Company name
Reserve an available name with ACRA. Names that require referral to another authority take longer to review.
Singapore incorporation support
Singapore Company Registration & Pte Ltd Formation
Whether you are starting a local business, investing from overseas or adding a Singapore company to an existing group, a private limited company is often the structure to consider first. It needs at least one director who meets the local residency rules and a company secretary after registration. If you are based overseas, the incorporation must be handled through a registered Corporate Service Provider. HSJGlobal can coordinate the filing, registered office, resident director support where required and ongoing compliance.
Foreign ownership
Can a foreigner register a company in Singapore?
Yes. A foreign individual or overseas company can own all the shares in a Singapore private limited company. The filing is made through a Corporate Service Provider (CSP), and the company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore. Our guide for foreign founders explains how those two requirements work in practice.
Foreign ownershipGenerally up to 100%
Resident directorAt least one required
Share capitalAt least S$1 for a company with share capital
Official setup feesS$15 name + S$300 registration
Decide what the company needs to do before you file. Incorporation alone does not give the company a bank account, Singapore tax residence, a work pass or a licence for regulated activities.
Choose the legal form
Is a Pte Ltd the right Singapore business structure?
A private company limited by shares is the usual choice when the business will trade, hire people or bring in investors. It has its own legal identity and generally limits each shareholder's liability to the amount committed to the company. If you are still comparing options, start with the practical differences between the main Singapore business structures.
| Structure | Often suits | Main point to examine |
|---|---|---|
| Private limited company (Pte Ltd) | Trading, hiring, fundraising and long-term operations | A separate Singapore legal entity with ongoing company and tax compliance |
| Singapore subsidiary | An overseas group establishing a local operating company | The foreign parent holds shares in a locally incorporated company |
| Foreign company branch | A foreign company operating directly through a Singapore registration | The branch is tied to the foreign head office and has different filing considerations |
| Limited liability partnership | Some professional or partner-led businesses | Partner, manager, tax and governance treatment differs from a company |
| Representative office | Temporary market research before commercial operations | It is not intended for ordinary revenue-generating business |
A foreign company that already operates elsewhere may prefer a local subsidiary or a branch. The better fit depends on liability, tax, financial reporting and how closely the Singapore operation should remain tied to the head office. See our branch and subsidiary comparison before choosing between them.
What a Pte Ltd needs
Singapore company registration requirements
For a straightforward Pte Ltd, you will need to settle the points below before the incorporation can be filed. The full registration checklist covers the details behind each item. Regulated activities, special share rights and layered ownership usually require more preparation.
Shareholders and capital
Confirm who will own the company, the number and class of shares, and the amount issued. A company with share capital needs at least S$1 to start.
Resident director
Appoint at least one director who meets the local residency rules. Additional foreign directors may also be appointed. Read the resident director rules before relying on a work-pass holder or nominee arrangement.
Company secretary
Appoint an eligible individual who is ordinarily resident in Singapore within six months of registration. The sole director cannot also be the secretary.
Registered office
Provide a Singapore address for official notices and company records. It must meet ACRA's access and office-hour rules; a P.O. box is not enough.
Constitution and FYE
Adopt a suitable constitution and choose a financial year end. The FYE drives AGM, annual return and tax deadlines.
Controller details are part of the filing. Since 16 June 2025, new companies generally provide registrable controller information at incorporation and, where relevant, nominee director or nominee shareholder information. Our RORC and beneficial ownership guide explains what should be prepared and kept up to date.
Documents for the CSP
Documents and information usually requested
The list varies with the owners, the activity and the source of funds. Most applications begin with the items shown here, while overseas individuals and corporate shareholders may need additional evidence; use the document guide to check what applies.
- Passport or accepted identity document for each individual owner, director and controller
- Recent residential address evidence where required for due diligence
- Corporate documents and ownership chart for any corporate shareholder
- Proposed company names and a plain-English description of the activities
- Shareholding, director, secretary and financial year-end details
- Expected customers, suppliers, countries, turnover and payment flows
- Source-of-funds or source-of-wealth evidence where risk checks require it
- Licence information for regulated or approval-sensitive activities
The filing process
How to register a company in Singapore
Once the ownership, resident director and business activity are clear, the actual filing is usually uncomplicated. The sequence below shows the main stages; the step-by-step incorporation guide goes into the Bizfile work in more detail.
Confirm the structure and activity
Decide whether a Pte Ltd, subsidiary, branch or another form fits the planned trade, ownership and funding.
Complete identity and business checks
Give the CSP the ownership chart, identity documents and a clear explanation of what the company will do.
