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A company name change in Singapore has two separate ACRA steps: getting the new name approved, and then changing the name on the company record. ACRA, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, charges S$15 for the first step and nothing for the second. Figures below were checked on .
What does ACRA charge to change a company name?
The only ACRA charge is S$15 for the name application. ACRA does not refund it if the name is rejected or you withdraw. You can pay by debit or credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal.
| Step | ACRA fee | Processing |
|---|---|---|
| Apply for the new name | S$15 | ACRA review up to 3 working days |
| Name sent to a referral authority | S$15 (same application) | Up to 15 working days |
| Notice of resolution (special resolution) | Free | Immediate |
| Update the entity name | Free | Immediate |
Search results often show S$15 twice, as one fee for reserving the name and another for the change. ACRA's current guides show one S$15 charge and a free entity update, so check any provider quote that adds a second ACRA fee. A provider's service fee is separate and is set by the provider.
Who can apply and what do you need?
A director or secretary of the local company can apply through Bizfile. Log in as a business user with Corppass, the same login used across Bizfile. If you hire a corporate service provider, it files for you.
Prepare these before you start:
- The company's UEN.
- The proposed name, including the legal suffix.
- A valid email address for ACRA updates.
- A letter of consent in PDF from the owner of an existing business, only if your name is identical to theirs.
- Supporting documents, if ACRA asks you to justify the name.
Do you need a special resolution?
Yes. ACRA tells local companies to file a notice of resolution and then update the entity name. The resolution is passed at a general meeting. Providers commonly say a special resolution needs 75% of the votes cast, but ACRA's page does not state a percentage, so read your constitution and the Companies Act or ask your secretary.
Filing the notice is done through the Notice of Resolution eService, by a director or secretary. Upload the resolution as a PDF up to 5MB. Keep the file name to letters and numbers, because ACRA rejects spaces and special characters in uploads.
How long does it take?
The name review is the only wait. ACRA looks at a proposed name in up to three working days. If the name touches a regulated word and goes to a referral authority, allow up to 15 working days. ACRA says it will tell you if it needs longer. When approved you get a Bizfile notification with the expiry date of the reserved name. Use it before that date, so line up the meeting before you apply.
When must you file?
ACRA says changes to a local company's information must be filed within 14 days. Directors and secretaries are the ones who must report. If you are late, ACRA's late lodgement table shows a S$50 penalty within three months and S$200 after that. That table covers address and officer filings, and ACRA does not say it applies to name changes, so ask ACRA about your exact case. The safe approach is to pass the resolution and file on the same day.
What common mistakes slow a name change?
- Applying before the meeting is booked. The reserved name expires, and the S$15 is gone.
- Skipping the transaction number. The entity update asks for the number from your approved name application.
- Forgetting the suffix. Business names carry Pte. Ltd. or similar, and ACRA asks for it.
- Not telling others. ACRA's record updates, but your bank, IRAS, CPF account and suppliers do not update themselves. Your corporate secretary can keep a checklist.
- Assuming the name is protected. Registering a company name is not trade mark protection. See trademark registration if the brand matters.
What if ACRA rejects the name?
You pay S$15 again for a new application. ACRA may ask for supporting documents if a name needs justification. Look at the name rules in ACRA's guide first, and try two or three options before applying.
Who do you tell after the name changes?
ACRA's update only covers the public register. Work through the rest yourself. Start with the bank, because account names must match the company name on signing documents. Then update IRAS, your CPF employer account, any licences, your website footer, invoices, contracts and email signatures. Company letterhead and the registered office signage should show the new name too. Old stock of invoices should not be used after the change date. Keep a dated copy of the approved resolution and the Bizfile notification in your minute book, since banks and landlords often ask for both.
Independent guide
SingaporeCompanySetupGuide.com is an independent guide, not ACRA or a service provider, and we are paid by partners for referrals. If you would like a provider to handle the name application, resolution and filing, use the quote form on this page. We pass your details to suitable providers, who reply with their own prices.
Sources
- ACRA, Changing your business name, https://www.acra.gov.sg/resources/guides-forms/changing-your-business-name/ (fee, processing time, who may apply)
- ACRA, Updating an entity's information, https://www.acra.gov.sg/resources/guides-forms/updating-entitys-information (entity name update, 14 days, free)
- ACRA, Filing a notice of resolution (special resolution), https://www.acra.gov.sg/manage/companies/filing-a-notice-of-resolution/filing-a-notice-of-resolution-special-resolution/ (fee and upload rules)
- ACRA, Late lodgement penalty, https://www.acra.gov.sg/how-to-guides/offences-prosecutions-and-penalties-for-companies/late-lodgement-fees-other-than-for-late-lodgement-of-annual-return (penalty amounts)
