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An Indian citizen can hold all the shares of a Singapore company, but cannot file the registration alone. ACRA requires a registered corporate service provider (CSP) to file for foreigners, and the board needs one locally resident director. ACRA's fees are S$15 for the name and S$300 to register, S$315 in total. Checked . SingaporeCompanySetupGuide.com is an independent guide, not a government body or a provider, and the quote form passes your request to providers that suit your case.
What does an Indian founder need to do first?
Three things are specific to you: the entry visa, the RBI limit on money sent abroad, and the paperwork your provider will ask for. The rest follows the standard route in register a company as a foreigner.
| Topic | Rule for Indian nationals | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Filing | Through a registered CSP; one resident director | ACRA |
| Entry to Singapore | Visa required for Indian passports | ICA |
| Treaty | Full DTA in force, modified by the MLI | IRAS |
| Money out of India | 250,000 US dollars per financial year per resident individual | RBI |
| Documents | Apostille route (both countries are parties) | HCCH |
Do Indian citizens need a visa for Singapore?
Yes. ICA names India among the countries whose passport holders need a visa to enter. Applications go through a local contact with a Singpass or Corppass account, an authorised visa agent or a Singapore mission, within 30 days before arrival. ICA says processing takes three working days, with some cases longer, and charges a non-refundable S$30. You submit Form 14A, a recent photo and your passport page, and the passport must be valid for at least six months from entry.
A visa does not guarantee entry, and you must submit the SG Arrival Card within 3 days before you arrive. Visit status does not let you work, so a founder who plans to draw a salary from the company needs a work pass. See Employment Pass and EntrePass. EntrePass asks the holder to own at least 30% of the company.
Is there a tax treaty between India and Singapore?
Yes. The IRAS list of avoidance of double taxation agreements shows a full DTA with India, in force, modified by the Multilateral Instrument and with no arbitration provision. IRAS does not set out withholding rates on that list page, so we give none here. Read the treaty PDF that IRAS links, or ask a tax adviser, before you decide how to pay profits out. Singapore's own rules are in corporate tax in Singapore.
What does RBI say about sending money abroad?
RBI's FAQ states that all resident individuals may remit up to 250,000 US dollars in a financial year (April to March) under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme. RBI's Overseas Investment Directions say a resident individual makes overseas investment under Schedule III of the Overseas Investment Rules, inside that same limit. They also bar an individual's direct investment in a foreign entity engaged in financial services, except in an IFSC. If your plan is a payments or lending company, ask an Indian adviser before you file anything.
Your Singapore provider cannot advise on RBI compliance. Ask your bank in India which declaration it needs for the transfer.
Which documents will a provider ask for?
ACRA does not publish one list for foreigners, so providers set their own. Expect a passport copy, proof of residential address, and details of each director and shareholder. If a provider asks for certified copies, an apostille is the official route, as India has been a party to the Apostille Convention since and Singapore joined on . The Singapore Academy of Law issues apostilles for Singapore documents. We found no ACRA rule that makes an apostille mandatory.
How do you meet the resident director rule from India?
The resident director must be a Singapore citizen, a permanent resident or a valid pass holder as ACRA lists. Most Indian founders appoint a partner who lives in Singapore or a nominee director from a provider. Nominee director in Singapore explains the duties and the declaration. A registered address and a company secretary are also needed.
What are the steps from India?
- Choose a CSP and send the proposed name, activity and shareholder details.
- The CSP reserves the name for S$15 on Bizfile.
- Provide passport and address documents for every officer.
- The CSP files the registration and pays S$300.
- ACRA approves most filings soon after payment, and complex ones can take up to 15 working days.
- You receive the UEN, then apply for your pass or visa and open the bank account. Bank account rules for Indian nationals are not published by ACRA, so confirm with the bank. See business bank account in Singapore.
Want a provider to handle the filing? Use the form on this page and say you are applying from India.
Sources
- IRAS: list of DTAs, limited DTAs and EOI arrangements: India treaty status.
- ICA: visa requirements, India: visa, fee, forms, timing.
- ICA: visa guidelines: arrival card and entry rule.
- ACRA: foreigners registering a business: CSP and resident rules.
- ACRA: service and transaction fees: S$15 and S$300.
- RBI: LRS FAQ: remittance limit.
- RBI: Overseas Investment Directions: Schedule III and financial services bar.
- HCCH: Apostille status table: India date.
- MinLaw: Apostille Convention in force for Singapore: Singapore date and authority.
- MOM: Employment Pass eligibility: salary floor.
- MOM: EntrePass eligibility: 30% holding.
