GOFIRM

Company Registration in the UAE and Abroad

Company Registration in Singapore

A Singapore Pte. Ltd. is a company with a strong reputation among Asian banks and investors. Shareholders can be foreigners, but one director must live in Singapore: if you are not relocating, you need a nominee director. We include the nominee director, the secretary and the address for the first year in the package.

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from €1,908
Registration and first year — package
2–5 days
Registration once the full document set is ready
17%
Corporate income tax — before relief
90+
Double taxation avoidance agreements

This service in other countries

UAETurkeyHong KongChinaMalaysia

In short

A Pte. Ltd. in Singapore is registered in 2–5 days once the full document set is ready; the package with a nominee director, address and secretary for a year is from €1,908, and from €1,668 a year from the second year. Corporate income tax is 17% before relief, and dividends to shareholders are tax-free.

Checked 18 October 2026 · Kermen Tserenkeeva

Cost of a mistake

Up to S$10,000

The fine for appointing a nominee director other than through an ACRA-registered provider — the rule in force since 9 June 2025.

How to avoid it

What you need to know about a company in Singapore

Singapore offers reputation and tax treaties, but requires a local director and strict reporting: a general meeting, an annual return to ACRA and two tax filings a year.

  • A local director is mandatory

    At least one director must ordinarily reside in Singapore: a citizen, a permanent resident or a work pass holder with a local address. Shareholders can be from any country.

  • Nominee director — by the rules

    Since 9 June 2025, a nominee director can be appointed only through a . Nominee director status is shown in the company profile.

  • Secretary and address

    A secretary is appointed within 6 months of registration and cannot be the sole director. Letters and notices go to the registered address in Singapore; from 20 October 2026, it no longer has to be open 3 hours a day.

  • 17% — before relief

    The headline rate is 17%, but for its first three years a new company is exempt on 75% of the first S$100,000 of profit and 50% of the next S$100,000.

Expert tip

A nominee director is legally liable like any other director — so they request contracts, invoices and reports. Set up your document flow this way from day one: this is also how the bank looks at the company.
Kermen TserenkeevaKermen TserenkeevaSenior Lawyer · Company registration

Who it suits

Who it suits — and when to choose something else

A good fit if

  1. 01You need a company with a reputation in Asia — for investors, partners and banks.
  2. 02The tax treaty network matters to you: Singapore has more than 90 treaties.
  3. 03You are planning a holding company or a regional office for Southeast Asia.
  4. 04The business is IT, consulting or trading with real contracts and clear-cut clients.
  5. 05You are ready to work with a nominee director at the start or to relocate to Singapore on a work pass.

Consider something else if

  1. 01Your priority is trade with China and minimal upkeep for the company, with no local director.Hong Kong
  2. 02You need a team in Southeast Asia with costs below Singapore’s.Malaysia
  3. 03You need a visa and life in the UAE, and the Asian company is only for contracts.Freezone
  4. 04You already have a company and only need multi-currency accounts and payments — a payment platform will do.Payment platforms

Three Asian countries

How Singapore differs from Hong Kong and Malaysia

Package prices are “from” prices, and the package contents differ by country. Taxes and timelines follow each country’s rules, indicative as of October 2026.

First year

from €1,908

with director, secretary and address

From year two

from €1,668

company renewal

Local director

Required — nominee included

Corporate tax

17%

before exemptions; 3 years of relief for a new company

Benefits

What you get

Reputation with banks and investors

Singapore is one of Asia’s largest financial centres. A company here is understood by banks, funds and major counterparties.

Relief for new companies

For the first three tax years, up to S$125,000 of profit a year is exempt. After that — partial exemption of up to S$102,500 annually.

Tax-free dividends

Under the one-tier system, the company pays the tax, and dividends to shareholders are not taxed — neither in the recipient’s hands nor at source.

Tax and trade agreements

More than 90 double taxation avoidance agreements and more than 25 free trade agreements reduce withholding taxes and duties.

100% foreign ownership

Shareholders can be foreign individuals and foreign companies. There are no currency controls; capital and profit can be moved out freely.

The first year — in one package

Nominee director, secretary, registered address, AGM preparation and the corporate kit — in one proposal.

Local director

Who will be the director living in Singapore

The law requires at least one such director. If there isn’t one on your team, one of three routes is usually chosen.

