Singapore Certificate of Incorporation: Definition & How to Get It

In Singapore, a company comes into legal existence upon registration, and the Certificate of Incorporation is the official proof issued by ACRA. Many banks, investors, and government agencies request it to verify your company's status. Relying only on the free e-notification, which is sent when your company registration is approved, may not be enough for onboarding or due diligence.

In this guide, we'll explain:

✔️ What the Certificate of Incorporation is and when you'll need it

✔️ The information it contains and how to verify it

✔️ The difference between incorporation and registration

✔️ Documents required to receive your COI

✔️ How to get your certificate step-by-step

A Certificate of Incorporation is an official document issued by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) when a company is registered in Singapore. It serves as evidence that the company exists as a separate legal entity under the Companies Act, the law that governs the formation, management, and regulation of companies in Singapore.

The document is referenced in the ACRA system as the "Certificate Confirming Registration / Incorporation of Entity". The exact title varies depending on the type of entity. For example: Certificate Confirming Incorporation of Company (for registered companies) or Certificate Confirming Registration of Limited Liability Partnership (for partnerships).

The COI is the document that establishes the existence of your company in the eyes of the Singapore government, banks, and counterparties. Without it, third parties have to rely on the BizFile profile or the free e-notification, which are not always accepted as a formal registration certificate.

A Certificate of Incorporation is proof of a company's legal existence and status. It may be requested whenever the company's legal identity needs to be verified, such as:

• Entering formal agreements or business contracts
• Applying for licenses, permits, or government grants
• Applying for loans or other types of funding
• Entering into trade agreements
• Dealing with foreign governments or government agencies
• Selling the business to third parties
• Participating in any legal or commercial transactions
• Demonstrating the company's legal status to partners or stakeholders
• Opening business bank accounts in Singapore
• Applying an apostille for overseas use of the document

The exact document requirements depend on the bank or agency you are dealing with. Banks generally ask for a Certificate of Incorporation, but some don't. For example, Maribank Singapore requires no documents because they pull details from MyInfo Business using SingPass. DBS Singapore may require minimal documentation if the company is fully Singapore-owned, while foreign shareholders need more documents.

The same applies when dealing with government agencies. For example, applying to be a retailer of certain products requires a Certificate of Incorporation or an ACRA Business Profile. For some other licenses, the government can verify your details directly through SingPass or Corppass, removing the need to submit documents.

A Certificate of Incorporation includes:

• Company name or legal entity name
• Business registration number, also called the Unique Entity Number (UEN)
• Date of company incorporation or business registration
• Type of business entity (for example, private limited, public limited, etc.)
• Former names of the company, if applicable. The certificate shows up to five most recent former names, but does not include name changes before January 2003.
• ACRA's QR code for verifying the legitimacy of the document
• Date of issuance of the certificate

Here’s an example of the certificate:

This information makes the COI an official reference document that confirms the company's identity, registered date, and legal status.

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they have a precise meaning in Singapore.

Incorporation is the legal process of bringing a company into existence as a separate legal entity. It applies to companies registered under the Companies Act, such as private limited companies and public companies. The output is a Certificate of Incorporation.

Registration is a broader term that covers the act of recording a business with ACRA. It applies to all types of entities: companies, sole proprietorships, partnerships, and limited liability partnerships. Sole proprietors and partnerships do not get "incorporated" because they are not separate legal entities. They get a registration certificate instead.

In practice:

• A private limited company is incorporated and receives a Certificate of Incorporation
• A limited liability partnership (LLP) is registered and receives a Certificate Confirming Registration of LLP
• A sole proprietorship is registered and receives a Business Profile only, not a Certificate of Incorporation

Some jurisdictions use slightly different terms. In the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, the equivalent is also called a Certificate of Incorporation. In the United States, founders file articles of incorporation with the state, which then issues a similar registration certificate.

You do not submit documents to get the COI itself. You submit documents to incorporate the company, and the COI becomes available once incorporation is approved. The required documents include:

For corporate shareholders, you also need certified copies of the parent company's incorporation documents and a certificate of good standing. Foreign documents in another language need certified translation into English.

For a deeper checklist, read our guide on company incorporation requirements.

