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Software is one of the simpler businesses to start in Singapore. On the government pages read for this guide, no general licence applies to writing or selling software. You register a private limited company with ACRA, pick an SSIC code and then check whether any part of your product is regulated. Checked .
SingaporeCompanySetupGuide.com is an independent guide, not ACRA, IMDA or MOM. Providers may pay us for referrals from our forms. This page does not give legal advice.
Does a software company need a licence?
Not for the code itself. Some products touch regulated areas.
| Your product | Who regulates it | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Telecommunication services | IMDA | Services-Based Operations licences exist for stipulated services |
| Payments, e-wallets, crypto tokens | MAS | See the fintech page |
| Cross-border goods or controlled technology | Singapore Customs | Strategic Goods (Control) Act permits |
| Health data or medical devices | Not confirmed here | Ask the health regulator |
IMDA says anyone operating or providing telecommunication systems and services in Singapore must be licensed. We could not read its fee pages, so no licence fee is quoted. Use the licence directory on GoBusiness and describe your exact feature before you launch.
How do you register the company?
- Reserve a name for S$15.
- Register the company for S$300. ACRA fees total S$315.
- Appoint at least one locally resident director and a company secretary.
- Provide a Singapore registered address.
- Choose an SSIC code for the primary activity.
Read company registration, private limited company and SSIC code. ACRA lists one primary and, if needed, one secondary SSIC code. We do not give a code here, because the official pages read do not name one for software, and codes change between editions.
What do foreign developers need?
Foreign staff need a work pass. For the Employment Pass, MOM sets a minimum fixed monthly salary that rises with age.
| Age | New applications now | From |
|---|---|---|
| 23 and below | S$5,600 | S$6,000 |
| 30 | S$7,223 | S$7,750 |
| 40 | S$9,541 | S$10,250 |
| 45 and above | S$10,700 | S$11,500 |
Financial services roles carry a higher floor. MOM also scores applicants on the COMPASS framework. A pass needs 40 points, and a fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or more is exempt. The application fee is S$105 and the issuance fee is S$225. Read Employment Pass and EP salary.
Can the founder use an EntrePass?
The EntrePass is for founders of a private limited company in which the pass holder holds at least 30%. MOM asks for venture backing or innovative technology, and one of several proofs, such as a raise of at least S$100,000 in a single round or an accepted incubator. Read EntrePass for the full list.
What grants exist?
Startup SG Founder gives first-time founders a grant from S$20,000 to S$50,000 at a 1:1 support ratio from . You must match it with paid-up capital. Enterprise Singapore also says the Enterprise Development Grant, Market Readiness Assistance Grant and Productivity Solutions Grant ceased on , and business grant support moved to the EDGE Grant from 30 September. The pages read give no EDGE rates. See Startup SG grants.
What about GST?
You register when annual taxable turnover goes above S$1 million. Selling to overseas customers can change the treatment. Overseas sellers of digital services to Singapore consumers have a S$100,000 trigger. See GST registration.
Where do costs come from?
Beyond the S$315 in ACRA fees, your costs are salaries, cloud, tools and office space. This guide has no verified source for developer pay in Singapore, so none is quoted.
Where does a provider help?
A provider can register the company, supply the address, open the bank file and handle pass paperwork. Product, IP and licence questions stay with you and your lawyer. Send the quote form and we pass your request to suitable providers.
Sources
- MOM, Employment Pass eligibility: https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/eligibility (salary floors, COMPASS)
- MOM, Employment Pass fees: https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/apply-for-a-pass (S$105 and S$225)
- MOM, EntrePass eligibility: https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/entrepass/eligibility
- Enterprise Singapore, grants notice: https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/financial-support/productivity-solutions-grant (EDGE transition)
- Enterprise Singapore, Startup SG Founder: https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/financial-support/startup-sg-founder (grant amounts)
- IMDA, Services-Based Operations licence: https://licensing.gobusiness.gov.sg/licence-directory/imda/services-based-operations-individual-licence (telecom licensing; confirm on the page)
- IRAS, do I need to register for GST: https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/goods-services-tax-(gst)/gst-registration-deregistration/do-i-need-to-register-for-gst
