Singapore and the Netherlands at a glance
- Stamp
- Apostille, Hague Convention in force for Singapore since 16 September 2021
- Issued by
- Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), the only apostille authority
- Language
- English, accepted as it is
- Register
- ACRA, the Singapore company register (online)
- Tax treaty
- Signed 1971, in force 1971 (Rijksoverheid, 1 October 2026)
- EU trade
- Free Trade Agreement, 2019, and Digital Trade Agreement, 2026
- In the Netherlands
- 180 companies controlled from Singapore in 2024, 145 in 2021 (+24.1%), about 7,000 jobs, €4.8 billion turnover, 0.9% of all 19,995 foreign-controlled companies (CBS, 9 October 2026)
- Moving here
- Residence permit needed
Documents from Singapore
Passport copy, certified by a notary in Singapore.
Proof of address in Singapore, at most three months old.
Power of attorney. Sign the power of attorney before a Singapore notary public. The notary submits it to SAL for authentication and the apostille.
Ownership statement, one page from us.
The apostille. Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), the only apostille authority. Every notarised document must have a SAL apostille (about S$87). Business Profiles from the Singapore company register (ACRA) can get a direct e-apostille from SAL, skipping the notary, for about S$11.
Good to know. Order the ACRA Business Profile in the format that SAL accepts for a direct e-apostille. This way, you avoid a notary visit for the extract. The power of attorney still needs the notary and the SAL apostille.
If a company from Singapore becomes a shareholder
Register extract, at most three months old: ACRA, the Singapore company register. Order a Business Profile (Bizfile) showing directors and shareholders. Plus articles, signing authority and ownership chart.
Trade between Singapore and the EU
Trade in goods between the EU and Singapore came to €47.8 billion in 2025, with an EU surplus of €12.4 billion. In 2025, Singapore was the EU's 21st largest trading partner in goods, and the EU was Singapore's fifth-largest, with 7.4% of its goods trade.
Goods trade in each direction consists mainly of chemicals, machinery and transport equipment. Trade in services came to €82.9 billion in 2024, with an EU deficit of €9.2 billion.
In 2024, the stock of EU foreign direct investment in Singapore reached €249.8 billion, and Singapore's investment stock in the EU €273.9 billion.
The EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, in force since 21 November 2019, provides for the elimination of all remaining tariffs on products. A Digital Trade Agreement entered into force on 1 February 2026, and an Investment Protection Agreement awaits ratification by all EU Member States.
Import duties: Access2Markets.
Sources: European Commission [1].
Your next step from Singapore
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