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Incorporating a company in Singapore means ACRA, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, enters your company on its register and gives it a Unique Entity Number (UEN). Two government charges apply, S$15 for the name and S$300 for the registration. Checked . This is an independent guide. The form on this page passes your request to suitable providers.
What does the incorporation filing contain?
Everything goes into one Bizfile submission, built up screen by screen.
- Company type. ACRA describes seven local types. Most founders choose a private company limited by shares (Pte Ltd), which ACRA says can hold up to 50 shareholders.
- Reserved name. Needs a Singpass for most structures and the S$15 fee. The name is held up to 120 days.
- Basics. Financial year end, company email and the registered office address.
- People. Directors, the secretary and shareholders, each with identity and address details.
- Control declarations. Whether any director or shareholder acts as a nominee, and who the registrable controllers are.
- Shares. Share capital of at least S$1 where the company uses shares, then the allotment to each shareholder.
- Constitution. Attached to the filing.
- Payment. S$300 by card or online banking.
After payment each position holder confirms their appointment. ACRA gives them 60 days, and the step falls away if a corporate service provider (CSP) filed for you. When that is done ACRA registers the company and issues the UEN.
Who has to be on the register?
ACRA's rules on people are short. One director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore. Directors are 18 or older. A secretary joins within six months of registration, and cannot also be the only director. Nominee directors must tell the company they are nominees and name the nominator. For the full list of duties read nominee director in Singapore and corporate secretary.
The registered office has to be open to the public for 3 hours or more each day. Founders without a Singapore address look at registered address services and compare them on published terms.
How long should you plan for?
ACRA says most registrations are approved soon after payment. Name review can run up to 3 working days. Complex applications take up to 15 working days, and a referral authority case takes 14 to 60 days. If a launch date depends on the certificate, add the slow cases to the plan.
What does a corporate service provider do in the filing?
A CSP files with Corppass instead of a founder filing with Singpass. ACRA says foreigners must use one to reserve a name and register. When a CSP files, the 60 day endorsement by each position holder is not needed. That does not remove your own duties, because you still supply the identity and address details of every officer and you still answer for the company afterwards.
Ask any provider you speak to for a total price in writing and a list of what it covers. Does the quote include the name application, the S$300, a registered address, a resident director, a secretary? Each is a separate line in many offers.
Is incorporation different from a sole proprietorship?
Yes. A company is registered as a separate entity from its owners. A sole proprietorship is a registration of the owner's own business. Read sole proprietorship in Singapore if you want the smaller structure, and private limited company for what the Pte Ltd structure involves. The fee comparison for the company route is on the company registration page.
What starts after the certificate?
The duties start. Appoint the secretary on time, keep the registers ACRA requires, set the company up on Corppass for government logins, and plan your tax and annual filings. ACRA's post-registration guide is the checklist to follow.
Would you rather have a provider run the filing? Use the quote form on this page and a suitable provider will contact you.
Sources
- Fee table for companies from ACRA, used for S$15 and S$300.
- Bizfile registration walk-through from ACRA, used for the filing order, the 60 day endorsement and the timing.
- Name reservation page from ACRA, used for the 120 day hold and Singpass rule.
- Officer rules page from ACRA, used for director, secretary and nominee rules.
- Company types page from ACRA, used for the seven types and the 50 shareholder cap.
- Share capital page from ACRA, used for the S$1 minimum.
