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.

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

Available business structures

Requirements

Documents

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

Registration process

  1. Choose the legal structure

    The structure decides which laws, filings and ownership rules apply.

  2. Confirm the activity and any licences

    Classify the activity the way the authority does, then check for extra approvals.

  3. Choose and check the company name

    Check naming rules and availability through the official channel before branding.

  4. Prepare directors, owners and officers

    Confirm who can act as director, owner, secretary or agent under local rules.

  5. Confirm the address requirement

    Check the registered office or business location rule for your structure.

  6. Register through the official route

    File through the authority's channel and keep the evidence of submission.

  7. Prepare for corporate banking

    Banks apply their own requirements, separate from the registry's.

  8. Plan post-registration obligations

    Tax registration, annual filings and renewals follow incorporation.

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

Banking

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

Tax considerations

Pending verificationWe have not yet verified tax registration and rates for Singapore from an official source. Check with the competent authority, or ask us to confirm it for your case. See also: Tax Authority Handoff.

Visa and residency

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

Compliance after registration

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 quotes only after confirming your requirements, and shows the official source for every government 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

JurisdictionPrimary authorityOfficial filing routeCompany name stepDirectors and officersLocal agent or secretaryGovernment feesProcessing time
SingaporeAccounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)Bizfile, after reserving the business name GuideApproved names can be reserved for up to 120 days GuideAdditional rules for foreigners, including local-residency requirements GuideA corporate service provider is required in certain cases for foreigners GuideVerifyVerify

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.

All Singapore guides

In-depth guides

Services

Topic checklists

Next step

Planning a company in Singapore?

Answer a few questions about your activity, ownership and timeline. We map each step to the authority that controls it and reply with a structured plan.

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