What Is Sign with Singpass? How Identity-Verified Signing Works for Businesses
Last reviewed: 13 July 2026
Sign with Singpass lets your clients sign documents using Singpass, Singapore's national digital identity. Instead of drawing a squiggle in a box, the signer confirms who they are through their Singpass app — and the finished document carries a digital signature bound to that verified identity.
This guide explains what Sign with Singpass is, how the signing flow works end-to-end, what your business actually receives at the end, and when it's worth using over a standard e-signature.
What is Sign with Singpass?
Sign with Singpass is the document-signing capability of the Singpass ecosystem — the digital identity platform used across Singapore for government and business services. When someone signs with Singpass, they approve the signature in their own Singpass app after verifying their identity, so the signature is tied to a real, verified person rather than to whoever happened to be holding the mouse.
Anyone with a Singpass account and the Singpass mobile app can sign this way — no separate software, no new account with us, nothing to install beyond the app most Singapore residents already use.
How signing works, step by step
Here's the whole journey from your signer's point of view. On Kovasign it looks like this (there's also an animated walkthrough with screenshots in our help centre):
- Open the signing link from the email — then log in with Singpass on the official Singpass portal to verify identity.
- Review the document and tap each signature field to mark it as reviewed.
- Proceed to sign once every field has been reviewed.
- Scan the on-screen QR code with the Singpass app, checking the reference code matches.
- Approve the request in the Singpass app.
- Done — the document is signed and the signer sees a confirmation.
The signer never creates a Kovasign account, never uploads ID documents, and never draws anything. Identity verification happens inside Singpass itself.
What your business receives
Once the signer approves, you get more than a picture of a signature:
- A digitally signed PDF — the signature is embedded in the document as a cryptographic digital signature (PAdES format), not pasted on as an image. Standard PDF readers can verify it.
- An identity-bound signature — the signature is produced through the signer's verified Singpass identity, so it answers who signed, not just that someone signed.
- An audit trail and signing certificate — timestamps and signer details for every step, alongside the signed document.
Singpass signing vs a drawn signature
A standard e-signature (typed or drawn) records intent — the signer meant to sign — backed by an audit trail of emails, timestamps and IP addresses. Sign with Singpass adds verified identity on top: the person approving in the Singpass app is the person the account belongs to.
| Standard e-signature | Sign with Singpass | |
|---|---|---|
| What it proves | Intent to sign, via the email link and audit trail | Intent and verified identity of the signer |
| What the signer needs | Just the email link — works for anyone, anywhere | A Singpass account and the Singpass app |
| Signature in the PDF | Drawn/typed mark plus audit trail | Cryptographic digital signature (PAdES) bound to the verified identity |
| Best for | Everyday, lower-risk documents | Documents where who signed matters — new counterparties, higher stakes |
You don't have to pick one per document: on Kovasign you can mix recipients, asking some to sign with Singpass and others with a standard e-signature on the same document.
Is Singpass signing legally recognised?
Under Singapore's Electronic Transactions Act, electronic signatures are generally legally recognised and enforceable for most business documents — contracts, NDAs, invoices, HR paperwork and the like. A small set of document types (such as wills and powers of attorney) is excluded from electronic signing and still needs wet ink.
Because a Singpass signature is bound to a verified identity and embedded as a cryptographic digital signature, it gives you stronger evidence of who signed than a drawn signature does — useful if a document is ever disputed. It doesn't make a bad contract good, but it makes "that isn't my signature" a much harder argument to run.
What does it cost?
At many established e-signature platforms, identity-verified signing is positioned as an enterprise capability — typically available only on higher tiers or as a paid add-on, priced for large organisations.
On Kovasign, Sign with Singpass is included on every plan — including the free plan. You can send a document for identity-verified signing today without talking to a sales team. See pricing for the full plan comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Does my client need Singpass to sign?
To sign with Singpass, yes — the signer needs a Singpass account and the Singpass mobile app to approve the request. If a signer doesn't have Singpass, you can ask them to sign the same document with a standard e-signature instead.
Can foreigners sign with Singpass?
Singpass accounts are issued to Singapore citizens, permanent residents and eligible foreign residents (such as certain pass holders). Overseas counterparties without Singpass can still sign on Kovasign using a standard e-signature — you can mix both on one document.
Do I need Singpass to send a document for signing?
No. Only the signer uses Singpass. As the sender, you just need a Kovasign account — upload the document, place the signature fields, choose Singpass signing for the recipients who need it, and send.
Is a Singpass-signed document admissible in court?
Electronic signatures are generally recognised under Singapore's Electronic Transactions Act, and courts can accept electronic records as evidence. A Singpass signature adds verified identity and a cryptographic digital signature to that record, which strengthens the evidence of who signed — though admissibility and weight are always for the court to decide in the specific case. This is general information, not legal advice.
What if I just need to fill in and sign a PDF myself?
You don't need Singpass (or an account) for that — use the free Fill & Sign tool to fill the blanks and sign a document right in your browser.
Try identity-verified signing on your next document
Sign with Singpass is included on every Kovasign plan — send your first document for identity-verified signing free, no sales call required.