Obtaining corporate documents from a country outside Singapore can be one of the most frustrating experiences, not because the relevant authority is inefficient, but because there is a lack of familiarity with the procedural and legal aspects of those jurisdictions.

Such documents include Certificates of Good Standing, Certified Extracts of Corporate Documents, Status Searches and Tax Certificates. Often translations of such documents are also required.

Certificates of Good Standing.

In general, countries with a common law tradition maintain a central Registry where documents attesting to the continuing existence of a company can be obtained. These are usually called Certificates of Good Standing, Certificates of Registration or Certificates of Compliance. In countries with a Federal system such as the United States and Canada, these Registries are located at the state or provincial level.

Certified extracts from the Trade Register.

In countries with a civil law tradition, most companies are created by notarial deed and are then required to register at the local equivalent of the Trade or Commerce Register. Certified extracts from these registers are generally available and detail company name, type of company, date of creation, authorised signatories and significant company developments such as bankruptcies, etc. This is generally true for countries in continental Europe, Asia and South America.

It is important to remember that, because companies are generally registered at the local level – generally city or town – the street address is generally required to be able to obtain these documents. It is also critical that the exact company name in the local language be provided.

The time and cost required to obtain there documents will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. It is best to consult a local lawyer or incorporation specialist for advice.