Register a Company in Singapore as a Foreigner (2026 Guide)

Being a foreigner is not what holds up a Singapore company registration. Having nobody in Singapore to act as your director is.

That sounds odd for a guide aimed at foreigners, but the resident director is what founders ask about first. Can I register from abroad? Do I have to fly in to sign anything? Who counts as a local director if I know no one there? Singapore lets you own 100% of the company. It does not let you skip the resident director.

Get that part wrong and ACRA, Singapore's company registrar, will not process the filing, or you end up in a structure that leaves your parent company liable for everything. Statrys has incorporated over 1,600 companies, and the structure choice and the director gap are where foreign founders lose the most time. This guide covers both, then walks through the four ways a foreign business can register: a subsidiary, a branch, a representative office, or a transfer of registration. If you want the full company formation overview first, start there.

Can Foreigners Register a Company in Singapore?

Yes. Singapore allows 100% foreign ownership of a private limited company, with no local shareholder required. Two rules still apply.

First, ACRA requires foreigners to engage a corporate service provider (CSP) to reserve a name and register a business structure. A CSP is a registered firm that files with ACRA on your behalf.

Second, every business needs at least one local resident. For a company, that means a director who is a Singapore citizen, a Singapore permanent resident, or a holder of an Employment Pass, Personalised Employment Pass, or Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass. If you have none of these, a nominee director can fill the seat.

You can do all of this from abroad. The filing is online, and you do not need to visit Singapore to register. If you plan to move to Singapore and run the business yourself, you will need a work pass from the Ministry of Manpower.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check your situation with ACRA or a registered corporate service provider before you file.

The Four Registration Options at a Glance

Most foreign founders need the first option. The other three suit specific situations.

A subsidiary is a Singapore company owned by a foreign parent or foreign individuals. A branch is the local arm of an overseas company. A representative office is a liaison presence only.

1. Subsidiary

A subsidiary is a Singapore-incorporated company, usually a private limited company (Pte. Ltd.). It is a separate legal entity, so shareholders are not personally exposed to company debts. It can sign contracts, open accounts and own assets in its own name.

It also unlocks the tax advantage branches lack. A new company that is incorporated in Singapore, is a Singapore tax resident (control and management exercised in Singapore) and meets IRAS's shareholder conditions can claim the start-up tax exemption: 75% off the first SGD 100,000 of chargeable income and 50% off the next SGD 100,000, for its first three years of assessment.

Requirements of a Subsidiary

• At least 1 shareholder, individual or corporate, local or foreign (a private company can have up to 50)
• At least 1 locally resident director, as described above
• A company secretary appointed within 6 months of incorporation
• A registered office address in Singapore, a physical address (no P.O. box) open to the public for at least 3 hours on each business day
• Paid-up capital from SGD 1, with no statutory minimum
• ACRA fees: SGD 15 name reservation and SGD 300 registration

Required Documents for a Subsidiary

• Proposed company name and SSIC code (the industry classification code)
• Constitution (ACRA template or custom)
• Identification documents (passport copies or NRIC) for each director, shareholder and beneficial owner
• Proof of residential address for each appointee
• Details of the foreign parent company, including its incorporation documents
• Consent to act forms signed by directors and the company secretary

2. Branch Office

A branch office is the Singapore extension of the foreign parent. It is not a separate legal entity, and the parent is fully liable for everything the branch does.

A branch suits firms that must keep one global brand and corporate structure, such as professional services groups. You still need a CSP to register it.

On tax, a branch pays 17% on its Singapore income. It cannot claim the start-up tax exemption, which is limited to companies incorporated in Singapore.

A branch must also meet ACRA's annual filing requirements for foreign companies.

Requirements of a Branch Office

• At least 1 authorised representative who meets ACRA's local residency requirements and can be held personally responsible if the branch misses its legal duties
• A registered office address in Singapore that is not a P.O. box and is open to the public for at least 3 hours on each business day
• A business email address
• ACRA fees: SGD 15 name reservation and SGD 300 registration (one year)

Required Documents for a Branch Office

• Certificate of incorporation, certified as a true copy by an official with a role equivalent to ACRA in the home country
• The foreign company's constitution, certified by an eligible person
• Latest financial statements prepared in the home country, if required
• Certified English translations of any document not in English

ACRA sets timing rules for how recently foreign documents must be certified, so confirm them with your provider before you notarise anything. Our guide to certified true copies explains who can certify.

3. Representative Office

A representative office (RO) is a temporary, non-commercial presence for market research and liaison. It is meant for foreign entities in manufacturing, international trading, wholesale and trade-related sectors. Banks, insurers and law practices go through MAS or the Ministry of Law instead.

An approved RO operates for one year from its commencement date. Extensions are granted case by case, up to a maximum of three years. After that, the entity should register its operations with ACRA as a branch or subsidiary.

Requirements of a Representative Office

• Sales turnover of the foreign entity of USD 250,000 or more
• Foreign entity established for at least 3 years
• Fewer than 5 staff in the RO
• A Corppass account before applying, with a nominated admin who holds an NRIC or FIN (without one, a local third-party proxy must file for you)
• Processing fee of SGD 200 per year, non-refundable if the application fails or is withdrawn

Applications go through Enterprise Singapore.

Required Documents for a Representative Office

• The foreign entity's certificate of incorporation or registration certificate, in English or with an official English translation
• The foreign entity's latest audited accounts
• A write-up on the purpose of the representative office and its planned activities in Singapore, on official letterhead and signed by an authorised person from the parent organisation

A Chief Representative who is not a Singapore citizen or permanent resident should check the Ministry of Manpower work pass rules before taking up the role.

4. Transfer of Registration

Transfer of registration, also called re-domiciliation, moves a foreign company's legal registration to Singapore. The company keeps its corporate history, contracts, assets, liabilities and legal rights. It is not a way to launch a new presence. It is for businesses relocating their home base.

Once approved, the company becomes a Singapore company limited by shares (Pte. Ltd.) and must comply fully with the Companies Act.

Requirements of Transfer of Registration

• Meet any 2 of: total assets over SGD 10 million, annual revenue over SGD 10 million, or more than 50 employees
• Show it can pay its debts as they fall due for 12 months after applying, with assets at least equal to liabilities
• Not be in liquidation, judicial management or winding up
• Be authorised to transfer under the law of its home jurisdiction, and have passed its first financial year end there
• Within 30 days of approval, register any existing charges with ACRA
• Within 60 days of approval, submit proof of deregistration in the home jurisdiction
• Application fee: SGD 985, non-refundable

Required Documents for Transfer of Registration

• Certificate of incorporation and constitution, certified as true copies
• Certified English translations of any document not in English
• Audited financial statements for the last financial year (extra statements apply to parent companies and subsidiaries)
• A proposed Singapore constitution
• Declarations from the corporate service provider, proposed secretary, proposed director and foreign entity directors

How to Register a Company in Singapore as a Foreigner: Step by Step

The steps are the same across the four options, with different documents and a different authority for representative offices.

Step 1: Choose Your Structure

Decide between a subsidiary, branch, representative office or transfer of registration. If you are unsure, our guide to types of companies in Singapore compares the wider set.

Step 2: Engage a Registered Corporate Service Provider

Foreigners cannot register directly. A CSP files with ACRA for you and acts as your contact for compliance and secretarial duties. Singapore has no US-style registered agent. The CSP, the company secretary or, for a branch, the authorised representative fills that role.

Step 3: Prepare and Certify Your Documents

Gather identification, the parent company's incorporation paperwork, constitution and any financial statements. Get certified copies and certified English translations where needed.

Step 4: Submit the Application

For subsidiaries and branches, your CSP files through ACRA's Bizfile portal. A transfer of registration is lodged through Bizfile's General Lodgement. For representative offices, the application goes to Enterprise Singapore through Corppass.

Step 5: Receive Your Registration

Once approved, you receive a notice of successful registration and your Unique Entity Number (UEN), which you use with all government agencies.

Step 6: Post-Registration Setup

After registration:

• Open a business bank account or business account in the entity's name
• Set up Corppass for government e-services
• Register for GST once taxable turnover exceeds, or is expected to exceed, SGD 1 million
• Apply for any sector licences through the GoBusiness portal
• Keep your Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC) up to date, and follow ACRA's annual return deadlines

Costs, Fees, and Processing Time

Government fees are small next to provider fees. Here is what each route costs at the registry.

Processing for subsidiaries and branches varies. ACRA says complex applications can take up to 15 working days, and those needing extra approval from referral authorities take 14 to 60 days. Most Statrys incorporations are registered within 5 days overall.

Provider fees depend on what you bundle: nominee director, company secretary, registered office and accounting. Statrys's flat-fee package is SGD 3,686 on promotion. It includes SGD 315 in government fees, a nominee director with no security deposit, the company secretary, registered address, and year-one bookkeeping and tax filing.

Which Option Is Right for You?

Choose a subsidiary if you want to operate independently, need limited liability, want the start-up tax exemption, or plan to hire locally. This is the right structure for most foreign founders.

Choose a branch if you must trade under the parent's name and you accept that the parent carries full liability.

Choose a representative office if you are not ready to trade and need a temporary base for research and contacts. Remember the three-year ceiling and the ban on earning revenue.

Choose a transfer of registration if you are moving your headquarters to Singapore and want to keep your corporate history.

Whichever you pick, a registered corporate service provider has to file. At Statrys, we handle Singapore company registrations end to end, including the nominee director, company secretary and registered address, alongside a multi-currency business account.

Not sure which structure suits you? Answer a few questions in the quiz below to see the structure that fits your situation, its government fees and a checklist of documents to prepare.