How to Register a Company in Singapore: 2026 Guide

Singapore consistently ranks among the world's easiest countries to do business in — and for good reason. A private limited company (Pte Ltd) can be registered on ACRA's BizFile+ portal in as little as one business day, with straightforward requirements and minimal paid-up capital. This guide walks through everything you need to know.

Choosing Your Business Structure

Before registering, you need to decide what type of business structure to set up. The three most common are:

Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd)

The most popular choice for startups, SMEs, and foreign investors. Shareholders' liability is limited to their paid-up capital, the company can have up to 50 shareholders, and it has its own legal personality — meaning it can own assets, enter contracts, and sue or be sued separately from its owners.

Sole Proprietorship

Simplest to set up and cheapest to run, but offers no liability protection — the owner is personally liable for all business debts. Best suited for freelancers or very small operations with minimal risk. Not sure which to pick? See our detailed comparison: sole proprietorship vs private limited company.

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

A hybrid structure for professional partnerships (lawyers, accountants, consultants). Partners enjoy limited liability while maintaining a partnership structure.

For most serious businesses — particularly those involving foreign founders, external investment, or significant contracts — the Pte Ltd is the recommended structure.

Core Requirements for a Pte Ltd

Before you register, you will need:

At least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore (Singapore citizen, PR, or holder of an Employment Pass, EntrePass, or Dependant's Pass with a Letter of Consent)
Between 1 and 50 shareholders (can be individuals or corporate entities; 100% foreign ownership is permitted)
At least one company secretary appointed within 6 months of incorporation (must be a Singapore resident; cannot be the sole director)
A registered office address in Singapore (must be a physical address; P.O. Box addresses are not accepted)
Paid-up capital of at least S$1 (can be raised after incorporation)

Step-by-Step Registration Process

Step 1: Reserve Your Company Name

Search for and reserve your proposed company name via BizFile+. ACRA checks the name against existing registrations and reserved names.

Fee: S$15
Validity: 120 days (extendable)
Processing time: Instant for most names; up to 14 days if the name requires referral to a government agency

Tips for a successful name reservation:

Avoid names identical or very similar to existing companies
Avoid names suggesting government affiliation
Check that your preferred domain name is also available

Step 2: Prepare Your Documents

You will need:

Identification documents for all directors and shareholders (NRIC for Singapore residents; passport for foreigners)
Proposed company constitution (ACRA provides a standard model constitution)
Shareholder details and proposed share structure
Registered address in Singapore
Your SSIC code — the Singapore Standard Industrial Classification code that best describes your business activity

Step 3: Register on BizFile+

Submit your application via BizFile+ using a Singpass account (for Singapore residents) or a Corppass account (for certain corporate applicants).

Fee: S$300 for a Pte Ltd
Processing time: Typically same day to 3 business days for straightforward applications

Upon successful registration, ACRA issues a Unique Entity Number (UEN) — your company's permanent identifier used for all government transactions, bank accounts, and invoices.

Step 4: Open a Corporate Bank Account

A corporate bank account is separate from any personal accounts and is required before your company can transact. Singapore's major banks (DBS, OCBC, UOB) as well as digital banks (Aspire, Airwallex, Wise Business) offer business accounts. See our full guide on how to open a corporate bank account in Singapore.

Opening timelines and requirements vary by bank — most require the UEN, company constitution, director/shareholder identification, and an in-person or video verification call.

Step 5: Appoint a Company Secretary

A company secretary must be appointed within 6 months of incorporation. The company secretary is responsible for:

Maintaining statutory registers and corporate records
Filing annual returns with ACRA
Advising directors on governance and compliance obligations

The company secretary must be a Singapore resident and cannot be the sole director. Most companies engage a professional corporate secretarial firm.

Registration Costs at a Glance

Name reservation: S$15
Pte Ltd registration: S$300
Sole Proprietorship / LLP registration: S$100 each
Company secretarial (first year, professional firm): S$300–S$600 typically

Total government fees to incorporate a Pte Ltd: S$315.

Options for Foreign Entrepreneurs

Foreign nationals who want to run a Singapore company themselves have three main options to satisfy the resident director requirement.

Option 1: Nominee Director Service

Engage a professional nominee director — a Singapore-resident individual who fulfils the statutory resident director requirement on your behalf. You retain full operational and decision-making control of the company.

This is a common arrangement for foreign founders who are not yet based in Singapore, or who are in the process of obtaining their own work pass.

