Short answer: Yes. A foreigner can own 100% of a Singapore private limited company (Pte Ltd). ACRA requires foreigners to use a registered corporate service provider (CSP) to reserve the company name and register it. The company also needs at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore, a Singapore registered office address, and a company secretary appointed within six months.
Prepared by the AAA Corporate Services team. Last checked against ACRA and MOM sources on 28 October 2026.
What you need before you start
| Requirement | What it means for a foreign founder | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A registered CSP | Foreigners must engage a CSP to reserve the name and register the company. | ACRA: requirements and eligibility |
| One resident director | At least one director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore. | Companies Act 1967, s145 |
| At least one shareholder | One person can be both director and shareholder. Shareholders can be foreign individuals or companies. | ACRA: choosing directors and key officers |
| A Singapore registered office | Must be a Singapore address, open to the public for at least three hours each business day. It does not have to be where you run the business. | ACRA: registering a local company via Bizfile |
| A company secretary | Must be appointed within six months of incorporation. | ACRA: choosing directors and key officers |
| Share capital | There is no statutory minimum capital. It is usually S$1, or more if your business needs it. | AAA Corporate Services |
| ID and address proof | Passport and proof of address for each director and shareholder, so your CSP can complete due diligence. | AAA Corporate Services |
The resident director rule, and three ways to meet it
This is the step that stops most foreign founders. ACRA's guidance says the local resident can be a Singapore citizen, a Singapore permanent resident, or a valid holder of an Employment Pass, a Personalised Employment Pass or an Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass. If you hold a work pass, check with MOM or ICA before you accept the role. For example, Employment Pass holders must first obtain a Letter of Consent from MOM. (ACRA)
You then have three practical options:
- Appoint a trusted resident as director. This could be a co-founder, a business partner or a long-term adviser who is a citizen, PR or a qualifying pass holder. They carry the legal duties of a director, so choose someone you trust and agree the role in writing.
- Move to Singapore on an eligible pass. If you plan to run the business here, you need a work pass. ACRA points entrepreneurs with venture-backed or innovative tech companies to the EntrePass, which can be applied for before incorporation or within six months of setting up. EntrePass requires you to hold at least 30% of an ACRA-registered Pte Ltd and meet at least one MOM criterion: raised funding, accelerator support, a past business exit, registered intellectual property or a research collaboration. There is no salary minimum, and holding the pass does not by itself make you the company's resident director. Dependant's Pass holders can apply for a Letter of Consent after the company is registered. (ACRA, MOM EntrePass)
- Use a nominee resident director through a registered CSP. This is the usual bridge while a founder is still overseas. Since 9 June 2025, a person may act as a nominee director by way of business only if a registered CSP arranges the appointment.
How to register your company, step by step
- Choose the structure. Most foreign founders choose a Pte Ltd because it limits personal liability. If you are unsure, read sole proprietorship vs private limited.
- Pick a company name. Your CSP checks the name and reserves it with ACRA. The ACRA name application fee is S$15.
- Decide who the directors, shareholders and secretary will be. Confirm which director meets the resident rule.
- Send your documents. Passport and proof of address for every director and shareholder. Your CSP completes customer due diligence, which Singapore law requires of CSPs.
- Review and sign. You approve the company details and the constitution. Signing can be done remotely, but remote founders need a live video call with your CSP.
- Your CSP files with ACRA. The ACRA registration fee is S$300. ACRA usually approves straightforward applications soon after payment; complex ones can take up to 15 working days, or longer if another agency must approve. (ACRA fees)
- Receive your incorporation documents. You get ACRA's notice of incorporation with the UEN and a Business Profile link, plus the constitution, registers and share certificates.
- Plan the next 30 days. Open a business bank account, appoint your company secretary (within six months at the latest), and set up your registers and accounting.
