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A struck off Singapore company can come back onto the register. ACRA, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, charges no fee. The administrative route takes up to 60 days, and the court order route is open for six years after the strike off. We checked these points on .
What are the routes to restore a struck off company?
ACRA lists several restoration types. Two apply to a Singapore company.
| Route | Who applies | Time at ACRA | ACRA fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative restoration | Former directors or members, after an ACRA-initiated strike off | Up to 60 days | Free |
| Court order | Anyone the court allows to apply, then filed on Bizfile | Up to 15 working days after filing | Free |
The court route has its own costs, because you need a court application and usually a lawyer. ACRA's guide says a court order lets you restore within six years of the strike off.
Who can apply?
For administrative restoration, ACRA names former directors or members of the company. If the Official Receiver holds the company's property, you need written consent from that office. A corporate service provider may file for you if it holds a letter of undertaking.
For the court route, the application goes to the court first. Once you hold the order, you file a copy with ACRA on Bizfile with the reference number and date. Our summary of the court test is short because the statute page on Singapore Statutes Online could not be read when we checked, so ask a lawyer who is allowed to apply in your case.
Why do companies get struck off?
ACRA removes companies from the register when it believes they are no longer in business or are not meeting duties. The most common cause is missed annual returns, which is why company annual filing deadlines matter. A company can also ask to be struck off itself, covered in striking off a company. Check which one happened, because the administrative route is meant for the ACRA-initiated kind.
What changed on 20 October?
From ACRA's changes shorten some strike off steps. The Registrar and the courts must also refuse a restoration if the entity is likely to be used for an unlawful purpose, or if restoring it would threaten national security or interest. ACRA publishes the date and time of a restoration in the Government Gazette.
What happens after the company is restored?
Restoration puts the company back as if it had not been struck off, but the work that built up does not vanish. ACRA's restoration page does not list post-restoration conditions for companies, so we do not promise any. Plan to do three things:
- Check the ACRA record for missing annual returns, an overdue AGM and unfiled accounts. See annual return and AGM.
- Check with IRAS whether tax returns are outstanding. IRAS rules are on its own site.
- Re-confirm directors, a company secretary and the registered address, since the ACRA record may be out of date. See change company secretary and register of directors.
Also look at the bank account. A bank may have closed it while the company was off the register, so call the bank before assuming the account still works.
How long does the whole thing take?
The ACRA processing is the short part. Administrative restoration takes up to 60 days, and a court order filing takes up to 15 working days. The court case before that depends on the court. Add time to gather the former directors' details and the supporting papers, since ACRA's page requires reasons for the appeal and documents for every application. A weak file is slower than a complete one.
What should the appeal say?
State why the company was struck off, why it should be on the register now, and what you will do next. Plain reasons work: a debt owed to the company, a property or contract still in its name, a claim to pursue or defend, or an ACRA letter that never reached the registered address. Attach proof.
Restore the company or start again?
Restore if you need the same UEN, an asset that sits in the company's name, a contract, a claim in court or a licence. Start fresh if the company is empty and your only goal is to trade again. A new company costs filing time but starts clean, as in company registration in Singapore. If you cannot find any directors to run a restored company, closing it properly through winding up may fit better.
Independent guide
SingaporeCompanySetupGuide.com is an independent guide and is not ACRA, a court or a law firm. If you prefer to hand off the Bizfile filing, use the quote form on this page. We pass your request to suitable providers, and each one replies with its own price. Court applications need a lawyer.
Sources
- ACRA, Applying to restore a business entity, https://www.acra.gov.sg/resources/guides-forms/applying-to-restore-a-business-entity/ (routes, applicants, fee, processing times, documents)
- ACRA, Striking off a local company, https://www.acra.gov.sg/how-to-guides/striking-off-a-local-company (six year court order limit, effect of striking off)
- ACRA, Commencement of key changes under the Corporate and Accounting Laws (Amendment) Act, https://www.acra.gov.sg/news-events/news-announcements/ (ACRA announcement of the 20 October commencement: refusal grounds, gazette)
