Master prompt
Statutory declaration templates — Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (Singapore)
Drafting structure + 5 verbatim templates: name discrepancy, marital status, relationship history, missing docs, change-of-name post-marriage.
SingaporeStatutory declarationCommissioner for OathsSALAffidavit
Draft a Singapore statutory declaration for [CLIENT_NAME] (NRIC/FIN/Passport: [NRIC_OR_FIN]) for the purpose of: [DECLARATION_PURPOSE].
LEGAL BASIS
Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (SG) — declarations made on oath / solemn affirmation before a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public registered with the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL). False declarations are punishable under section 199 of the Penal Code 1871 (false statement made in declaration receivable as evidence). The deponent solemnly believes the statements to be true.
§1 — STRUCTURE OF A SG STATUTORY DECLARATION
A compliant statutory declaration has:
(a) Title: "STATUTORY DECLARATION"
(b) Subtitle: case-specific (e.g., "Declaration of identity — name discrepancy")
(c) Deponent introduction: full name, NRIC/FIN/passport, address, occupation
(d) Numbered paragraphs of fact (1, 2, 3, ...) — short, declarative, one fact per paragraph
(e) Reference to exhibits — each marked Annex "A", "B", etc.
(f) Solemn closing: "And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959."
(g) Place + date
(h) Deponent signature
(i) Commissioner for Oaths block — name, SAL registration number, signature, stamp/seal, date
§2 — TEMPLATE A — NAME DISCREPANCY (most common for Indian applicants)
"STATUTORY DECLARATION
I, [CLIENT_NAME], holder of [PASSPORT/NRIC/FIN] [NRIC_OR_FIN], residing at [address] in the Republic of [country], being a [profession/student], do solemnly and sincerely declare as follows:
1. I am the deponent.
2. I was born on [date] at [place of birth] to [father's name] and [mother's name].
3. The name appearing on my [PASSPORT/AADHAAR/etc.] is "[name as on passport]" and the name appearing on my [other document, e.g., degree certificate, marriage certificate] is "[full or alternate name]".
4. These names refer to one and the same person, namely me, [CLIENT_NAME]. The discrepancy arose because [explanation — e.g., school records used my short name omitting my middle name; the passport-issuing authority recorded only the abbreviated name; my degree certificate was issued in my full legal name].
5. There has been no change of name by deed poll, gazette notification, or court order. The names co-exist as variants of my legal identity.
6. I attach the following documents as exhibits to demonstrate that these names refer to me:
(a) Annex "A" — copy of my passport bearing the name "[name]"
(b) Annex "B" — copy of my [degree certificate / other document] bearing the name "[name]"
(c) Annex "C" — [any further supporting doc, e.g., school leaving certificate]
7. I make this declaration in support of my application for [PASS_TYPE — e.g., Employment Pass / Permanent Residence] in Singapore.
And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959.
Declared at Singapore this _____ day of _____ 20___
Before me,
[Commissioner for Oaths name]
SAL Registration No: [number]
Signature: _____________
Seal/Stamp
Signature of Deponent: _____________"
§3 — TEMPLATE B — MARITAL STATUS DECLARATION (single / never married)
"...I, [CLIENT_NAME] ... do solemnly and sincerely declare as follows:
1. I am [age] years of age.
2. I am not married, never have been married, and have no civil-union or other formally registered relationship.
3. I have no children, biological or adopted.
4. I am not currently engaged in any matrimonial or family-court proceedings in any jurisdiction.
5. I make this declaration in support of my application for [purpose, e.g., Employment Pass, LTVP for parent] in Singapore.
And I make this solemn declaration..."
§4 — TEMPLATE C — RELATIONSHIP HISTORY (common-law partner)
For applicants applying as common-law partner of an SC/PR (LTVP):
"...I, [CLIENT_NAME] ... and [PARTNER_NAME] ..., jointly declare:
1. We have been in a continuous and exclusive committed relationship as common-law partners since [date].
2. We commenced cohabitation on [date] at [first joint address], and have continued to reside together at our current shared address, [current address], since [date].
3. We are not married, but maintain a relationship analogous to marriage, including joint financial responsibilities and shared social life.
4. We attach the following documents as exhibits:
(a) Annex "A" — joint tenancy / lease agreement
(b) Annex "B" — joint bank account statements (last 12 months)
(c) Annex "C" — joint utility bills (last 6 months)
(d) Annex "D" — photographs of us with family and friends, with dates
(e) Annex "E" — declarations from two friends/family members confirming our relationship
5. We have no intention to separate.
And we make this solemn declaration..."
