Last Modified : September 26, 2026

Learn the ACRA requirements, registration costs and when you need a nominee director.Singapore Company Setup for Foreigners: Costs, Requirements & Nominee Director Guide (2026)

Planning a Singapore company setup as a foreigner? This guide explains the registration requirements, costs and when you may need a nominee director.

Set Up a Company in Singapore: What You Need to Know

Setting up a Singapore company involves more than submitting an application to ACRA. Before registration, you need to decide who will own and manage the company, choose its business activities, and confirm that it has a director who meets Singapore’s residency requirement.

For overseas founders, the resident director requirement is often the first issue to resolve. A nominee director may be an option if you do not already have an eligible resident director. ACRA confirms that a Singapore company must have at least one ordinarily resident director. Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority

What do you need to set up a Singapore company?

Prepare the following before applying:

• Company name: Choose a name and submit it for approval.
• Business activities: Select the appropriate SSIC codes.
• Shareholders and share capital: Decide who will own the shares and how they will be allocated.
• Director: Appoint at least one director who meets the local residency requirement.
• Registered office address: Provide a Singapore address for the company.
• Company constitution: Submit a constitution with the incorporation application.
• Company secretary: Arrange for a suitably qualified person to handle the company’s statutory administration.

ACRA’s government fee is S$315, comprising S$15 for the name application and S$300 for incorporation. Professional service fees, if any, are separate. acra.gov.sg

Do you need a nominee director?

You may need one if none of your proposed directors meets Singapore’s resident director requirement. This commonly arises when all founders live overseas or when a company’s existing resident director is leaving.

You do not need to appoint a nominee director simply because you are a foreign shareholder. The key question is whether the company has an eligible resident director.

A nominee director is still a real company director. ACRA states that directors’ duties apply to nominee directors as well as other directors. The company must also meet the applicable nominee director disclosure and register requirements. acra.gov.sg

Before engaging a nominee director, clarify:

• The scope of the director’s role and decision-making authority.
• The annual fee, deposit and any additional charges.
• What information and approvals the director will require.
• How the arrangement will end when a replacement resident director is appointed.

If a nominee director is provided by way of business, the appointment must be arranged by a registered corporate service provider. Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority

How to set up your company: step by step

1. Plan the ownership and management structure. Identify the shareholders, directors and the person who will manage day-to-day operations.
2. Confirm the resident director arrangement. If you need a nominee director, settle the terms before incorporation.
3. Choose a name and SSIC codes. Make sure the business activities describe what the company will actually do.
4. Prepare the incorporation information. Gather the required details for shareholders, officers, controllers and, where applicable, the nominee director and nominator.
5. Submit the application through ACRA’s Bizfile. Foreign founders must engage a corporate service provider to reserve a name and register the business. acra.gov.sg
6. Set up the company for operation. After incorporation, address the corporate bank account, accounting records, statutory registers, licences and tax obligations relevant to the business. Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority

Common questions

Can a foreigner own a Singapore company?
Yes. Foreign ownership and the requirement for a resident director are separate matters. A foreign founder should confirm the appropriate registration and director arrangements before applying. acra.gov.sg

Does a nominee director run the business?
The practical division of responsibilities should be set out clearly in the service agreement. Regardless of that arrangement, a nominee director remains subject to legal duties as a director. acra.gov.sg

Can the company replace its nominee director later?
Yes, provided the company continues to have an eligible resident director. Plan the appointment and resignation carefully so the residency requirement remains met. Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority

Need help setting up your Singapore company?

Accretion Consulting Pte. Ltd. can help you review the proposed ownership and director structure, prepare for incorporation, and understand the accounting, tax and company secretarial work that follows.

Contact: [email protected] | +65 8332 9341