Singapore Company Registration: Incorporate Online
Registering a company in Singapore is a straightforward process, designed to minimize unnecessary bureaucracy. The entire company registration process can be managed online using our online platform.
Foreigners are required to engage the services of an approved Corporate Service Provider (CSP), such as our company, to set up a business in Singapore. Singaporeans are also strongly advised to utilize the services of a CSP to facilitate the incorporation process and ensure ongoing compliance.
This guide will detail all the essential requirements and walk you through each step of setting up a Singapore company online.
Which Type of Business Entity to Register in Singapore?
While Singapore has a few different types of business structures, setting up a Private Limited Company (also known as PTE LTD, PVT LTD, or LLC) is by far the most preferred and popular choice. This option provides scalability, enhanced credibility, access to funding, limited liability protection, attractive tax benefits, perpetual succession, and robust governance standards.
To see a quick summary of various business structures in Singapore, click on one of the two options below.
Why Choose Singapore for Company Incorporation?
Who Can Open a Company in Singapore?
- Both locals and foreigners are welcome to register a company in Singapore, with no restrictions on ownership.
- Singapore allows foreigners to own 100% of their Singapore business entity, offering complete control over their operations.
- Shareholders of a Singapore company can be individuals or corporate entities.
- All company stakeholders must pass a KYC due diligence.
Minimum Requirements for Registering a Singapore Company
Shareholders
1 shareholder
- Minimum of 1 and maximum of 50 shareholders.
- 100% foreign shareholding allowed.
- Shareholders can be individuals or legal entities.
Capital
1 SGD
- Minimum of 1 Singapore dollar.
- The company can increase its paid-up capital at any time.
- There is no concept of authorized capital in Singapore.
Directors
1 director
- Minimum of 1 director.
- Corporate directors are not allowed.
- At least one director must be a local resident director. Additional directors can be either local or foreign individuals.
- To meet the local resident requirement, we offer a nominee director service for clients who do not have a local resident director.
Company Secretary
1 company secretary
- A qualified and locally resident company secretary must be appointed.
- A company secretary is responsible for ensuring the company complies with its regulatory obligations and filings.
- When you proceed with us, we will appoint a qualified company secretary for your company.
Legal Address
Singapore-based registered address
- The company must have a registered office address in Singapore and must be a physical place (no P.O. Boxes).
- The registered address must be operational and accessible to the public during normal business hours.
- When you open your company through us, we will provide our address as your company’s registered address.
Expertly Done!
"Company incorporated, bank account opened, employment pass approved - thank you guys! I am very impressed with the smooth manner and quick pace at which everything was done. I explored several service providers in Singapore but am very glad to have finally engaged your team. Your online platform is awesome - it makes it very easy for me to work with your team and access my documents."
D2G Pte. Ltd.
Steps to Register a Singapore Company
Step 1
Engage Singapore
Corporate Services Firm
(Client)
When you are ready to proceed with registration of your company, the first step is to engage the services of a corporate service provider in Singapore. If you are interested in our services:
- Review our incorporation packages and submit your inquiry.
- We will promptly review your inquiry, discuss your needs with you, answer your questions, and advise you on the appropriate business structure.
- Once you agree with the way forward, we will create an account for you on our online platform. You will be able to login and make payment for the agreed upon package.
Step 2
Submit Proposed Company Details and Required Documents
(Client)
Upon engaging our service, you will be able to
- Complete the details of your company structure (business activity, shareholders, directors, paid-up capital, etc.) using our online platform.
- Upload required documents for company stakeholders.
For Individuals:
- Copies of passports or Singapore Identity Cards (NRIC) for all directors, shareholders, and Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBO).
- Residential address proof (recent utility bills, bank statements, or official correspondence showing the residential address).
- Professional background (a CV or LinkedIn profile).
For Foreign Companies:
- Certificate of incorporation of the parent company.
- Business profile of the parent company containing information about its business activities, share capital, shareholders, and officers.
- An ownership structure chart that identifies the Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBO) of the parent company.
- Board resolution from parent company authorizing the registration of a subsidiary company in Singapore.
Our platform allows you to easily communicate with us online for any clarifications you may need at any step of the process.
Step 3
The KYC Process
(Service Provider)
Once you have submitted the necessary information about company structure and stakeholders, our compliance team will check and assess the identities and backgrounds of all company stakeholders. This Know Your Customer (KYC) process is mandated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and other regulatory bodies to ensure that businesses comply with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Anti-Terrorist Financing (ATF) regulations.
The KYC process consists of:
- Verification of Identity and Address. It involves checking the validity of identification documents and confirming the residential address.
- Background checks. In compliance with Singapore AML and CFT regulations, background checks must be conducted to ensure that stakeholders have no history of involvement in illegal activities.
- Based on the gathered information and verification results, if everything appears satisfactory, the incorporation process can proceed. However, in some cases, more detailed checks may be necessary, requiring additional information or documents from the stakeholders.
Step 4
Company Name Reservation
(Service Provider)
- Upon completing the KYC step, we will proceed to apply for the approval of your company name with Singapore company registrar ACRA.