Note: Singapore does not recognise same-sex marriage; common-law partnerships are admitted for LTVP only at officer discretion.
§5 — TEMPLATE D — MISSING ORIGINAL DOCUMENT (birth certificate, marriage certificate)
"...I do solemnly and sincerely declare:
1. I was born on [date] at [place of birth] to [father's name] and [mother's name].
2. The original of my birth certificate, issued by [issuing authority], is no longer in my possession. It was [lost / destroyed / not issued in original form because of historical record-keeping practices in [region/year]] under the following circumstances: [brief factual narrative].
3. I have attempted to obtain a replacement / duplicate from the issuing authority — see Annex "A" (request letter) and Annex "B" (response / certificate of non-availability).
4. To corroborate my date and place of birth, I attach:
(a) Annex "C" — extract from school records
(b) Annex "D" — Aadhaar card / passport
(c) Annex "E" — declarations from [parents/grandparents] confirming the facts
5. I undertake to produce the original birth certificate if and when it becomes obtainable.
And I make this solemn declaration..."
§6 — TEMPLATE E — CHANGE OF NAME POST-MARRIAGE
For applicants who took a spouse's surname (common pattern: Indian women adopting husband's surname post-marriage):
"...I do solemnly and sincerely declare:
1. I was born and registered as [maiden name].
2. I married [spouse name] on [date] at [place], registered under [Hindu Marriage Act / Special Marriage Act / etc.]. See marriage certificate at Annex "A".
3. Following marriage, I have used the name [married name] in social and professional contexts. Some documents still carry my maiden name [maiden name] (specifically: [list, e.g., 10th certificate, BTech degree]).
4. Documents bearing the maiden name and those bearing the married name refer to one and the same person, namely me.
5. I have not formally gazetted the name change. (OR — If gazetted: I gazetted the name change on [date]; see Annex "B".)
6. I attach the following exhibits showing the connection:
(a) Annex "A" — marriage certificate
(b) Annex "B" — passport showing married surname
(c) Annex "C" — pre-marriage degree certificate
And I make this solemn declaration..."
§7 — WITNESSING — WHERE TO GO (Singapore — Commissioner for Oaths)
If Singapore — Commissioner for Oaths is "Singapore — Commissioner for Oaths":
• Walk-in to any SAL-registered law firm (most CBD firms offer this; cost S$15-25 per oath // 2026-05 — verify)
• Bring originals of all annexes for the Commissioner to sight
• Deponent must sign in front of the Commissioner — do not pre-sign
• The Commissioner stamps each page and the final declaration
• Multi-page declarations: Commissioner initials each page
If Singapore — Commissioner for Oaths is "Indian High Commission Singapore":
• The Indian High Commission can witness affidavits for use in India and sometimes for SG purposes — verify with target authority first
• Appointment-based; bring originals + 2 copies
If Singapore — Commissioner for Oaths is "Notary Public in India":
• Less ideal — the declaration is governed by Indian Notaries Act, not Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (SG)
• Needs MEA apostille post-notarisation (see prompt sg-docs-apostille-mfa-authentication)
• Officer may still ask for a SG-side declaration; use only if client is overseas and cannot travel
§8 — COMMON DRAFTING MISTAKES
□ Long narrative paragraphs (combine multiple facts) — split into numbered single-fact paragraphs
□ Speculation / hearsay — declare only what the deponent personally knows
□ Omitting the solemn-declaration closing
□ Failing to attach exhibits — declaration without supporting docs is much weaker
□ Witnessing by an unregistered notary — verify SAL listing of any witness in SG
□ Signing pages before witness present
□ Using "I believe" / "I think" — use direct factual statements
□ Not initialling each page
§9 — POST-DECLARATION HANDLING
• Make 3 certified true copies (the Commissioner can certify copies for an additional fee)
• Original to ICA / MOM; copy to firm file; copy to client
• Scan as a single PDF (declaration + all exhibits + Commissioner page)
• Apostille only if the declaration will be used OUTSIDE Singapore; for SG-side ICA/MOM use, the Commissioner's stamp is sufficient
§10 — BUILD THE DECLARATION
Now draft the actual statutory declaration for [CLIENT_NAME] addressing [DECLARATION_PURPOSE], using the supporting facts [SUPPORTING_FACTS] and attaching the evidence [ATTACHED_EVIDENCE]. Pick the closest template (A-E) above and tailor — keep paragraphs short, numbered, factual.
End with: "DRAFT — for Singapore-licensed immigration firm or in-house counsel review. Verify against current ICA/MOM guidance before submission."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt