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ACRA's Bizfile asks for information more than paper. For a local company you enter the approved name, officer details, a Singapore registered office, share details and a constitution. Checked . Providers add their own identity checks on top, so their list can be longer than ACRA's.
What does ACRA ask for in a local company filing?
| Item | What you provide |
|---|---|
| Approved name | The name and its transaction number from the name application |
| Login | Singpass for an individual, Corppass for a provider |
| Company details | Financial year end, company email, office hours |
| Registered office | A Singapore address open to the public at least 3 hours on each business day |
| People | At least one director who meets local residency rules |
| Share details | Share capital and shareholders |
| Constitution | A customised one or ACRA's model constitution |
| Nominee and controller declarations | Whether the company is exempt from the registers, and who the controllers are |
The person who reserved the name must file the registration and be appointed director or secretary. The entity type must match the type chosen when the name was reserved.
What do you give for each person?
Each director, secretary and shareholder is a position holder. For each one you give:
- NRIC or FIN, full name and date of birth.
- Residential address. ACRA sends official letters there.
- Contact address, which is public. It can be the same as the residential address if it fits the rules. It must be in the same country, be a place where messages can be received and not be a P.O. Box.
- Mobile number and email address.
A registered office open fewer than three hours a day risks a fine of up to S$5,000. See registered address for providers of an address.
Which nominee and controller details apply?
You state whether the company is exempt from keeping the registers of nominee directors, nominee shareholders and registrable controllers. If it is not exempt, you provide nominator details where there are nominees. You also give controller details, or the details of individuals with executive control if the controllers cannot be identified. See nominee director for what a nominee means in practice.
What does a foreign shareholder or director add?
ACRA's page asks for the same fields. The practical differences are access and residency. A person without Singpass files through a provider, and the company still needs a director who meets the local residency rules, which means a Singapore citizen, permanent resident or a valid pass holder as ACRA defines it. See register a company as a foreigner and resident director.
What does a foreign branch need?
A branch is filed by a provider and needs documents from the home country.
| Document | Rule |
|---|---|
| Certificate of incorporation | A certified true copy, certified at least 4 months before applying unless ACRA approves |
| Certified constitution | A certified true copy, same timing |
| Latest financial statements | From the home country, if required |
| Translations | A certified English translation of any document not in English |
| Authorised representative | One person who meets local residency requirements |
| Home company details | Country, registration number, incorporation date, legal form, type with or without share capital, home registered office |
A true copy can be certified by the official holding the original, a notary public, a director or secretary by affidavit or statutory declaration, or a registered qualified individual who lodges the documents. Translations made abroad need a notary, a sworn translator, an equivalent official or a Singapore consular officer. See foreign company branch.
What will a provider ask that ACRA does not?
Providers run due diligence. Expect a request for ID copies and proof of address, and ask the provider what else it needs. These are the provider's own rules, not ACRA filing fields. Having them ready saves days. See corporate service provider.
Want a provider to run the filing? The quote form on the next page connects you with suitable providers.
Sources
- Registering a local company via Bizfile from ACRA, used for the filing items, people details, addresses and the S$5,000 fine.
- Registering as a foreign company branch from ACRA, used for the branch documents, certifiers and translations.
- Requirements and eligibility from ACRA, used for the age and local resident rules.
