How to Register a Company in Singapore as a Foreigner (2026 Guide)

What You Need Before You Start

• Valid passport (any nationality — Singapore accepts 100% foreign ownership)
• Proof of residential address (utility bill or bank statement, dated within 3 months)
• Proposed company name (must not conflict with existing names in ACRA database)
• Description of business activities (select from SSIC codes)
• Minimum share capital: S$1 (no minimum capital requirement)

Step-by-Step: Singapore Company Registration for Foreign Founders

1. Company name reservation — Sovera Global checks your proposed name against the ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) database and reserves it. This typically takes 1 hour to 1 business day.
2. Prepare incorporation documents — We prepare the Constitution (equivalent of Articles of Association), director consent forms, shareholder consent, and all ACRA filing documents. You sign digitally — no notarisation required for most nationalities.
3. Submit KYC documents — Passport copy, proof of address, and business description. We submit the KYC form on your behalf.
4. ACRA incorporation filing — We file with ACRA electronically. For most applications, ACRA approves within 1 business day. Complex business activities (financial services, medical, education) may take 1–4 weeks for additional regulatory approval.
5. Receive incorporation documents — ACRA issues a Certificate of Incorporation digitally. You receive your Business Profile, Certificate, company Constitution, share certificates, and register of directors and shareholders.
6. Bank account opening — We assist with introductions to DBS, OCBC, or Airwallex. Account opening takes 2–4 weeks.

The Nominee Director Requirement Explained

Singapore law requires at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore. This can be a Singapore citizen, permanent resident, or holder of an Employment Pass.

For foreign founders who are not relocating to Singapore, a nominee director service fills this requirement. The nominee director is listed on public ACRA records but has no actual authority over the company — a Director’s Resignation Letter and a nominee director agreement protect your control.

Sovera Global provides nominee director services as part of our Singapore incorporation packages, starting from $2,500/year for the nominee director service alone.

Ongoing Compliance Requirements

• Annual Return: Filed with ACRA within 5 months of financial year-end (for listed companies) or 7 months (private companies). Governs director, shareholder, and financial information.
• Annual General Meeting (AGM): Required annually. Can be waived by written resolution for private companies.
• Corporate Tax Return (Form C-S): Filed with IRAS by November 30 each year. Small companies (revenue below S$5M) use Form C-S Lite.
• Audit: Exempt for small companies (revenue below S$10M, fewer than 20 shareholders, all shareholders are individuals). Most startups qualify for audit exemption.

Total Cost of a Singapore Company (Year 1)

• Incorporation (Pte. Ltd., all government fees included): From $2,000
• Registered address (annual): From $500
• Company secretary (annual, mandatory): From $800
• Nominee director (annual, if required): From $2,500
• Corporate bank account opening (optional): From $1,500

Typical Year 1 total (without nominee director): $3,300–4,500
Typical Year 1 total (with nominee director): $5,800–7,000

Why Use Sovera Global for Singapore Registration?

We handle the entire process remotely — name reservation, document preparation, ACRA filing, nominee director arrangement, registered address, and bank account introduction. Most Singapore incorporations are completed in 7–14 business days from the date we receive your KYC documents.