What requirements do i need to incorporate my company in Singapore?
Your company name needs to be approved before registration.
You need to appoint a minimum of one resident* director. An unlimited number of additional resident or non-resident directors can be appointed as well. Both resident and non-resident directors need to be at least 18 years old, not bankrupt, and free of any malpractice charges in the past.
You can have anywhere between 1-50 shareholders, which may or may not be directors. Shareholders can consist of both local and non-local individuals or companies, and 100% non-local shareholding is allowed. After a Singapore company is incorporated, shares can be freely issued or transferred at any time.
You need to appoint a qualified resident* company secretary within 6 months of your Singapore company’s registration. Sole directors and/or shareholders cannot act as the company secretary.
You need to possess a minimum of S$1 worth of paid-up capital (also known as share capital) to register your Singapore company. This amount can be increased any time after your company is incorporated.
You need to provide a local, physical Singapore address as the registered address of the company. The registered address can be either a residential or commercial address, but not a P.O. Box.
Singapore-registered companies enjoy attractive tax exemptions and incentives. Your company pays less than 9% for the first S$300,000 you make in annual profits, followed by a flat rate of 17% flat thereafter. Singapore companies do not have to pay capital gains or dividend taxes. For further information on taxes, refer to our Singapore corporate tax guide.
*Refers to a Singapore Citizen, Permanent Resident, or holders of Singapore work visas (EntrePass or Employment Pass)
If you are not a Singapore resident and would like to incorporate a Singapore company, what requirements do you need?
You must engage a professional firm to register your Singapore company – under Singaporean law, non-resident individuals or entities cannot self-register a company.
You are not required to obtain a Singapore work visa to incorporate a private limited company if you are operating your company from overseas. You can visit Singapore on a visitor visa when you need to attend to company matters on a short-term basis. However, in such cases, you will need to find a local director to fulfil the minimum one resident director requirement. We can elect a nominee local resident director on your behalf – visit our services page to find out more.
All Singapore company registration and work permit formalities can be handled without you having to physically visit Singapore – unless you intend to open a bank account at a Singapore-based bank.
What documents are required to register my Singapore company?
To register your company in Singapore, you’ll need to provide the following documents:
Company name
Brief description of business activities
Shareholders’ particulars
Directors’ particulars
Registered address
Company secretary particulars
Constitution
If you are engaging the services of a professional service firm, they will typically require these documents from you in order to prepare the necessary paperwork:
For non-residents: Copy of passport, proof of overseas residential address, as well as other Know-Your-Client (KYC) information such as bank reference letters, personal and business profiles, etc.
For Singapore residents: Copy of Singapore identity card For corporate entity shareholder(s): Copy of registration documents, such as a Certificate of Incorporation and Constitution
Do note that officially-endorsed translated versions must be provided for any non-English documents.