You don't automatically receive a Certificate of Incorporation when registering a company in Singapore. Instead, ACRA issues an e-notification of incorporation at no cost to confirm that your company has been incorporated. If you require a formal certificate, you need to take additional steps to purchase a COI through ACRA's BizFile portal.

Here's how:

1. Register Your Entity – Incorporate your company on ACRA's BizFile portal.
2. Receive e-Notification – Get preliminary proof of registration via email.
3. Purchase Certificate – Buy the official signed certificate online.
4. Download Certificate – Access your certificate in your email and verify its authenticity.

Let's take a closer look.

Your company or entity must be incorporated through ACRA's BizFile portal before you can get a Certificate of Incorporation. In Singapore, entrepreneurs can select from several types of business entities, but a private limited company is the most popular option due to its flexibility, credibility, and tax benefits.

The process involves:

1. Choosing and reserving a company or entity name
2. Meeting basic legal requirements

For a company, you need:

• At least one shareholder (individual or corporate)
• At least one director who is a Singapore resident. You may appoint a nominee director to fulfil this obligation.
• A local company secretary
• A registered office address in Singapore
• Initial paid-up capital of at least SGD 1

After you submit your registration application, ACRA reviews it and sends an email to the entity's key personnel, including shareholders, directors, and the company secretary, for endorsement by signing.

Once endorsed and approved by ACRA, your entity is successfully registered. You then receive an e-notification of incorporation at no additional cost. This e-notification serves as preliminary proof of incorporation for internal use.

However, certain commercial transactions, such as opening a corporate bank account, may require a signed Certificate of Incorporation issued by ACRA. In such cases, you need to purchase the officially signed certificate, which is explained in the next step.

The official Certificate of Incorporation can be purchased online through ACRA's BizFile portal after you have received the e-notification of successful incorporation.

Only authorised individuals are allowed to purchase the certificate. This includes:

To purchase the certificate:

• Log in to BizFile using a SingPass ID tied to one of the above authorised roles.
• Navigate to Buy Information > Information products > Certificate

• Select Buy Now, choose "Certificate Confirming Registration / Incorporation of Entity" as the certificate you want to purchase, select the appropriate entity type, and pay the fee of SGD 50.

Once your payment is processed, you will receive an email containing the download code for your ACRA certificate in about 15 minutes.

Alternatively, you can find the download code by logging in to the ACRA BizFile portal and checking the "Messages" section.

You receive the document in two formats: a standard PDF file and an OpenAttestation (OA) file. The download link for the documents remains active for 30 days from the purchase date, with no extensions available after that period. If you still need a copy after that, you have to purchase it again.

Verifying a COI matters when you receive one from a counterparty, supplier, or potential investee, or when you need to prove the authenticity of your own certificate to a third party.

Three ways to verify a Singapore Certificate of Incorporation:

1. Scan the QR code. Every COI carries a unique QR code printed on the document. Scanning it with any standard mobile phone takes you to ACRA's verification page, which confirms the document's authenticity.
2. Use ACRA's Trustbar. ACRA's online Trustbar service verifies all ACRA-related documents. Upload the PDF or OA file, and the system confirms whether it is a genuine document issued by the registrar.
3. Open the OpenAttestation file. The OA file is encrypted and signed by ACRA. Compliance teams and regulators can verify the cryptographic signature to confirm the document has not been tampered with.

For overseas use of the COI, you may also need an apostille or notarisation to confirm the document is genuine in another country. Singapore joined the Apostille Convention in 2021, so apostille is now available for use of a COI in countries that are party to the convention.

If you only need a certified true copy of the document for banking or legal purposes, your corporate service provider or a Notary Public can issue one.

The Certificate of Incorporation confirms your company's legal status in Singapore. Banks, counterparties, and some applications may ask for it. Once your business is registered with ACRA, you can obtain the COI online for a SGD 50 fee.

If you need assistance navigating the incorporation process and obtaining your COI, Statrys is here to help. The Statrys company formation package includes everything you need to establish your company:

✅ Company Incorporation: We handle the registration with ACRA, ensuring your company meets all the requirements for incorporation.

✅ Certificate of Incorporation included in the package

✅ Assistance in applying for a business account: We help you apply for a Statrys multi-currency business account, usable for both domestic and international transactions.

✅ Ongoing Support and Compliance: Corporate secretarial services to keep your business running smoothly, including obligations like filing annual returns.