Short answer: Yes. A German founder can register a Singapore private limited company, but ACRA requires foreigners to engage a registered corporate service provider, and the company needs at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore (Companies Act s145(1)). German tax rules sit outside ACRA, so take advice from a German tax adviser before you incorporate.
Last checked against ACRA, IRAS, MOM, BZSt pages on 31 October 2026. Rules change, so confirm before you act.
What does a Singapore company need?
| Requirement | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A registered corporate service provider | Foreigners must engage a CSP to reserve the company name and register the company. | ACRA |
| A director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore | At least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore (Companies Act s145(1)). See our guide to the resident director rule. | ACRA · Companies Act s145 |
| A company secretary | Appointed within six months of incorporation. A real person whose principal or only place of residence is in Singapore (s171(1)), and not the sole director. | ACRA · Companies Act s171 |
| A Singapore registered office | A Singapore address to which communications and notices can be sent (Companies Act s142). | Companies Act s142 |
| At least one shareholder | ACRA says every company must have at least one shareholder, and the minimum number of issued shares is one. | ACRA |
What does it cost?
ACRA charges fees for the name application and for registration, set out on ACRA's site. For AAA's packages, what each includes and current fees, see our pricing page. Source: ACRA.
How does registration work from Germany?
Your corporate service provider files the registration through Bizfile using Corppass. With AAA, we work with you on the documents and identity verification before we file. ACRA says most registrations are approved soon after payment, and complex applications may take longer. Source: ACRA.
German tax rules that sit outside ACRA
How Germany taxes a company or shareholding held abroad, and what reporting you have in Germany, depends on your own position. That is a question for a German tax adviser, and AAA does not give German tax or legal advice. Germany's Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) publishes information on its English-language website. Source: BZSt.
Tax agreement between Singapore and Germany
IRAS publishes the Singapore-Germany agreement for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and on capital (concluded 28 June 2004, in force from 12 December 2006). IRAS also publishes a protocol signed on 9 December 2019, which entered into force on 29 March 2021 and takes effect from 1 January 2022. How the agreement applies depends on your facts, so take tax advice. Source: IRAS list · IRAS: Singapore-Germany agreement. For Singapore's own company tax rules, see our corporate tax guide and IRAS.
If you plan to move to Singapore
If you want to move to Singapore to run the company, ACRA says you need a work pass, and MOM decides pass applications. Read our guide to starting a company on an EP, EntrePass or Dependant's Pass, and check MOM's passes and permits pages. AAA does not apply for work passes or give immigration advice.
Questions to settle before you start
- Who will be the director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore (Companies Act s145(1)), and will you be moving to Singapore yourself?
- Who will hold the shares, and in what proportions?
- Who will be your company secretary, a named individual whose principal or only place of residence is in Singapore (s171(1))?
- Will you or the company need advice in your home country on tax or reporting before you incorporate?
Frequently asked questions
Can a German citizen register a Singapore company?
Yes. ACRA says foreigners must engage a corporate service provider to reserve the name and register, and the company needs at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore (Companies Act s145(1)).
Do I need a Singapore resident director?
Yes. The company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore (Companies Act s145(1)). See our resident director guide for who ACRA says qualifies.
How much does it cost to incorporate?
ACRA charges fees for the name application and for registration. For AAA's current packages, see our pricing page.
Do German tax rules apply to me if I own a Singapore company?
That depends on your own position in Germany, so ask a German tax adviser before you incorporate. AAA does not give German tax or legal advice.
Is there a tax agreement between Singapore and Germany?
Yes. IRAS publishes a Singapore-Germany double tax agreement (concluded 28 June 2004, in force from 12 December 2006) and a later protocol signed on 9 December 2019. How it applies depends on your circumstances, so take tax advice.
Does AAA apply for work passes?
No. AAA does not apply for work passes or give immigration advice. MOM decides pass applications.
Sources
- ACRA: Step 1, requirements and eligibility (last updated 29 Jan 2026)
- ACRA: ways to set up foreign businesses in Singapore (engage a CSP)
- ACRA: Step 4.6, registering a local company via Bizfile
- ACRA: Step 4.3, choosing company directors and other key officers (last updated 29 Jan 2026)
- ACRA: Step 2, choosing a business structure
- Companies Act 1967, s145 (directors)
- Companies Act 1967, s171 (company secretary)
- Companies Act 1967, ss142 and 143 (registered office)
- MOM: passes and permits
- IRAS: list of DTAs, limited DTAs and EOI arrangements
- IRAS: Singapore-Germany avoidance of double taxation agreement
- IRAS: corporate income tax rate, rebates and tax exemption schemes
- BZSt (Germany's Federal Central Tax Office): homepage
- AAA Corporate Services: published packages and pricing
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change, so confirm current requirements with ACRA, MOM and IRAS and your own advisers.
Related guides
- How to Register a Singapore Company as a Foreigner (2026 Guide)
- Resident Director in Singapore: Who Qualifies? (2026)
- Open a Singapore Company from India (2026 Guide)
Talk to AAA Corporate Services
AAA Corporate Services Pte. Ltd. is a Singapore corporate services firm for incorporation, company secretarial, accounting and tax. Tell us your plans and we will explain the registration steps and documents. Fees are published, include ACRA fees where stated, and carry no GST.
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