Jurisdiction guide

Company formation in Singapore

Structures, requirements, documents and registration steps, sourced from Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) guidance.

Sources checked 25 September 2026Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)

Direct answer

To register a company in Singapore, ACRA's guidance runs from choosing a business structure, to choosing and reserving a name, to registering through Bizfile, followed by post-registration requirements. Foreign founders face additional rules, including local-residency requirements and, in certain cases, the use of a corporate service provider.

Quick facts

From Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) guidance. Each value links to the guide that cites it; open items are marked rather than estimated.

Primary authority: Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) (opens official site)
Official filing route: Bizfile, after reserving the business name Source guide: Local Company Registration via Bizfile in Singapore
Company name step: Approved names can be reserved for up to 120 days Source guide: Name Reservation Period in Singapore
Directors and officers: Additional rules for foreigners, including local-residency requirements Source guide: Eligibility and Foreign-Founder Rules in Singapore
Local agent or secretary: A corporate service provider is required in certain cases for foreigners Source guide: Eligibility and Foreign-Founder Rules in Singapore
Registered office: Business address required; a P.O. Box cannot be the main address Source guide: Business Address Requirements in Singapore
Tax registration: Not yet verified: Not yet verified from Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) — check the official source
Visa and residency: Work-pass requirements are separate from business registration Source guide: Foreign Founder Setup Workflow in Singapore
Corporate banking: Not yet verified: Not yet verified from Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) — check the official source
Ongoing compliance: ACRA publishes post-registration requirements Source guide: Post-Registration Requirements in Singapore
Government fees: Not yet verified: Not yet verified from Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) — check the official source
Processing time: Not yet verified: Not yet verified from Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) — check the official source

Overview

ACRA provides official guidance covering eligibility, business structure, name selection and reservation, Bizfile registration and post-registration requirements.

This guide summarises what Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) publishes and links to the official pages. Each statement below links to the in-depth guide that cites it.

Who can register

ACRA explains who needs to register a business and sets out additional rules for foreigners, including local-residency requirements and the use of a corporate service provider in certain cases.
Eligibility and Foreign-Founder Rules in Singapore
For overseas founders, start with ACRA’s eligibility and foreigner rules, then separate business-registration requirements from immigration or work-pass requirements.
Foreign Founder Setup Workflow in Singapore

Available business structures

ACRA places business structure before name selection and registration, and notes that the structure affects liability, cost and potential growth.
Choosing a Business Structure in Singapore

Requirements

ACRA’s guidance requires a business address and distinguishes the rules that can apply to home-based activities; a P.O. Box cannot be used as the main business address.
Business Address Requirements in Singapore
ACRA requires the applicant to select the most relevant Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) code when applying for a business name.
SSIC and Business Activity Selection in Singapore

Documents

A source-first registration file should align identity, name, structure, activity, address and the applicant’s filing authority before the Bizfile submission.
Registration Readiness Checklist in Singapore

Separate the documents the authority asks for from those a service provider or bank asks for. Why it matters.

Registration process

Choose the legal structure
The structure decides which laws, filings and ownership rules apply.
- Choosing a Business Structure in Singapore
Confirm the activity and any licences
Classify the activity the way the authority does, then check for extra approvals.
- SSIC and Business Activity Selection in Singapore
Choose and check the company name
Check naming rules and availability through the official channel before branding.
- Choosing a Business Name in Singapore
- Name Reservation Period in Singapore
Prepare directors, owners and officers
Confirm who can act as director, owner, secretary or agent under local rules.
- Eligibility and Foreign-Founder Rules in Singapore
Confirm the address requirement
Check the registered office or business location rule for your structure.
- Business Address Requirements in Singapore
Register through the official route
File through the authority's channel and keep the evidence of submission.
- Registration Readiness Checklist in Singapore
- Local Company Registration via Bizfile in Singapore
Prepare for corporate banking
Banks apply their own requirements, separate from the registry's.
- Corporate Banking Readiness
Plan post-registration obligations
Tax registration, annual filings and renewals follow incorporation.
- Post-Registration Requirements in Singapore

Get a personalised setup path

Government authorities

Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) is the primary authority for the guidance on this page. Other authorities can be involved for licensing, tax and immigration, depending on the activity.

Licensing

ACRA requires the applicant to select the most relevant Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) code when applying for a business name.
SSIC and Business Activity Selection in Singapore

Banking

Banks set and apply their own account-opening requirements, separately from the registry. Prepare for corporate banking · Banking support.

Tax considerations

Verification required

Official guidance on tax registration and rates for Singapore has not yet been confirmed in the INCORPSYS source registry. Check with the competent authority, or ask us to confirm it for your case. See also: Tax Authority Handoff.

Verify with ACRA

Visa and residency

Company formation and immigration are separate processes decided by different authorities.

For overseas founders, start with ACRA’s eligibility and foreigner rules, then separate business-registration requirements from immigration or work-pass requirements.
Foreign Founder Setup Workflow in Singapore

Compliance after registration

ACRA maintains a dedicated post-registration guide because incorporation or registration is followed by additional statutory and administrative requirements.
Post-Registration Requirements in Singapore

Costs

Fees vary — verify with the authorityFees vary by authority, activity, structure and selected services. Verify current charges with Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) before payment. INCORPSYS shows the official source for every government fee. INCORPSYS service fee: contact for service fee.

Timeline

Processing times are set by Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and depend on the route, the activity and the completeness of the application. We do not estimate timelines the authority has not published. How to verify registration timelines.

Compare with other jurisdictions

See how Singapore compares on filing route, officers, registered office, tax, visas and compliance.

Common mistakes

Registering a different entity type from the one selected when the name was reserved.
Letting a name reservation expire — ACRA allows up to 120 days.
Using a P.O. Box as the main business address, which ACRA does not allow.
Mixing business-registration and work-pass requirements for overseas founders.

Frequently asked questions

How long can a company name be reserved in Singapore?

ACRA states that an approved business name can be reserved for up to 120 days, and the registration must match the reserved entity type.

Can foreigners register a company in Singapore?

ACRA sets out additional rules for foreigners, including local-residency requirements and the use of a corporate service provider in certain cases. Check the current eligibility rules before you apply.

What is an SSIC code?

ACRA requires applicants to select the most relevant Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) code for the business activity when applying for a business name.

Official sources

Sources last checked: 25 September 2026. Official pages change; re-check the authority immediately before filing or payment. See our source policy.

Official sourceSources checked 25 September 2026

Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)

Registering a business

ACRA provides official guidance covering eligibility, business structure, name selection and reservation, Bizfile registration and post-registration requirements.

Official pages change. Re-check the authority immediately before filing, payment or relying on a rule.

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