Direct answer
ACRA says a proposed name must be checked against existing and reserved names and may require referral approval depending on the name.
What the official guidance says
ACRA states that an approved business name can be reserved for up to 120 days and that the registration must be aligned with the reserved entity type.
Name Reservation Period in Singapore
Source: Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) guidance, via our in-depth guides:
Business Name & Name Approval checklist for Singapore
- Search for identical or reserved names.
- Review restrictions on protected or undesirable names.
- Check whether referral approval may apply.
- Confirm the selected name before preparing registration data.
- Record the name-application transaction number.
- Note the reservation expiry date.
- Register the same entity type selected during reservation.
- Do not rely on an expired reservation.
Practical focus
Treat the proposed name as a verification step: check the authority's naming rules and the official availability/approval process before committing to branding or documents.
Frequently asked questions
Which authority controls business name & name approval in Singapore?
Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) is the primary authority for the guidance on this page. Other authorities can be involved depending on your activity; re-check the official source before acting.