In the package

Nominee director

A Singapore resident provided by a corporate service provider

Who the resident director is

A professional director; you are the shareholder and can be a second director

Main condition

An agreement covering powers, reporting and the exit procedure; the provider checks you and the business

Fees and costs

Included in the first-year package — from €1,908

Processing time

Together with registration: 2–5 days once the full document set is ready

For how long

A year in the package, then renewal

Things to consider

Legally liable like any other director: requests documents on transactions, and their status is shown in the company profile

You — on an Employment Pass

The company obtains a work pass for you, and you live in Singapore

Who the resident director is

You yourself — with a Singapore address and a pass to work for this company

Main condition

A salary from S$5,600 a month — the threshold rises with age to S$10,700 — and 40 points under

Fees and costs

MOM fees: S$105 per application and S$225 on issuance; the salary is a company expense

Processing time

MOM decides on an online application, or gives a status update, within 10 working days

For how long

First pass — up to 2 years, renewal — up to 3 years

Things to consider

From 1 January 2027, the threshold for new applications is S$6,000 a month, and S$6,600 in the financial sector

You — on an EntrePass

For the founder of a venture-backed or tech business

Who the resident director is

You yourself — with a Singapore address and a stake of at least 30% in the company

Main condition

One of MOM’s criteria: a funding round of S$100,000 or more, an incubator or accelerator, registered IP, research with a university or institute in Singapore, or a tech business you previously founded and sold

Fees and costs

MOM fees: S$105 per application and S$225 on issuance

Processing time

In most cases — up to 6 weeks

For how long

First pass and first renewal — up to 1 year, then up to 2 years

Things to consider

If the company is more than 12 months old, the application is assessed against the renewal criteria

Let’s discuss the details

Nominee director or relocation?

A nominee director solves the problem at the start; a work pass — once you are ready to live in Singapore. Tell us about your plans — we’ll compare the options on timing, costs and how banks view them.

Process

7 steps from the first conversation to the result

Every step is visible in the client portal: what’s happening now and whether we need anything from you.

Steps on your side: 1 of 7

We handle it · 5Needed from you · 1Authority · 1

  1. We look at the business, shareholders and clients and choose an code. We compare with Hong Kong if the main goal is trade with China.

After registration

A year in the life of a Singapore company: deadlines and fines

Reporting deadlines run from the financial year-end; the tax return is always due by 30 November. Amounts are based on ACRA and IRAS data as of October 2026.

0123456789101112months after financial year-end

3 mo.

Profit estimate — ECI

Not filed with revenue up to S$5 million and a nil estimate. Filing within the first month lets you pay the tax in 10 GIRO instalments; if you don’t file, IRAS may assess the tax on its own estimate — with no instalments.

7 mo.

Annual return to ACRA

Filed even if no meeting was held. The late filing penalty is charged automatically on filing.

If missed: S$300 if up to 3 months late, S$600 if later; in court — up to S$10,000

30 November

Form C-S or Form C return

For a 31 December year-end, that is the 11th month. Form C-S (Lite) — with revenue up to S$200,000, Form C-S — up to S$5 million, above that or with special deductions and reliefs — Form C.

If missed: composition fine of up to S$5,000 per offence, or court; tax on IRAS’s estimate — payable within a month

Every year

  • Within 6 months after year-end

    Annual general meeting

    A private company may dispense with it if it sent the financial statements to shareholders within 5 months or all shareholders have waived meetings.

    If missed: composition from S$500, in court — up to S$5,000

  • At year-end close

    Is an audit needed

    A small private company is exempt: 2 of 3 criteria in the two previous years — revenue up to S$10 million, assets up to S$10 million, up to 50 employees; for a subsidiary, also at group level.

  • At least once a year

    Notice to controllers

    The company asks each controller to confirm their details in the register of controllers.

After registration

  • Up to 6 months

    Company secretary

    An individual living in Singapore and not the sole director. Included in our first-year package.

    If missed: up to S$1,000 for the director

  • On registration

    Registers of controllers and nominees

    For companies registered from 16 June 2025, the information goes to ACRA together with the application — we prepare it.

Event-driven

  • 14 days

    Change of director, secretary or address

    Changes are made to ACRA’s registers through Bizfile.

    If missed: S$50 if up to 3 months late, S$200 if later

  • 7 days + 2 working days

    Controllers and nominees

    The company’s own register is updated within 7 days, and the information is filed with ACRA within a further 2 working days.

  • 30 days

    GST registration

    Taxable revenue for the calendar year above S$1 million — apply between 1 January and 30; if you expect more than S$1 million over 12 months — within 30 days of the forecast date.

