Planning to Register a Company in Singapore? Check These 3 Things First!

Thinking about registering a company in Singapore? Don’t rely solely on online marketing claims like “Get your certificate in three days” or “Zero-barrier entry.” In practice, many applicants overlook fundamental due diligence steps-only to later face issues such as disqualified shareholders, rejected registered addresses, or restricted business activities-wasting both time and money. Before proceeding with incorporation, three critical items must be thoroughly investigated, verified, and confirmed.

1. Verify the Compliance Eligibility of Proposed Directors and Shareholders

1. All directors must be at least 18 years old and must not be undischarged bankrupts or have been convicted of any economic-related crimes.

2. At least one director must be a resident of Singapore-i.e., a Singapore citizen, permanent resident, or a foreign national holding a valid Employment Pass.

3. There are no nationality restrictions for shareholders; however, if the shareholder is a corporate entity, it must provide its most recent certificate of incorporation and a clear statement of its shareholding structure.

4. If engaging a nominee director service, confirm that the nominee possesses the capacity and commitment to fulfill ongoing statutory duties-not merely serve as a name on paper during registration.

5. All individual directors and shareholders must submit notarized copies of their identification documents and proof of residential address; non-English documents must be accompanied by certified English translations.

2. Verify the Authenticity and Regulatory Compliance of the Registered Address

1. The registered address must be a physically existing location within Singapore-it cannot be a P.O. Box or virtual email address.

2. This address must be capable of receiving official correspondence from government agencies and accommodating potential on-site inspections. Commercial office spaces, co-working facilities, or professionally managed registered address services are acceptable.

3. If using a third-party registered address service, verify whether the provider is officially registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and can issue a formal letter of authorization confirming address usage rights.

4. Residential addresses are generally prohibited as registered addresses unless prior special approval has been obtained from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and all applicable building regulations are met.

5. Any change of registered address must be reported to ACRA within 30 days; failure to do so may jeopardize annual filing compliance and tax registration status.

3. Verify the Registrability of the Proposed Company Name and Business Activities

1. The proposed company name must pass ACRA’s online pre-screening system to avoid duplication with existing entities or inclusion of misleading or prohibited terms.

2. Names containing regulated terms-such as “Bank,” “Insurance,” or “Fund”-require prior written approval from the relevant sectoral authority before registration.

3. The description of business activities must be specific and unambiguous. Avoid vague phrases such as “others” or “related activities,” as these may hinder subsequent bank account opening or licensing applications.

4. Certain sectors-including education, healthcare, logistics, and financial services-require additional industry-specific licenses; incorporating a company does not automatically confer operating eligibility.

5. Should the company materially change its core business after incorporation, it must update its business registration information accordingly-and assess whether new regulatory approvals are triggered.

The above outlines the three essential verifications required before registering a company in Singapore. If you have further questions or wish to explore practical implementation details, we recommend reviewing your business model and personnel structure early, preparing a comprehensive document checklist, and allowing sufficient time for pre-submission verification.