Reserve the company name
Submit the name to ACRA. If the name or activity needs a referral, wait for the relevant authority's review.
Prepare officers, shares and constitution
Confirm the resident director, shareholders, share capital, registered office, constitution and financial year end.
File the incorporation
The CSP submits the registration through Bizfile and follows up on any endorsement or ACRA query.
Get ready to operate
Put the statutory registers and accounting records in place, then deal with any licences, tax registrations and bank account applications.
Know what the quote includes
Singapore company registration cost
ACRA's fees are fixed, but the full cost depends mainly on whether you need a resident director, secretary, registered address and accounting support. Our 2026 cost breakdown separates the government charges from setup and annual service fees.
| Item | Official fee | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Company name application | S$15 | Before the incorporation filing |
| Company registration | S$300 | When registering the local company |
| Total statutory registration fees | S$315 | Excludes professional and recurring service fees |
Typical HSJGlobal service options
These are starting prices, not fixed all-inclusive packages. Your written quote will show what is included after we have checked the owners, business activity and services required.
Core registration support
From S$699
For a straightforward structure where you already have a suitable resident director. The quote will state whether ACRA fees, the company secretary and registered office are included.
Foreign founder setup
From S$2,500
For a foreign-owned company that needs a wider setup package. A nominee director arrangement has its own checks, approval process and written terms.
Complex structure support
From S$3,500
For corporate shareholders, layered ownership or a business that needs more preparation. Tax, licensing and banking work is quoted separately where required.
Check the recurring cost, not just the first-year price. Ask about annual secretary and address renewals, resident director fees and deposits, accounting, tax returns, annual return filing, GST, payroll and licence work.
Tell us who will own the company, what it will do and whether you already have a resident director. We can then price the first year and show which costs renew.
Allow time for preparation
How long does Singapore company incorporation take?
ACRA says most registrations are approved soon after payment. The total setup takes longer if ownership documents still need to be checked, a resident director must be arranged or the name needs referral. Overseas identity or corporate documents may add further preparation time. The registration timeline guide separates filing time from the preparation that comes before it.
What can extend the timeline?
- Collecting and verifying overseas identity or corporate documents
- Finalising a resident director arrangement
- A name or activity that requires referral to another authority
- A complex application, which ACRA says may take up to 15 working days
- A referral authority review, which ACRA says may take 14 to 60 days
- Bank onboarding, licences and work passes, which run on separate schedules
How we can help
Singapore company formation services
You can use HSJGlobal for the incorporation alone or ask us to coordinate the services needed after registration. We set out the scope, the party responsible for each service and the renewal costs in writing.
Company formation
Name application, incorporation information, constitution coordination and post-registration documents.
Resident director arrangement
Introductions and coordination where needed, subject to the provider's checks and separate terms.
Secretary and registered office
Appointment and address support, plus reminders for routine corporate filings and changes.
Accounting and tax
Bookkeeping, financial statements, corporate tax filings and GST support based on the company's actual transactions.
Banking preparation
Help with the business explanation, supporting documents and application process. The bank or payment provider makes the final decision.
Continuing compliance
Annual returns, changes to officers or shareholders, statutory registers, resolutions and other agreed company administration.
Check who you are appointing
What changed for Corporate Service Providers in 2025?
The Corporate Service Providers Act came into force on 9 June 2025. Businesses that provide covered corporate services in or from Singapore must be registered and meet anti-money-laundering requirements. The Act also introduced checks for people acting as nominee directors by way of business. Before paying a provider, confirm that it appears in ACRA's register and use this CSP selection checklist.
Before choosing a provider
- Ask for the contracting entity's full legal name and registration details.
- Confirm which work is performed by a registered Singapore CSP.
- Get government fees, service fees and renewal fees in writing.
- Check who will hold company records and respond to ACRA notices.
Before using a nominee director
- Expect identity, ownership, activity and source-of-funds checks.
- Read the nominee agreement, indemnity, deposit and exit terms.
- Understand that a nominee director still has legal duties.
- Keep controller and nominee registers accurate and up to date.
Business account applications
Singapore corporate bank account support
A Singapore company with local or overseas owners can apply to banks and payment providers, and HSJGlobal can help prepare the application. Remote onboarding may be available for eligible overseas founders, but each institution decides whether the application and identity checks can be completed online. See the current remote account-opening options before choosing a provider.
What the account provider will ask for
- Explain what the company sells and why it is using Singapore.
- Show expected customers, suppliers, countries and transaction values.
- Provide ownership and source-of-funds evidence that matches the filing.
- Use contracts, invoices, a website or a business plan where available.
- Confirm whether every required person can complete video or in-person checks.