    If missed: up to S$10,000 and 10% of the GST due

Documents

What you’ll need

For registration — from the shareholders and director

  • Passport scan: a clear spread with full name, date of birth, photo, number and signature
  • Proof of address from the last 3 months: utility bill, bank or credit card statement, lease or tenancy agreement
  • Completed KYC form
  • Selfie of the director holding the passport

If the shareholder is a company

  • Certificate of incorporation and articles of association
  • Register of directors and shareholders
  • Details of the ultimate beneficial owners and their documents as listed above
  • Resolution on participation in the Singapore company

For the bank account

  • Director’s passport scan
  • Director’s proof of address from the last 3 months: utility bill or bank statement
  • If there are no transactions yet — two contracts for planned deals: with a supplier and with a buyer
  • A statement from another bank and the company website — if available
  • For a payment platform, if the company is new — a business plan and proof of the source of funds

Budget

What the package includes and what you pay for separately

The package covers the first year: the director, secretary and address are already included. Separately — bookkeeping, tax filings and anything that depends on turnover and your plans.

Pte. Ltd. in Singapore

from €1,908

Registration and the first year; from the second year — renewal from €1,668 per year. We fix the exact price in a proposal before work starts.

Included

  • Company registration with ACRA and registration fees
  • Nominee director for 1 year — through an ACRA-registered provider
  • Registered address in Singapore for 1 year
  • Company secretary for 1 year
  • Preparation of the annual general meeting
  • Corporate kit: share certificates, registers and first resolutions

Separately

  • Renewal from the second year — from €1,668 per year
  • Bookkeeping and financial statements for ACRA — based on the number of transactions and currencies
  • Tax filings with IRAS: Form C-S or Form C — even with zero profit; the ECI profit estimate — unless exempt
  • Audit — if the company does not qualify for the small company exemption: 2 of 3 criteria in the two previous years — revenue and assets up to S$10 million, up to 50 employees
  • GST at 9% — registration when taxable revenue for the year exceeds S$1 million or is expected to
  • A bank or platform account — as a separate application, at the bank’s rates: maintenance, minimum balance, payments
  • A work pass, if you become the local director: MOM fees — S$105 per application and S$225 on issuance

Getting it right

Common mistakes — and how to avoid them

Click a card to see how to do it right · 0 of 7 open

  1. 01 What people often do

    Treating the nominee director as a formality who signs everything without looking.

  2. 02 What people often do

    Getting a nominee director through an acquaintance or an unregistered provider.

  3. 03 What people often do

    Not filing tax forms because there is no profit yet.

  4. 04 What people often do

    Counting on the start-up exemption when setting up a pure holding company.

  5. 05 What people often do

    Skipping the annual return to ACRA because no AGM was held.

  6. 06 What people often do

    Not keeping a register of controllers because there is only one shareholder.

  7. 07 What people often do

    Budgeting for 17% tax on all profit.

FAQ

Expert answers

Kermen Tserenkeeva — Company registration

No. The law requires at least one director who ordinarily resides in Singapore. You can be a second director alongside a nominee, or become the local director yourself by relocating on a work pass.

Kermen Tserenkeeva · Company registration

Sources

  1. ACRA — appointing directors, company secretary and key personnel
  2. Singapore Statutes Online — Companies Act, section 142 (registered office)
  3. ACRA — registers of nominee directors and nominee shareholders
  4. ACRA — Corporate Service Providers Act
  5. IRAS — corporate income tax rate, rebates and exemption schemes
  6. ACRA — audit exemptions for small companies
  7. IRAS — do I need to register for GST
  8. Singapore Ministry of Manpower — Employment Pass eligibility

Deadlines, amounts and rules are based on these sources as of the check date. Rules change: check with us before deciding.

Often goes with this

What else you may need

Business Support

Singapore

From the second year — a director, secretary, address, the ACRA annual return and Form C-S: Singapore company support.

Company Registration

Hong Kong

If the main goal is trade with China and minimal upkeep: a company in Hong Kong with no local director.

Bank Accounts

Payment platforms

Multi-currency accounts and payments for a new Singapore company while the bank account is being opened.

Next step

We’ll set up your Singapore company with a director, secretary and address

Tell us what the company will do, who the shareholders are and where the clients are. We’ll check whether Singapore fits or Hong Kong would be simpler, and handle registration with a nominee director, secretary and address for the first year.

Kermen TserenkeevaKermen TserenkeevaSenior Lawyer · Company registration
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