- The name must be unique, not identical or too similar to existing names, and must not contain any prohibited or undesirable words.
- Once approved, the company name will be reserved for 120 days from the date of application.
- You can use our Company Name Search tool to check for company name availability.
In case your first choice name is not available, our team will apply for your alternate choices.
Step 5
Preparation of Company
Incorporation Documents
(Service Provider)
After the company name is approved, we will prepare all necessary documents for your review and signature. These documents are required for registering your company with ACRA. Below are the key documents that must be prepared and filed:
- Company Constitution (previously known as Memorandum and Articles of Association). The Company Constitution outlines the rules and regulations governing the company’s operations, the rights and responsibilities of its shareholders and directors, and the internal management of the company. You can adopt the standard Singapore Company Constitution (recommended) or draft a custom one to suit your specific business needs.
- Consent to Act as Director. This document confirms that the appointed directors agree to act in their capacity as directors of the company. Each director must sign a consent form.
- Consent to Act as Company Secretary. This document confirms that the appointed company secretary agrees to perform their duties in compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Declaration of Compliance. This is a statutory declaration confirming that all the requirements of the Companies Act in respect of the registration of the company have been complied with.
Step 6
Company Incorporation
with ACRA
(Service Provider)
Filing the incorporation application is the final step.
- We will submit all necessary information and signed documents to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) through their online portal BizFile+.
- Most registration applications are processed in a matter of hours.
- Upon approval, ACRA will issue an email notification confirming the company incorporation. This electronic certificate of incorporation serves as official proof of your company’s legal status in Singapore. A hard copy certificate is not issued.
- We will also retrieve an official company business profile of your company from ACRA. This document shows the corporate structure of your Singapore company and includes the company’s primary business activity, registered address, details of shareholders and directors, and shareholding structure.
Singapore Company Registration Packages
We have ready-made incorporation packages based on the most common needs of our foreign and local clients.
Our packages include all essential services for opening your Singapore company, without bundling unnecessary services that may not be required. We provide transparent and competitive pricing.
Singapore Company Registration
Company Secretary for 1 Year
Registered Address for 1 Year
Nominee Director for 1 Year or Employment Pass
Inclusive of Government Fees
Local Package
Designed for Singapore citizens and permanent residents of Singapore who do not need our local director and Employment Pass application filing service.
Singapore Company Registration
Company Secretary for 1 Year
Inclusive of Government Fees
Common Tasks After Company Registration in Singapore
Bank Account Opening
Opening a corporate bank account is an important task after setting up your company in Singapore. In response to stringent Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Anti-Terrorism Financing (ATF) regulations, all traditional banks in Singapore have tightened the process of opening a corporate bank account thus requiring careful planning and preparation.
Our recommended approach:
- To expedite the commencement of your business operations, we recommend opening a digital bank account first with a neobank such as Aspire, Wise, or Airwallex. The account opening process with these neobanks is significantly faster, allowing you to start your business activities without delay.
- Simultaneously, you can explore traditional banks to understand their specific requirements, prepare all necessary information and documents, and then submit your application for a bank account.
Singapore Work Visa
- After opening your company in Singapore, you may need to relocate key staff members to establish and expand your operations. The Employment Pass (EP) is the primary work visa for foreign professionals, managers, and executives who possess the necessary qualifications and experience.
- The Employment Pass application is subject to approval, and both the company and the applicant must meet the relevant eligibility criteria.
- For further details, see our guide Singapore Employment Pass. We will be happy to discuss your particular plans and advise you on options best suitable for your particular situation!
GST Registration
(Optional)
Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration in Singapore is optional for companies with an annual taxable turnover below SGD 1 million. Once registered, you must comply with ongoing reporting and filing requirements.
To learn more, read our Singapore GST Registration Guide.
Business License
(Optional)
Depending on the nature of your business activities, you may need to apply for specific business licenses to legally operate in Singapore. Only certain industries such as food and beverage, retail, healthcare, finance, and education have licensing requirements.
To learn more, read our Singapore Business Licenses Guide.
Incorporation Timeline Expectations
How Long Does It Take to Register a Company in Singapore?
In the current environment of stringent AML/ATF regulations and due diligence requirements, expecting to have a company opened within a single day is unrealistic. Despite this, many service providers continue to promise quick opening merely to attract and sign up customers. Listed below are the realistic timelines along with strategies to manage them effectively:
Initial Preparation and
KYC Due Diligence
2-5 days
The initial preparation phase involves gathering all necessary documents and information required for Singapore company setup. Once this information is ready, the Know Your Customer (KYC) due diligence process is conducted to verify the identities and backgrounds of the company's stakeholders. This step is crucial for compliance with Singapore’s strict Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Anti-Terrorism Financing (ATF) regulations.
Company Name
Reservation
<1 day
Company Registration
with ACRA
1-2 days
Bank Account
Opening
5-10 days for digital banks
6-12 weeks for traditional banksOngoing Compliance and Maintenance for Singapore Companies
Annual Return Filing
Record Keeping
Annual Tax Filing
Timely Updates
Incorporate Your Singapore Company With Us
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