How Many Days Does It Take to Register a Company in Singapore? How to Register from Mainland China? A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Company registration in Singapore actually takes less time than most people expect. Provided that all required documents are complete and the proposed company name has been approved, the process-from submission to receiving the Unique Entity Number (UEN)-can be completed in as little as 24 hours; in most cases, the entire process is finalized within three working days. This efficiency stems from the highly digitized system of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore (ACRA), whereby all steps are conducted online-no physical presence or in-person interviews are required. However, “speed” does not equate to “zero barriers” applicants based in mainland China must engage a local licensed corporate secretary firm to handle the registration. This is a legal requirement-not an optional choice.

How long does it take to register a company in Singapore?

1. Company name search and approval Results are typically available within 15 minutes. If the proposed name contains sensitive terms or closely resembles an existing registered company name, it may be rejected and require resubmission.

2. Submission of the registration application (including details of directors, shareholders, corporate secretary, and registered address) ACRA’s system performs automated validation; if no errors are detected, the application proceeds immediately to the review stage.

3. ACRA review and approval The statutory timeframe is one working day; in practice, over 90% of applications are approved within several hours.

4. Issuance of the UEN and electronic Certificate of Incorporation Upon approval, both are generated instantly and can be downloaded directly as PDF files.

5. Opening a corporate bank account This step is independent of the registration process and exhibits significant variability in processing time. Traditional banks (e.g., DBS, OCBC) generally require 3-7 working days; some digital banks (e.g., NeoBank) support online preliminary reviews, but final verification still requires video-based due diligence-resulting in an overall timeline of approximately 5-10 working days.

It is important to clarify that “completion of registration” is officially marked by the issuance of the UEN. Subsequent procedures-including corporate bank account opening, Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration, and Employment Pass (EP) application-are separate matters and are not included in the official registration timeline.

Can a Singapore company be registered remotely from mainland China?

Yes-and this is, in fact, the prevailing method. Residents of mainland China need not travel overseas; the entire process can be conducted remotely. However, two mandatory conditions must be met

1. Appointment of at least one resident corporate secretary in Singapore (who must be a licensed entity-individuals cannot serve in this capacity); and

2. A genuine physical registered address in Singapore (a P.O. Box is not acceptable; the address must be capable of receiving official correspondence from government authorities).

Both requirements are fulfilled by the appointed corporate secretary firm, and associated fees are included in the comprehensive registration service package. Starting in 2025, ACRA has intensified its regulatory oversight of corporate secretaries, permitting only those firms formally registered and compliant with ACRA’s requirements to operate. Therefore, when selecting a service provider, verify its ACRA registration number via the official ACRA website (acra.gov.sg).

Company Registration Process for Applicants Based in Mainland China

1. Determine company structure At least one shareholder (natural person or corporate entity, with no nationality restrictions) and at least one director (must be aged 18 or above; at least one director must be a Singapore resident or hold a valid Employment Pass [EP] or Dependant’s Pass [DP]).

2. Prepare foundational documents Full-page scanned copies of passports for all shareholders and directors; proof of residential address (e.g., utility bill or bank statement issued within the past three months); and professional resumes (including education and employment history).

3. Select and confirm a company name (in English, ending with “Pte Ltd”), and pre-check its availability using ACRA’s BizFile+ system.

4. Execute the Letter of Authorization and the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association (MAA); the appointed corporate secretary firm will then submit the electronic application to ACRA on your behalf.

5. Pay the registration fee (currently SGD 300, inclusive of statutory government fees and the first year’s corporate secretary service fee).

6. Upon receipt of the UEN, simultaneously apply for a Tax Reference Number from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), required for future tax filings.

7. Where applicable, separately apply for relevant business licenses (e.g., for import/export, food beverage, education, or other regulated industries).

Please note Effective October 2025, Singapore will implement the Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) reporting regime. All companies must file a declaration identifying their ultimate beneficial owners with ACRA within 30 days of incorporation-and update this information annually thereafter. Failure to comply may incur penalties of up to SGD 5,000. Although often overlooked, reputable corporate secretary firms typically proactively remind clients and assist with timely filing.

The above provides a comprehensive overview of Singapore company registration-covering timelines, procedural pathways, and detailed operational steps. We hope this information proves helpful to you.