Option 2: Employment Pass (EP)

Apply for an Employment Pass to relocate to Singapore and act as your company's own resident director. The EP requires:

A minimum fixed monthly salary of S$5,600 (S$6,200 for financial services roles) for new applicants in 2026
A credible job offer (typically your own company appointing you as a director or CEO)
Passing the COMPASS assessment (see below)
Recognised educational qualifications or relevant professional experience

From 1 January 2027, the EP minimum salary rises to S$6,000 (S$6,600 for financial services) for new applicants.

The COMPASS Framework

Since September 2023, most EP applications are assessed under the COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) points system. Applicants need a score of 40 points or above across six criteria:

Salary relative to local PMET benchmark (0, 10, or 20 points)
Qualifications (0, 10, or 20 points)
Diversity — nationality diversity of the company's PMET workforce (0, 10, or 20 points)
Support for local employment — proportion of local PMETs in the company (0, 10, or 20 points)
Skills bonus — if the role is on MOM's Shortage Occupation List (0 or 20 bonus points)
Strategic economic priorities bonus — for roles in designated priority sectors (0 or 20 bonus points)

EP applications with a fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or above are exempt from the COMPASS assessment.

MOM provides a Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) to help employers check eligibility before applying.

Option 3: EntrePass

The EntrePass is designed for founders of innovative, venture-backed startups. Requirements include:

A business idea with a clear innovation or technology component
Ideally, backing from a Singapore government-recognised VC, incubator, or accelerator — or registered IP/patents
A viable business plan reviewed by MOM
Processing time: up to 8 weeks

The EntrePass is more selective than the EP and is specifically for entrepreneurs who cannot qualify for an EP under normal criteria.

Post-Incorporation Compliance

Registering your company is just the beginning. Singapore companies have ongoing annual compliance obligations:

Annual General Meeting (AGM): Must be held within 6 months of the financial year-end (small private companies may dispense with AGM by passing a resolution)
Annual Return (ACRA): Must be filed within 7 months of the financial year-end; includes an update of directors, shareholders, and registered address
Corporate Income Tax Return: Filed with IRAS by 30 November of the Year of Assessment
Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI): Filed with IRAS within 3 months of the financial year-end
Company secretarial records: Maintained by your appointed company secretary at all times
CPF contributions: As an employer, you must make monthly CPF contributions for Singapore citizen and PR employees
GST registration: Mandatory once annual revenue exceeds S$1 million

Late filing of annual returns to ACRA attracts penalties of S$300 to S$600 depending on how late the filing is.

Tax Advantages of Incorporating in Singapore

17% flat corporate tax rate — one of the lowest in the developed world
Start-Up Tax Exemption (SUTE): 75% exemption on the first S$100,000 of chargeable income and 50% on the next S$100,000 for the first three YAs
GST registration mandatory only when annual revenue exceeds S$1 million — startups typically operate GST-free until they scale
No capital gains tax
No withholding tax on dividends paid to shareholders
Extensive double tax treaty network — over 90 treaties with countries including the US, UK, China, India, Australia, and Germany

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Failing to appoint a company secretary on time. The 6-month window after incorporation is a hard statutory deadline. Missing it is an ACRA compliance breach.

Not opening a separate corporate bank account. Commingling personal and company funds creates accounting and legal problems. Open a corporate account as soon as you receive your UEN.

Choosing the wrong financial year-end. Your first financial year can be up to 18 months long. Choose a year-end that aligns with your industry cycle or makes tax planning easier — it is difficult to change later.

Assuming your nominee director has no rights. A nominee director is still a legal director with fiduciary duties and statutory responsibilities. Ensure your engagement agreement clearly defines the scope of their role.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a company be 100% foreign-owned?

Yes. Singapore allows 100% foreign ownership of private limited companies. There is no requirement for a local shareholder.

Can I use a home address as the registered address?

Yes, with HDB or URA approval (depending on your housing type). Private residential addresses generally require a Home Office Scheme application.

How long does registration take?

Most straightforward Pte Ltd applications are approved on the same day or within 1–3 business days. Applications requiring referral to a government agency can take up to 2 months.

Can I change the company name after registration?

Yes. You can reserve a new name via BizFile+ and pass a board resolution to change it. The fee is S$15 for the new name reservation.

Should I incorporate as a sole proprietorship or Pte Ltd?

It depends on your risk profile, tax planning, and growth ambitions. See our detailed comparison: sole proprietorship vs private limited company.

Related Guides

Choosing your structure

Setting up

For foreigners

After incorporation

WealthBridge provides end-to-end company incorporation services in Singapore, including nominee director and company secretary. Contact us for a quote.