date and time of the hearing.
- In the event the hearing is fixed for more than 1 day, the date and time on which the interpreter’s services are required.
- The number of days for which the interpretation services are required.
- The language or dialect spoken by the witnesses requiring the interpretation services.
All requests should be submitted by one of the following time periods, depending on whichever comes earlier.
- No later than 2 working days from the date of the pre-trial conference (PTC) or other proceedings at which a hearing date has been scheduled.
- At least 2 weeks before the day on which court interpretation services are required.
If an interpreter is required and the court has not been informed or if the time periods stated have not been observed, any assignment of an interpreter will be subject to availability.
Estimated fees
Court interpretation services for civil cases heard in the District Court or Magistrate's Court are free of charge.
If a private interpreter is engaged for a language or dialect not provided by the State Courts, you will have to contact the private interpreter directly to find out their fees.
For civil cases (tribunals)
You may indicate your preferred language in the Community Justice and Tribunals System (CJTS) when you file the claim (if you are filing the claim) or when you first access the case online (if you are the party against whom the claim is filed).
Arrangements will be made to assign an interpreter when required.
Estimated fees
Court interpretation services for tribunal cases are free of charge.
If a private interpreter is engaged for a language or dialect not provided by the State Courts, you will have to contact the private interpreter directly to find out their fees.
For personal protection order and maintenance applications
You may inform the counter officer of your preferred language or dialect when completing your application at the Family Protection Centre (FPC) or Family Registry, Level 1 of the FJC. The assignment of an interpreter is subject to availability.
Once assigned, the interpreter will provide interpretation services when you:
- File your PPO or maintenance-related applications.
- (For PPO applications) Meet with the court family specialist (CFS) for your safety risk assessment after filing your application at the FPC.
- Attend court mentions and hearings for your PPO or maintenance-related matters.
- Attend maintenance-related mediation or PPO-related counselling sessions.
Arrangements will also be made for the parties against whom the application is made (the respondent) and witnesses who may require interpretation services.
Estimated fees
Court interpretation services and freelance interpreters arranged by the freelance interpreters’ administration team (FIAT) for PPO and maintenance applications are free of charge.
For Youth Courts applications
You may inform the investigation officers or Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) officers of your preferred language or dialect before attending court.
Alternatively, you may make a request for an interpreter when attending your court session through the court managers or judges presiding in the Youth Courts. The assignment of an interpreter will be subject to availability.
Estimated fees
Court interpretation services and freelance interpreters arranged by FIAT for Youth Courts applications are free of charge.
For other general legal proceedings
If you are representing yourself in any other cases heard in the FJC, you should file a Request for Hearing Administrative Support via eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau for court interpretation services.
Parties who are represented may submit their request through their lawyer.
The request should contain the following information:
- The case number.
- The parties to the suit.
- The names of witnesses requiring an interpreter (if applicable).
- The court or chamber number the court proceeding is held.
- The stage of the proceedings (for example, fresh or adjourned hearing).
- The date and time of the hearing.
- In the event the hearing is fixed for more than 1 day, the date and time on which interpretation services are required.
- The number of days for which interpretation services are required.
- The language or dialect spoken by the witnesses requiring the interpretation services.
All requests should be submitted by one of the following time periods, depending on whichever comes earlier.
- Within 7 days from a case conference.
- At least 2 weeks before a hearing.
If an interpreter is required and the court has not been informed or if the time periods stated have not been observed, any assignment of an interpreter will be subject to availability. Once assigned, the interpreter will provide interpretation services when you:
- Attend any related court-directed counselling.
- Attend any judge-led mediation sessions.
Estimated fees
Court interpretation services for divorce-related matters are free of charge.
If a private interpreter is engaged for a language or dialect not provided by the FJC, you will have to contact the private interpreter directly to find out their fees.
For criminal cases
If you are representing yourself in a criminal case and require an interpreter for the court proceedings, you should submit your request to the Crime Section, Legal Directorate of the Supreme Court.
If you are remanded, you can submit your request through the Singapore Prison Service.
Parties who are represented should submit a Request for Hearing Administrative Support via eLitigation through their lawyer.
All requests should be submitted no less than 7 working days before the day on which the services of an interpreter are required.
The interpreter will take note of the next hearing date.
Estimated fees
Court interpretation services for criminal cases heard in the Supreme Court are free of charge.
For civil and Family Division of the High Court cases
If you are representing yourself, you should submit the Request by Unrepresented Party for Interpretation Services Form.
​Parties who are represented must submit their request through their lawyer via eLitigation.
All requests should be submitted no less than 7 working days before the day on which the services of an interpreter are required. Parties will be informed of the outcome of their request within 3 working days upon receipt of the request by the Supreme Court.
Estimated fees
A fee of $300 per day or part thereof will be charged for open court hearings.
Court interpretation services for hearings in chambers are free of charge.
Any interpretation fees must be paid upon approval of the request. If you fail to pay the fee before the day the interpreter is required, the request will be cancelled and no interpreter will be provided.
If you are not able to pay the interpretation fees
If you are unable to pay the interpretation fee due to financial difficulties, you may file a request to waive or defer the payment of the fee via eLitigation. This request must be filed together with all supporting documents stating the reasons for the waiver or deferment at least 3 working days before the day the interpreter is required.
All requests for waiver or deferment are subject to the court's approval. If your request for waiver or deferment is disallowed by the court and payment has not been made, no interpreter will be provided on the day the interpreter is required.