Account approval is the institution's decision. We can check the documents and help present the business clearly, but the bank or payment provider controls its risk review, timing and onboarding method.
Tax after incorporation
Singapore corporate tax: what a founder should know
Singapore's headline corporate income tax rate is 17% of chargeable income. The 2026 corporate tax guide covers the current rate, rebate and reliefs. What the company actually pays depends on tax residence, the source of its income, deductible expenses, exemptions and related-party transactions.
Start-up exemption
A qualifying new company may receive a 75% exemption on the first S$100,000 of normal chargeable income and a further 50% exemption on the next S$100,000 for its first three consecutive Years of Assessment. Eligibility conditions apply.
YA 2026 rebate
IRAS currently states that a 50% corporate income tax rebate applies to tax payable for YA 2026, capped at S$40,000 after any applicable S$2,000 cash grant. This is a year-specific measure, not a permanent incorporation benefit.
Dividends and capital gains
Dividends paid by a Singapore resident company under the one-tier system are generally not taxable to shareholders. Capital gains are generally not taxable, but gains that are revenue or trading income may be taxable.
The headline rate is only a starting point. Incorporation does not automatically make the company tax-resident in Singapore. Where decisions are made, where people work and how related companies trade with each other can all affect the final position.
What happens each year
Singapore company annual compliance after registration
Registration creates annual work as well as a legal entity. The company must keep records and meet filing deadlines even if it is dormant or has not opened a bank account. Use the annual compliance checklist to plan the first financial year.
| Obligation | General timing | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Company secretary | Within six months after registration | The position cannot remain vacant for more than six months. |
| Auditor, unless exempt | Within three months after incorporation | Many qualifying small private companies are audit-exempt, but they still keep records and prepare accounts. |
| Annual general meeting | Generally within six months after FYE | A private company may qualify to skip or dispense with an AGM if the legal conditions are met. |
| ACRA annual return | Generally within seven months after FYE for a non-listed company | ACRA's current filing fee is S$60; late filing can lead to penalties. |
| Corporate income tax | According to IRAS filing dates | Tax filing is separate from the ACRA annual return. |
| Registers and changes | When ownership, officers, address or controllers change | Different updates have different deadlines; do not wait for the annual return. |
Official Singapore references
Information checked on 14 August 2026. Fees, filing rules and tax measures can change, so confirm the current position before filing.
Common questions
Singapore company registration FAQs
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Singapore company?
Yes. A Singapore private limited company can generally be wholly foreign-owned. It must still meet Singapore requirements, including having at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore. Regulated activities may also need licences or approvals.
Does a Singapore company need a local director?
Yes. Every Singapore company must have at least one director who meets the local residency rules. A foreign founder may appoint a suitable resident director or consider a professional nominee arrangement, subject to due diligence and written terms.
Do foreign founders need a Corporate Service Provider to register?
ACRA states that foreigners must engage a Corporate Service Provider to reserve the business name and register the business structure. Where corporate services or nominee director arrangements are provided in or from Singapore, the relevant provider must meet the registration requirements under the Corporate Service Providers Act.
How much are the official fees to register a Singapore company?
ACRA lists a S$15 name application fee and a S$300 company registration fee, for S$315 in statutory registration fees. Service fees for the CSP, company secretary, registered office, resident director arrangement, accounting or licences are separate unless a written package says they are included.
How long does Singapore company registration take?
ACRA says most registrations are approved soon after payment. Complex applications may take up to 15 working days, while applications sent to referral authorities may take 14 to 60 days. Document collection, due diligence and officer arrangements should be added to the practical project timeline.
Can I register a Singapore company online from overseas?
Yes. Singapore company incorporation can generally be coordinated remotely through a registered Corporate Service Provider. HSJGlobal can collect documents and coordinate signing online, subject to identity checks and any certification requirements. Banking, licences and work passes are separate processes.
Does incorporation guarantee a Singapore business bank account?
No. HSJGlobal can help eligible foreign founders apply remotely with selected banks and payment providers, but incorporation and account approval are separate decisions. Each institution applies its own customer due diligence, risk appetite and document requirements.
What must a Singapore company do after incorporation?
The company must keep its registered office and statutory registers current, appoint a company secretary within six months, maintain accounting records, meet tax obligations and file an annual return with ACRA. A non-listed company generally files its annual return within seven months after its financial year end.
Planning a Singapore company?
Tell us what the company will sell, who will own it, where its customers are and whether you already have a resident director. We will tell you which services are needed, what renews each year and what still needs to be settled before filing.
We usually reply within three hours. Any proposal is subject to due diligence and written engagement terms.
