Statutory Declarations in Malaysia: Declaring, Notarising and Legalising for Use Abroad

Oct 21

Short answer: a statutory declaration (akuan berkanun) is a written statement made under the Statutory Declarations Act 1960, in Malay or English, in the form set out in the Act. For use in Malaysia (JPN, land offices and other agencies), it is declared before a Commissioner for Oaths, a Magistrate or a Sessions Court Judge. For use abroad, it is declared before a Notary Public, then attested by Wisma Putra (Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and legalised by the destination country's embassy in Kuala Lumpur, with a certified translation where that country needs one. China requires the original.

We draft, notarise and legalise statutory declarations for use abroad. Our Notary Public works in the Klang Valley and can attend at your office there, and our team is certified by ITBM and DBP and includes High Court interpreters for the translation. Tell us what you need to declare on WhatsApp for a quote.

Last reviewed: October 2026.

What a statutory declaration is

A statutory declaration is made in Malay or English, in the form in the Schedule to the Statutory Declarations Act 1960: "I, … do solemnly and sincerely declare that … and I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the declaration to be true, and by virtue of the Statutory Declarations Act 1960." The declarant signs it in front of the officer, who verifies the declarant's identity; when the declarant does not understand the language of the declaration, it is read over and explained first.

A false statement in a statutory declaration is punished as false evidence under sections 199 and 193 of the Penal Code: up to three years' imprisonment and a fine, and more when it is used in court proceedings.

Official fees: RM 10 for each declaration and RM 10 for each exhibit it refers to (Statutory Declarations (Fees) Order, revised September 2026), plus RM 10 stamp duty under item 2 of the Stamp Act 1949 unless an exemption applies, such as a declaration made under a statutory requirement or at the direction of a government agency.

Who takes the declaration

For use in Malaysia: a Commissioner for Oaths, a Magistrate or a Sessions Court Judge. A Notary Public cannot take a declaration for use in a court or office in Malaysia, except to prove that a document was duly executed.
For use abroad: a Notary Public. The Notaries Public Act 1959 allows a notary to take a declaration "for the purpose of being used in any court or place outside Malaysia", and Wisma Putra lists statutory declarations among the documents to be endorsed by a Notary Public before attestation.
Made abroad, for use in Malaysia: a Malaysian embassy or consulate. Malaysian diplomatic and consular officers take declarations with the same effect as an officer in Malaysia (Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Act 1959), by appointment.

Common uses

JPN marital status letter: the single status certificate is issued with an AM80 statutory declaration stating your current status and why you need the letter. See the single status certificate guide.
Marriage registration at JPN: the application form (JPN.KC02) includes a statutory declaration.
Lost land title: heirs applying for a replacement title declare the loss on the land office's own form.
Abroad: declarations of single status, of a difference in names between documents, of facts a foreign registry, bank, court or immigration office asks you to confirm.

Using a statutory declaration abroad

Draft it in English (or Malay) in the statutory form, with exactly the facts the foreign office asked for, and attach the exhibits it refers to. We draft it from the office's checklist.
Declare it before a Notary Public in Malaysia, in person, with your MyKad or passport. The notary's certificate states what was done, and the declaration and its exhibits are bound together so that no page can be removed.
Wisma Putra attests the notary's signature. It works on a walk-in basis and usually returns documents the same day or the next working day; fees are in our legalisation fees tracker.
The destination country's embassy in Kuala Lumpur legalises it.
Translate it when the destination needs its own language: after Wisma Putra, so the stamps are translated too. See who can certify a translation.

Malaysia is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so this chain replaces an apostille. See apostille in Malaysia and our notarisation service.

Embassy rules that matter

China: the declaration must be the original; a copy is not accepted. It is notarised by a Malaysian notary, attested by Wisma Putra, bound as one volume with sealing wax, eyelets and a seal across the pages, and accompanied by a recognised Chinese translation. See legalisation for China.
Germany: only a Notary Public's certification is accepted, and private documents are bound under one Notarial Certificate; from our own submissions, the German Embassy does not legalise each page separately. See legalisation for Germany.
India: legal documents are attested by a Notary Public and by the Consular Division of Wisma Putra before the High Commission of India.
Thailand: an English translation certified for accuracy goes with the original to Wisma Putra and the Royal Thai Embassy (RM 60 per document). See legalisation for Thailand.

What gets a declaration refused

A declaration certified by a Commissioner for Oaths but meant for use abroad: a Commissioner for Oaths' certification is not recognised for international use at the German Embassy, and Wisma Putra lists statutory declarations for Notary Public endorsement.
A copy instead of the original, especially for China.
Loose pages: exhibits not bound with the declaration and the notarial certificate.
A declaration written in a language other than Malay or English: the Act allows only those two, so it is made in English and translated.
A notarial certificate that does not say what the notary did: "Simply signing the document is not sufficient."

Declarations made abroad for use in Malaysia

Declare it at the Malaysian embassy or consulate where you live, by appointment; the Consulate-General in Melbourne, for example, witnesses statutory declarations for AUD 5 per signature. A document in another language needs an English or Malay translation by a translator Wisma Putra accepts before a Malaysian office will use it; we translate foreign documents into English or Malay.

Ringkasan dalam Bahasa Melayu

Akuan berkanun dibuat di bawah Akta Akuan Berkanun 1960 dalam bahasa Melayu atau Inggeris. Untuk kegunaan dalam Malaysia, akuan dibuat di hadapan Pesuruhjaya Sumpah, Majistret atau Hakim Mahkamah Sesyen. Untuk kegunaan di luar negara, akuan dibuat di hadapan Notari Awam, kemudian disahkan oleh Wisma Putra dan kedutaan negara berkenaan; untuk China, dokumen asal diperlukan. Kami menyediakan draf, pengesahan notari, terjemahan bertauliah dan urusan Wisma Putra serta kedutaan.

中文简介

马来西亚的法定声明（Statutory Declaration，马来文 Akuan Berkanun）依据1960年《法定声明法令》以马来文或英文作出。在马来西亚境内使用的，在宣誓官（Commissioner for Oaths）、推事或地庭法官面前作出；在海外使用的，须在公证人（Notary Public）面前作出，再经马来西亚外交部（Wisma Putra）认证及目的国大使馆认证。送往中国使用的法定声明必须提交原件，装订成册并附中文翻译。我们提供起草、公证、认证翻译及外交部和使馆认证服务。

Common questions

Can a Commissioner for Oaths sign my statutory declaration for use overseas?

Usually not. Wisma Putra lists statutory declarations among the documents endorsed by a Notary Public, and embassies such as Germany's accept only a notary's certification. A few embassies accept either; the Philippine Embassy, for example, accepts a Commissioner for Oaths or a Notary Public.

How much does a statutory declaration cost?

The official fees are RM 10 per declaration, RM 10 per exhibit and RM 10 stamp duty unless exempt. Notarisation, Wisma Putra, the embassy and any translation are separate; we give one fixed quotation for the whole chain.

Can my statutory declaration be in Chinese?

No. The Act allows Malay or English only. Make it in English and attach a certified Chinese translation when the destination needs one.

Do I have to be there in person?

Yes. You declare it in person before the officer, who checks your identity. If you are abroad, declare it at the Malaysian embassy or consulate for use in Malaysia.

How long does it take?

Notarisation takes one business day after payment, Wisma Putra usually the same or the next working day, and the embassy its own processing time, for example about four working days at the Chinese visa centre.

Related guides

Sources:

Zhihan Chew