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A resident of South Korea can register a Singapore company and hold all of it. ACRA requires a registered corporate service provider (CSP) to make the filing, and one director has to live in Singapore. ACRA's fees are S$15 for the name and S$300 for registration. The Korean angle is the number of offices that issue apostilles: HCCH lists four bodies, split by document type. Checked . We write this as an outside guide with no link to any agency. Providers who receive your form details may pay us a referral.
What should a Korean founder check?
| Check | Korea result | Body |
|---|---|---|
| Tax treaty | DTA in force, no MLI change, no arbitration | IRAS |
| Entry visa | Republic of Korea not on the list | ICA |
| Apostille | Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Justice by document type | HCCH |
| Filing | Registered CSP | ACRA |
| Local seat | One Singapore-resident director | ACRA |
What does the IRAS row for Korea show?
The row for the Republic of Korea is a DTA with in force marked Yes. The next two columns, modified by the MLI and contains arbitration provision, both say No. So the treaty applies as it was signed, with no later overlay. Open the PDF that IRAS links for the dividend, interest and royalty articles. The list gives no rates, and we do not guess any.
We did not read Korean National Tax Service guidance for this page. A Korean tax adviser should confirm how income from a Singapore company is treated at home. For the Singapore side, see corporate tax in Singapore.
Does a Korean passport need a Singapore visa?
No. The ICA list includes the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which is North Korea, but not the Republic of Korea. Be careful when you read lists quickly, because a search for the word Korea can mislead you. South Koreans submit the SG Arrival Card within 3 days before arrival. A visit is not a work pass, and ICA says a visa does not guarantee entry.
Which Korean office issues the apostille?
It depends on the paper. HCCH names these competent authorities for the Republic of Korea:
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for administrative documents.
- The Ministry of Justice, for court documents, notarial acts and official certificates on signatures made in a private capacity.
- The National Court Administration.
- The Overseas Koreans Agency.
A notarised signature falls under the Ministry of Justice description on the HCCH page. A company extract is an administrative paper. HCCH gives no price for any of them.
Korea acceded on and the convention was in force from . Singapore followed on . ACRA sets no certification rule for the filing, so you only need this step if a provider or bank asks.
Can you own the company from Korea?
Yes. ACRA ties the board to Singapore, not the shareholder. One director must be ordinarily resident there. Korean owners usually use a local partner or a nominee, see nominee director in Singapore. A company secretary and a Singapore registered office are also needed.
What are the steps from Korea?
- Shortlist providers and ask each for a written fee list.
- Give the chosen CSP the proposed names and a one-line description of the business.
- Pass on identity and address papers for every director and shareholder. Ask first whether the provider needs them certified.
- The name goes in for S$15, then the incorporation for S$300.
- After the UEN arrives, move on to the bank, see business bank account in Singapore.
On timing, ACRA says most filings clear soon after payment and complex ones can take up to 15 working days.
What did we leave out?
Korean reporting duties for a foreign company are missing from this page because no English official page was available to us. The same goes for Korean foreign exchange rules on sending money abroad, which a Korean adviser can explain. No bank has published a policy naming Korean owners that we could find.
Which practical points are worth raising early?
Three points save time. Name the document types you hold, because the Korean office that issues the apostille changes with the type. Say whether the shareholder is a person or a company, since a company needs registry papers as well. State your time zone and preferred way of signing, so the provider can plan around it.
Send the form with the owner details, and providers can reply with their checklist and fee.
Sources
- IRAS: list of DTAs, limited DTAs and EOI arrangements: the three Yes and No marks in the Korea row.
- ICA: visa requirements: visa list and arrival card.
- HCCH: Apostille Convention status table: Korea and Singapore dates.
- HCCH: Republic of Korea competent authorities: which Korean office handles which document type.
- ACRA: foreigners registering a business: CSP and resident director.
- ACRA: service and transaction fees: fees.
