Singapore Certificate of Incorporation: Definition & How to Get It

In Singapore, a company comes into legal existence upon registration, and the Certificate of Incorporation (COI) is the official proof issued by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). Many banks, investors, and government agencies will often request it to verify your company’s status and relying only on the free e-notification, which is a notification 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
✔️ 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 successfully registered in Singapore. It serves as evidence that the company exists as a separate legal entity under the Companies Act, which is the law that governs the formation, management, and regulation of companies in Singapore.

The document is officially referred to 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)

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 in the following situations:

• 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

It’s good to note that 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 as they pull details from MyInfo Business using Singpass. DBS Singapore may require minimal documentation if the company is fully Singapore-owned, while foreign shareholders require 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 and/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 the following information:

• Company name or legal entity name
• Business registration number or Unique Entity Number (UEN)
• Date of company incorporation or business registration
• Type of business entity (e.g., 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:

You don’t automatically receive a Certificate of Incorporation (COI) when registering a company in Singapore. Instead, ACRA issues an e-notification of incorporation at no cost to confirm that your company has been successfully incorporated. If you require a formal certificate for formal purposes, you will have 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 to be able to get Certificate of Incorporation. In Singapore, entrepreneurs can select from several structures, but a private limited company is the most preferred 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 fulfill this obligation. 
• A local company secretary 
• A registered office address in Singapore
• Initial paid-up capital of at least SGD 1

3. Preparing the necessary documents, including IDs of shareholder and director, company constitution, proof of address, business plan and more

4. Filling out and submitting the incorporation application through BizFile+

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

Once endorsed and ACRA approved, your entity is successfully registered. Then, you will 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 must 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 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 also find the download code by logging in to the ACRA BizFile+ portal and checking the ‘Messages’ section.

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

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

If you need assistance navigating the incorporation process and obtaining your COI, Statrys is here to help. 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: Ongoing compliance and corporate secretarial services to keep your business running smoothly, including obligations like filing annual returns.