What it costs
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ACRA name application | S$15 | Government fee (ACRA) |
| ACRA registration | S$300 | Government fee |
| AAA incorporation, all-in | S$468 | Includes the S$315 ACRA fees. No GST. |
| AAA incorporation + 6 months company secretary | S$568 | Includes the S$315 ACRA fees. No GST. |
| AAA incorporation + 12 months company secretary | S$638 | Includes the S$315 ACRA fees. No GST. |
| Company secretary, each following year | S$360 a year | Includes the S$60 ACRA annual return fee. |
| Locally resident director arrangements | Quoted on request | Subject to fit-and-proper and CDD checks. |
| Registered office address | Ask us | Needed from day one if you have no Singapore premises. |
Other costs to plan for: accounting and tax filing from the first year, a business bank account (some banks charge fees and have minimum balances), and any work pass fees if you plan to relocate. We quote a fixed fee before we start.
How long it takes
Once your CSP has your documents and the due diligence is done, ACRA usually approves straightforward applications soon after payment; complex ones can take up to 15 working days, or longer if another agency must approve. Bank account opening is usually the slowest step. Banks run their own checks on foreign-owned companies, so allow weeks rather than days and prepare a clear explanation of what the company will do and where its funds come from.
After you register
- Bank account. Banks decide on their own criteria. Have your business plan, ownership chart and source-of-funds documents ready.
- Company secretary. Appoint within six months. The secretary cannot be the company's sole director, and must be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, or meet ACRA's residency rules. See why every company needs a corporate secretary.
- Registers. Keep statutory registers, including the register of registrable controllers. If you use a nominee director, the company must also keep a register of nominee directors and file the nominator's details. (ACRA)
- Accounts, tax and the annual return. Plan your financial year end, corporate tax filing and ACRA annual return from the first year. See annual return filing explained and the corporate tax guide for SMEs.
Notes for founders in Malaysia, India and China
The Singapore side is the same for everyone: a CSP, a resident director, a registered office and a secretary. Your home country may add its own rules, and we are not licensed to advise on them.
- Malaysia. Check your home-country rules.
- India. Check your home-country rules.
- China. Check your home-country rules.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using a provider that is not registered. Since the Corporate Service Providers Act 2024, CSPs must be registered with ACRA. You can check a CSP's status on Bizfile.
- Appointing a stranger as director to save money. A director has legal duties. Do not sign blank documents or give away control of the bank account.
- Forgetting the six-month secretary deadline. The company must appoint a secretary within six months of registration.
- Leaving the bank account to last. Start the application as soon as you have ACRA's notice of incorporation.
- Assuming a pass lets you work for the company. Owning shares is not the same as having permission to work in Singapore. Check MOM's rules for your pass type.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Singapore company?
Yes. There is no local shareholding requirement. A foreign individual or company can hold all the shares. The company still needs a director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore.
Do I need to be in Singapore to register a company?
No. Your CSP can file for you. You provide your passport and address proof, review the documents and sign remotely, and remote founders need a live video call with your CSP. ACRA requires foreigners to use a CSP.
Can I be the only director if I live overseas?
No. At least one director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore. You can add a resident director, relocate on an eligible pass, or use a nominee director through a registered CSP.
How much does it cost to register a Singapore company?
ACRA charges S$15 for the name application and S$300 for registration, S$315 in total. Provider fees come on top. AAA's incorporation packages start at S$468 all-in, including the ACRA fees, with no GST.
How long does it take?
ACRA usually approves straightforward applications soon after payment; complex ones can take up to 15 working days, or longer if another agency must approve. The bank account usually takes longer than the incorporation.
Do I need a company secretary?
Yes. Every company must appoint a secretary within six months of incorporation. The secretary cannot be the company's sole director, and must be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, or meet ACRA's residency rules.
What is the minimum capital?
There is no statutory minimum capital. It is usually S$1. Your business, bank and any pass application may need more, so plan for what you will actually spend.
Does holding a Singapore company give me a visa?
No. Owning a company does not give you the right to live or work in Singapore. You need a work pass, such as an EntrePass if you qualify. Check MOM's current criteria.
Sources
- ACRA: Step 1, requirements and eligibility (last updated 29 Jan 2026)
- ACRA: Step 4.3, choosing company directors and other key officers
- ACRA: Step 4.6, registering a local company via Bizfile (last updated 19 Oct 2026)
- ACRA: service and transaction fees for companies
- Companies Act 1967, s145 (directors)
- ACRA: Corporate Service Providers Act 2024
- MOM: EntrePass
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so confirm current requirements with ACRA, MOM and your own advisers.
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