Statute Details
- Title: Fees (Certificate of Clearance) Order 2010
- Act Code: FeA1920-S623-2010
- Legislative Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Fees Act (Chapter 106)
- Enacting Authority: Minister for Finance (made under section 2 of the Fees Act)
- Citation: Fees (Certificate of Clearance) Order 2010 (No. S 623)
- Commencement: 1 November 2010
- Current Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provisions: Section 2 (fees payable for certificate, additional copies, and overseas posting)
- Amendments Noted: Amended by S 251/2014 with effect from 1 April 2014
- Revocation: Revokes Fees (Certificate of No Criminal Conviction) Order (O 40C)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Fees (Certificate of Clearance) Order 2010 is a Singapore subsidiary law that sets out the fees payable for obtaining a “certificate of clearance” from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Singapore. In practical terms, the certificate is a document stating that the person named in it has not been convicted of any crime in Singapore prior to the date of issue.
The Order is not primarily about criminal procedure or substantive criminal law. Instead, it is an administrative and cost-setting instrument. It specifies the amounts that applicants must pay to the Director of the CID for (i) the issuance of the certificate, (ii) additional copies, and (iii) an additional posting fee where the certificate (or a copy) is sent outside Singapore.
Because the Order is made under the Fees Act (Chapter 106), it forms part of a broader framework in which the Government prescribes fees for services. Lawyers and compliance practitioners typically encounter this Order when advising individuals, employers, or agencies involved in background checks, immigration-related documentation, employment screening, or overseas applications requiring proof of no criminal convictions in Singapore.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation and commencement) provides the legal identity of the instrument and when it takes effect. The Order may be cited as the Fees (Certificate of Clearance) Order 2010 and comes into operation on 1 November 2010. This matters for determining which fee schedule applies to applications submitted before and after commencement, particularly where there are disputes about charges or refunds.
Section 2 (Fees) is the core provision. It sets out the fee amounts payable to the Director, Criminal Investigation Department, Singapore, for the issuance and delivery of the certificate.
Section 2(1): Fee for the certificate states that a fee of $55 shall be payable for the issue of a certificate stating that the person named therein has not been convicted of any crime in Singapore prior to the date of issue. This is the baseline fee for the service of issuing the certificate.
Section 2(2): Fee for additional copies provides that an additional fee of $25 is payable for an additional copy of the certificate. Practically, this addresses situations where applicants need multiple copies for different purposes (for example, submitting to multiple employers, agencies, or immigration authorities). For practitioners, the key point is that the additional-copy fee is separate from the initial issuance fee.
Section 2(3): Additional posting fee for overseas delivery provides that an additional fee of $5 is payable where the certificate or a copy thereof is posted to an applicant outside Singapore. This provision is particularly relevant for cross-border applicants and for counsel advising on document logistics. It also helps explain why the total cost may differ depending on the delivery destination.
Notably, the extract indicates that Section 2(2) and Section 2(3) were amended by S 251/2014 with effect from 1 April 2014. While the extract does not reproduce the earlier fee amounts, the amendment history signals that practitioners should verify the applicable version when dealing with older transactions or historical fee disputes.
Section 3 (Revocation) revokes the earlier instrument titled the Fees (Certificate of No Criminal Conviction) Order (O 40C). This is important for legal continuity: the 2010 Order replaces the previous fee order, ensuring that the current fee schedule governs the relevant certificate service. In practice, revocation also reduces confusion about which instrument applies, but it can still matter when reviewing older correspondence, invoices, or administrative decisions made under the revoked order.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured in a straightforward, three-section format:
- Section 1: Citation and commencement (when the Order starts to apply).
- Section 2: Fees (the substantive fee schedule, including issuance, additional copies, and overseas posting).
- Section 3: Revocation (repeals the earlier fee order).
There are no complex parts or subparts. The legislative design reflects the narrow subject matter: prescribing fees for a specific administrative service carried out by the CID.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This Order applies to persons who request the issuance of a certificate stating that they have not been convicted of any crime in Singapore prior to the certificate’s date of issue. The fee obligations are directed to the service provider’s charging authority: the Director, Criminal Investigation Department, Singapore. Applicants are the practical payers, but the legal text frames the obligation as a fee payable to the Director for the specified service.
In addition, the overseas posting fee in Section 2(3) applies where the certificate (or a copy) is posted outside Singapore. Therefore, the Order’s cost implications depend on both the type of request (initial certificate vs additional copies) and the delivery destination (within Singapore vs outside Singapore).
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Fees (Certificate of Clearance) Order 2010 is short, it has real operational significance. Background checks and clearance certificates are frequently required for employment, professional licensing, immigration processes, adoption-related procedures, and other administrative applications. The fee schedule affects budgeting and planning for applicants and the organisations that assist them.
From a legal practitioner’s perspective, the Order is important for three main reasons. First, it provides the authoritative fee amounts for the CID certificate service. When advising clients, counsel can point to the specific statutory basis for the charges—particularly the $55 issuance fee, the $25 additional copy fee, and the $5 overseas posting fee. Second, the amendment history (S 251/2014 effective 1 April 2014) highlights that fee amounts can change over time; practitioners should therefore confirm the applicable version for older transactions. Third, the revocation clause ensures that the 2010 Order supersedes the earlier fee order, which is relevant when reviewing documents or administrative records created before the 2010 Order took effect.
Finally, the Order’s narrow scope reduces interpretive uncertainty. There are no discretionary fee provisions or complex eligibility criteria in the text. The main legal questions that may arise in practice tend to be factual and administrative: whether the applicant requested additional copies, whether delivery was outside Singapore, and the date the request was made (to determine which version of the fee schedule applies).
Related Legislation
- Fees Act (Chapter 106) — the authorising Act under which the Minister for Finance makes fee orders.
- Fees (Certificate of No Criminal Conviction) Order (O 40C) — revoked by Section 3 of this Order.
- S 251/2014 — amendment to the Fees (Certificate of Clearance) Order 2010 with effect from 1 April 2014.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Fees (Certificate of Clearance) Order 2010 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.