Singapore · Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Setting up from abroad
- Usual entity for foreign founders
- Pte Ltd
- Non-resident can be sole director
- No
- Can be completed remotely
- Yes
Foreigners without Singpass register through a corporate service provider.
Official registry: acra.gov.sg
Indicative costs and timing — Richbay estimates, not official figures
- Min. capital
- S$1
- Government fee
- $230
- Typical processing
- 1 business day
- Annual compliance
- $2,500
Requires 1+ Singapore-resident director (nominee common); first SG$200k profit at a reduced rate.
Companies in Singapore register with ACRA via BizFile; a private limited company is standard and setup is fast and online. You need at least one locally-resident director and a company secretary.
Companies are registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) via the BizFile portal, which issues a Unique Entity Number (UEN). The private limited company (Pte Ltd) is the most common form.
- Registration is completed online through ACRA's BizFile portal.
- A private limited company requires at least one locally-resident director.
- The UEN is the company's single identifier across government transactions.
- 1
Choose the company type
The private limited company (Pte Ltd) is the standard vehicle — a separate legal entity with limited liability, up to 50 shareholders.
- 2
Reserve a company name in BizFile+
Apply to reserve the name through ACRA’s BizFile+ portal; approval is usually within a day unless the name needs referral to another authority.
- 3
Appoint directors, shareholders and a secretary
At least one director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore; appoint a qualified company secretary within 6 months and issue at least one share (minimum paid-up capital S$1).
- 4
Prepare the registered office and constitution
Provide a local registered office address and adopt a company constitution — the standard model constitution is accepted; a foreigner without a local director must engage a registered filing agent.
- 5
Incorporate through ACRA
File the incorporation in BizFile+ and pay the fee; on approval ACRA issues a Unique Entity Number (UEN) and the company exists from that date.
- 6
Complete post-incorporation setup
Open a corporate bank account, apply for any business licences, and register for GST if annual turnover will exceed S$1 million.
- Company type chosen (usually Pte Ltd)
- Name reserved via ACRA BizFile+
- At least one Singapore-resident director
- Company secretary appointed within 6 months
- Local registered office + company constitution
- Registered filing agent (if no local director)
- ACRA incorporation + Unique Entity Number (UEN)
- Corporate bank account + GST if turnover > S$1M
- Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)
Company registration and regulation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a local director?
Yes — a Singapore company must have at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore; nominee-director services are commonly used by foreigners.
How fast is incorporation?
Once documents and any approvals are ready, incorporation through BizFile is often completed within a day.
What is the minimum capital?
The minimum paid-up capital is nominal (from S$1), though more may be needed for certain licences or credibility.
Government portals
- Singapore Government — Singapore's integrated government services portal — unified Singpass identity login
- Immigration & Checkpoints Authority — Employment Pass, S Pass, Work Permit, PR and citizenship applications in Singapore
- Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore — Personal and corporate income tax, GST filing, and tax incentive lookup