Malay-English Certified Translation for Singapore (ICA, MOM)
We provide certified and notarised Malay-English translations that ICA, MOM and Singapore universities accept. Our Notaries Public are based in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. Send your document on WhatsApp for a quote.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Short answer
Singapore agencies want an English translation of any Malaysian document that is not in English. The strictest is the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), which handles PR, citizenship and long-term visit passes. ICA accepts a translation only if it comes from the embassy of the issuing country or a notary public, or if a private translation has been attested or notarised that way. So for ICA, have the Malay-English translation notarised. We translate and notarise in one order.
What ICA accepts
ICA accepts translations that are:
provided by the embassy of the country that issued the document;
produced by a notary public in Singapore or in the country that issued the document; or
attested by that embassy, or notarised by a notary public in Singapore or in the issuing country.
ICA states that it does not endorse any private translation company. A translation stamped only by a Malaysian translation body, such as ITBM, DBP or the Malaysian Translators Association, or by a High Court interpreter, is therefore not enough on its own. Once a Notary Public notarises it, ICA accepts it.
The notary must be in Singapore or in the country that issued the document. A Malaysian notary can notarise the translation of a Malaysian document, but not of an Australian one. Our notaries in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia cover documents issued in all three. For background on each translation body, see Who can certify a translation in Malaysia?.
What other Singapore authorities ask for
Ministry of Manpower (Employment Pass, S Pass, dependants' passes): a translated copy of any document not in English, submitted with the original. A notarised translation is the safest choice if the same documents will later go to ICA.
Universities and schools: official English translations of transcripts and certificates. Check each institution's application checklist; NUS, for example, lists its own requirements.
Singapore PR applications: some documents also need legalisation. See Singapore PR: legalising Malaysian documents.
Registry of Marriages, courts and lawyers: each sets its own rules. Ask which form of translation they accept before ordering, especially for court affidavits.
Malaysian documents most often translated for Singapore
Birth certificates and JPN extracts: the document we translate most for Singapore. We translate the whole certificate, including the registrar's stamps and any later amendments. See the birth certificate guide.
Marriage certificates and divorce decrees: marriage and divorce guide.
SPM, STPM, degrees and transcripts: academic documents guide.
Certificate of Good Conduct: police clearance guide.
Company documents, contracts and court papers: Malay-English legal translation.
How we handle a Singapore order
You send a scan of the document on WhatsApp or email, and tell us which Singapore authority will receive it.
A certified translator translates every part of the document, including stamps and handwritten notes, and a second translator reviews it.
A Notary Public notarises the translation when the authority needs it, as ICA does. See the notarisation guide for Singapore.
We return the notarised translation as a hard copy, and a scan for online applications.
Our team is certified by ITBM, DBP and the Malaysian Translators Association, includes Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak High Court interpreters and NAATI-certified translators, and works with Notaries Public in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.
The Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur also offers notarial services; check its page for what it currently provides.
Common questions
Will ICA accept a translation stamped by ITBM, DBP or MTA?
Not on its own. ICA accepts translations from the issuing country's embassy or a notary public, or private translations attested or notarised that way. We notarise the translation so ICA accepts it.
Do I need Wisma Putra attestation for Singapore?
It depends on the authority and the document. The Singapore PR guide explains when legalisation is needed; for anything else, ask the receiving authority before you start.
Can I submit a scan of the translation?
Yes. ICA and MOM take uploads for online applications, and most Singapore authorities accept a scan of a notarised translation. Keep the original, as it can be requested later.
How fast can you translate for Singapore?
Translation can be done the same day; see our same-day certified translation service in Kuala Lumpur. Notarisation adds time, depending on the notary.
Why does a one-page certified translation take time?
Every certified translation goes through five steps: text extraction and formatting, translation, a first review, layout that mirrors the original, and a final review before it is signed and stamped. Each step is done or checked by a qualified translator. Skipping any of them is how errors reach ICA.
What if ICA rejects the translation?
If an authority rejects a certified translation we prepared within 30 days of delivery, we re-do it free.
Related guides
Sources: