Company Registration

Thinking of incorporating a company in Singapore? You’re in the right place.
With its strategic location, low corporate tax rate (capped at 17%), strong intellectual property protection, and a suite of government grants for startups and SMEs, Singapore continues to be one of the world’s most business-friendly economies.
In fact, over 60,000 business entities were registered in 2025, an average of over 5,000 new companies formed every month. It’s no surprise that Singapore ranks among the top globally for ease of business entry.
While the registration process appears digital and efficient, first-time founders—especially those from overseas—often encounter unexpected hurdles such as appointing a local director, securing a registered address, and understanding what to do before, during and after incorporation according to local rules
That’s why I’ve created this guide to provide practical, step-by-step instructions to make your Singapore company setup as smooth as possible.
You’ll discover:
✅ What documents and requirements are actually needed
✅ How to complete the company registration process from start to finish
✅ What post-incorporation tasks to handle to stay compliant
Let’s dive in and get your business off the ground in Singapore, with clarity and confidence.
Content


Before jumping into the registration process, let’s start with the key requirements. To register a company in Singapore, you must have:


Note: According to the Singapore Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, If any position holder is a foreigner, it is mandatory to appoint a corporate service provider to handle the business registration.

The cost to incorporate a company in Singapore typically ranges from:
This includes government filing fees.
Below is a breakdown of the most typical incorporation costs.
| Item | Estimated Cost (SGD) |
|---|---|
| Government Fees | From 365 |
| Local Company Secretary Fee | 200 to 1,200 per year, depending on the scope of services provided |
|
Local Registered Address / Virtual Office Service* (*If you don’t have a registered address) |
5 - 200 per month (virtual office) or 600 to 2,400 (physical address) |
|
Nominee Director Fee* (*If you don’t have a local partner to act as a resident director) |
1,500 to 5,000 per year |
Total Initial Government Fees: SGD 365

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See registration fees for other unique entity typesSole Proprietorship, Partnership, and Limited Partnership: SGD 100 for 1 year and SGD 160.00 for 3 years Public Accounting Firm and Limited Liability Partnership: SGD 100 Accounting Limited Liability Partnership: SGD 400 Public Accounting Corporation: SGD 600 |

Note: After the first year, an Annual Filing Fee of SGD 60 applies. This is not included in the initial incorporation cost but it is a recurring yearly expense after that.
Every Singapore company must appoint a qualified local company secretary who resides in Singapore. You can either hire an in-house employee or engage a corporate secretarial service provider. Fees are usually quoted-based and range from SGD 200 to SGD 1,200 per year, depending on the scope of services. Many providers charge more as the number of shareholders increases.
Every company must have a local registered address, which cannot be a PO Box. Options include:
Approximate Annual Office Rental: SGD 600 to 2,400
This estimate does not include the time you spend preparing your application and documentation.
Below is a breakdown of timelines to incorporate a Singapore company

| Step | Simple Company | Complex Company / High-Stakes Industry |
|---|---|---|
| Name Check | Approved soon after payment | 14 days to 2 months |
| Application Filing | 10–20 minutes | 10–20 minutes |
| Application Approval | Soon after payment | May take up to 15 working days |
Here are the necessary documents and information you will need for Singapore company incorporation.


Insight: Its strategic location, various SME grants and low corporate tax rates and top reasons why people set up companies in Singapore.

Choosing a type of business entity for your company is extremely important, as it affects your registration requirements and your company’s operations. The common business structures in Singapore include
While this guide covers the essentials of registering a business in Singapore, we focus mainly on private limited companies as they are the most common business structure and offer benefits such as limited liability, greater credibility, and easier access to funding.
Looking for specific entity registration? Check out these articles


To register a company in Singapore, you’ll need to follow these six steps.
Submit your proposed company name to ACRA for approval. The name must follow specific guidelines.
Decide how your company will be structured, including who the directors and shareholders are. At least one director must be a Singapore resident. You will also need to determine the company’s share capital.
The secretary must be a resident of Singapore and meet eligibility requirements. The secretary handles key compliance duties, and having one early helps keep your company on track.
Your company’s FYE determines the deadlines for tax submissions and annual filings. This must be set during registration and can follow a 12-month or 52-week cycle.
All companies in Singapore must have a physical address where official correspondence can be delivered. This address must be operational during business hours and cannot be a P.O. Box.
Once everything is ready, submit your application online through Bizfile using a Singpass. If you don’t have a Singpass, you’ll need to engage a professional filing agent. After submission, ACRA will send the necessary documents to the appointed directors, shareholders, and company secretary. All parties must sign the documents within 60 days.
Let’s look at the details below.

The first step is to submit your proposed company name to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) for approval.
To reserve and get the name approved, follow these process
which include:
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Do
Don't
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Once you have a suitable name, check whether it is available. Visit Bizfile, navigate to “Search for business information” and enter your proposed company name in the search bar. Click “Search” to view the results. The system will show whether the name, or a similar one, is already registered, along with the company’s status. If the result states “No matching record,” you may proceed with reserving the name.
If your chosen name is already taken, you may modify it, but adding common words alone will not make it distinct from an existing registered name.
Changes That Do Not Differentiate Your Company Name
The following words are not sufficient to make the proposed company name unique if there’s a registered entity with a similar name.
For example, if there is an existing business called “Star Solutions,” an application to register a new business as “The Star Solutions” or “Star Solutions South East Asia” would be rejected.

Note: If your proposed company name includes certain words, like “legal” or “school”, it will need approval from specific government authorities.
After confirming that your desired name is available, Log in to Bizfile using your Singpass and submit your application through the ACRA Name Application portal:
You will need to provide:
Once all required information has been submitted, pay the application fee of SGD 15 to complete the name reservation process. This fee is non-refundable.

Tip: If you do not have a Singpass, you may appoint a registered filing agent to handle the name reservation and company registration process on your behalf.
In most cases, your company name will be approved immediately. However, if your name includes certain words or falls under specific business categories, your application may need to be further reviewed by a government agency. In that case, the process can take 14 days to 2 months.
For example: If your name includes words like “legal” or “law,” it will be referred to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority. If you're starting a real estate agency, your application will be sent to the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA).
Once approved, you will receive a transaction number. You must use this number to incorporate your company within 120 days. If you fail to do so within this period, the name will be released and made available to others. You will have to begin the process all over again.

Note: Registering a company name with ACRA is not the same as registering a trademark. Company name registration does not give you exclusive or intellectual property rights over the name. To protect your name and have exclusive rights, you must submit a separate trademark application to the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS).

You’ll need at least one director and one shareholder to incorporate a local company in Singapore. Here are the eligibility requirements.
At least one director must be a Singapore resident and must remain on the board of directors at all times while the company is in operation.
Qualifications for the local director include:
In case you cannot find a suitable candidate to act as a local director, you may appoint a nominee director who does not have actual executive authority in the company but can fulfil this requirement.

Tip: Choose your nominee director carefully, as their actions affect your company. Likewise, they are legally accountable for the company’s actions. Due to this risk, their fees are usually around SGD 2,400 and can go as high as 5,000 per year.
Singapore allows 100% foreign ownership, meaning all shareholders can be foreign nationals. The shareholder requirements will depend on the company type, for example:
Maximum 20 shareholders; must not include any corporate shareholders.
Maximum of 50 shareholders; can have corporate shareholders.
Can have more than 50 shareholders

The minimum paid-up capital for incorporating a company in Singapore is SGD 1, and it can be issued with or without full payment from shareholders.
You should also review the specific requirements for your industry, particularly if a licence is required. Certain regulated businesses are subject to minimum paid-up capital thresholds. For example, registered travel agents must maintain at least SGD 50,000 in paid-up capital for a Niche Licence and SGD 100,000 for a General Licence.
Share capital can be increased after incorporation, but you need to provide this information when registering.

Tip: The company automatically becomes a member of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) if its paid-up share capital exceeds SGD 500,000.

Unlike when registering a company in Hong Kong, you are not required to have a company secretary at the time of registering a company in Singapore. However, you must appoint one within six months from the date of incorporation.
Even though the appointment is not immediately required, it is strongly recommended to arrange it early. Failing to appoint a suitable secretary will result in penalties. More importantly, a company secretary handles key compliance and provides guidance on important matters from the early stages of your business. Having this support in place from the start helps ensure your company remains on track from day one.
A company or corporate secretary in Singapore is also responsible for:
The company secretary must:
Additionally, the company secretary must be well-versed in corporate law and governance practices.

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Additional requirements for company secretary for a public companyA secretary for a public company must also meet at least one of the following requirements:
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Note: The role of corporate secretary must be filled within six months; otherwise, the directors could incur a penalty of up to SGD1,000.

Your Financial Year End, or FYE, is the last day of your company’s accounting period. You must state this date when registering your company.
Choosing the right FYE matters because it determines your compliance deadlines, including corporate filings and taxes. For example, annual returns must be filed within 7 months after the FYE. Private companies must also hold their Annual General Meeting, AGM, within 6 months after the FYE.
The FYE can be 12 months or 52 weeks:
Companies can adjust the FYE for the current or most recent financial year only if statutory deadlines for holding the AGM, filing the Annual Return, and distributing financial statements have not yet passed. To change the FYE, you must inform the Registrar.

Tip: According to ACRA, the common FYE are 31 March, 30 June, 30 September, and 31 December.

Every registered business in Singapore must have a physical office address that is open to the public for at least three hours during normal weekday business hours. This allows the company to receive official correspondence and legal documents from government authorities.
This address cannot be a P.O. Box. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to SGD 5,000.


Tip: Companies and directors must ensure the business has a registered address; failure to comply may result in a fine of up to SGD 5,000.

Now that you have everything ready, you can proceed with filling out the application.
In Singapore, company registration can be done exclusively online through Bizfile, which is the online platform provided by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). In-person applications are not accepted. You will need a Singpass.
If you have a Singpass, then you can register a company by yourself by following these steps.
Visit Bizfile via https://www.bizfile.gov.sg, then click on “Register new business entity,” which can be found under “Register.”

Once you click “Start,” you will be asked if you will log in as a business or individual user. Generally, you should log in as an individual, since the business user option is generally meant for corporate service providers or entities managing filings on behalf of other businesses.

If you are an individual user, you will be redirected to log in using your Singpass.

Enter the transaction number of the approved business name application, then proceed to the next step.
Fill in the information about your company and upload the required documents, including:
Pay the company registration fee using a credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard®, or American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
If you do not have a Singpass, you must partner with a third-party filing agent or professional company incorporation service to register the company on your behalf. These professional agents are familiar with Bizfile and Singapore’s business registration requirements, so they can help ensure that your application is complete and compliant.
Most professional services will assist you with the following:
Using a company incorporation service isn’t limited to those without a Singpass. If you’re managing a small business, these services can help you stay on track and save time.

Tip: It typically costs about SGD 3,500 to incorporate a company in Singapore using incorporation services that cover most or all essentials.
Once your application is submitted and approved, the appointed officers, including the directors, shareholders, and company secretary, will receive an email requesting their endorsement. All appointed officers must confirm their roles in Bizfile within 60 days of the email date, or the application will be cancelled.
After the business is successfully registered, you will receive the following:

A Business Profile is like an identity card for your Singapore business. It contains details such as the company name, Unique Entity Number (UEN), and business activities. UEN number must always be quoted in business letters, statements of account, invoices, and other official correspondence, along with the company’s name.
An email with instructions on how to download the free Business Profile will be sent to the email address of the person who filed the registration. This free Business Profile must be downloaded within 30 days; otherwise, it will expire and you may need to purchase a new one for SGD 5.50.
You can view samples of the Business Profile for different types of business on the ACRA website.
Tip: A UEN is issued automatically, but you can buy a preferred number from a reserved list. SGD 3,000 for consecutive identical digits or the number 8, or SGD 1,000 for patterned numbers such as repeating digits or triple endings like 222.

In addition to the Business Profile, you can purchase a Certificate of Incorporation for SGD 50. This document certifies that the company is registered with ACRA in Singapore and may be required when opening a corporate bank account or engaging with government agencies.
You can also purchase other certificates, such as the Certificate of Good Standing, directly from ACRA. It’s important to note that ACRA only provides electronic copies of these documents, not hard copies.

Registering your business is only the beginning. To operate legally and smoothly in Singapore, it’s essential to keep your company information accurate, follow obligations such as annual filing, and consider these additional post-incorporation steps.
Depending on your activities, your business may need specific licences and permits to operate. Operating without the required approvals can result in penalties, fines, or suspension of business activities.
Common sectors where licences and permits are required include:
Building & Construction
Financial Services
Fundraising & Charity
Dormitory Services
Food & Beverage
Hotel
Education
Healthcare
Travel Agency
Environmental Services
Logistics
After successfully incorporating your Singapore business, you can apply for the necessary licences. The GoBusiness Singapore website offers a complete list of licences you can apply for, along with those for renewal or amendment.
Private limited companies must appoint an auditor within 3 months of incorporation, as they are required to have their financial statements audited at least once a year, unless they qualify for an exemption as a small company.
To be qualified for the exemption, the company must meet at least 2 of the following over the last two consecutive financial years:
Once the company qualifies as a small company, it will keep this status in subsequent financial years until it no longer meets the criteria or ceases to be a private company during the financial year.

All companies, including inactive and dormant ones, must file annual returns, even if exempted by IRAS from filing an income tax return. The annual returns must be filed within 7 months after the end of the company’s financial year. You may apply for an extension of time for the annual return with the ACRA.
Under the Singapore Companies Act, companies are required to hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) within 6 months after the end of its financial year. The AGM is where the company presents its financial statements and updates shareholders on its affairs.
Certain private companies may be exempt from holding an AGM, for example, if financial statements are sent to members within the required timeframe.
You can apply to ACRA for an Extension of Time (EOT) of AGM for up to 60 days. The application must be submitted before the AGM due date.
Singapore Corporate Access (Corppass) is an authorisation system for business entities to allow employees and third parties to perform corporate transactions with government agencies online, such as the IRAS (the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, which is the government body responsible for taxes) digital services.
After you have registered your company, you can set up and manage your company’s Corppass account on the Corppass website.
You must register for GST if:
You can check whether you need to register for GST with the IRAS beforehand.
Once registered, you must:
To apply for GST registration, you can visit and follow the steps on the IRAS website. The process varies by the type of business.
Sole proprietorships and partnerships must renew their business registration before the expiry date or up to 60 days prior. Renewal can be done for either 1 year or 3 years at a cost of SGD 30 per year.
Both requirements can be done online through Bizfile.


After registering your company, the next important step is opening a corporate account. A separate account under your company name keeps finances organised and ensures accurate reporting.
When choosing a business account in Singapore, consider the following factors:
Account opening process vary by bank, but major banks in Singapore generally need your Singpass, UEN, and Tax Identification Number. Traditional banks may also require an in person interview.
When you register your Singapore business with Statrys, we assist you in applying for a Statrys multi-currency business account, subject to approval. This account allows you to hold up to 11 major currencies and make international and local transactions at competitive rates, as well as access personalised support from dedicated account managers.


Lastly, let’s understand how taxes work for your company in Singapore. The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) oversees corporate taxes and enterprise disbursement schemes.
In Singapore, all companies, both local and foreign, are taxed at a flat rate of 17%. However, similar to Hong Kong, Singapore operates a territorial tax system which means foreign-sources income is generally not liable to tax unless it is remitted into the country. Additionally, Singapore has Avoidance Double Tax Agreements (DTAs) with other jurisdictions to prevent double taxation on income earned in one jurisdiction by a resident of the other.
Your company is responsible for the annual filing of Corporate Income Tax Returns with IRAS. These include:
To encourage business growth, Singapore offers various tax exemption schemes that allow eligible companies to lower their tax burden, especially for start-ups and SMEs. Here’s a look at the key exemptions available:
New start-ups are allowed a 75% exemption on the first SGD 100,000 of normal chargeable income and a further 50% exemption on the next SGD 100,000 for their first 3 years of operations.
To qualify for this exemption, the company must:
All companies are eligible for partial tax exemption (PTE), which gives a 75% exemption on the first SGD 10,000 of normal chargeable income and a further 50% exemption on the next SGD 190,000.

Tip: In Budget 2026, a 40% CIT Rebate will be granted to all taxpaying companies, regardless of tax residency, for YA 2026 to ease cost pressures.

Statrys is your hassle-free partner for registering a Singapore company, whether you're a foreign entrepreneur, new business owner, or just looking to save time on administration.
Statrys all-inclusive registration package covers everything from incorporation filing and company secretary services to a registered address with mail forwarding.
A fast-track application for multi-currency business accounts is available for efficient payments, along with pay-as-you-go accounting services on the platform. This integrated platform simplifies accounting, business accounts, and company incorporation into a unified digital ecosystem, offering founders full visibility and reduced operational friction.



Here are links to the official government sources referenced in our guide, where you can find additional information.
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