Company Registration in Singapore from India

The India–Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) has supported trade and investment between the two countries since 2005. Singapore also serves as a major financial and business hub for companies expanding across Southeast Asia. Key advantages include:

• Gateway to ASEAN: Singapore provides a base for businesses targeting the ASEAN market and wider Asia-Pacific region.
• 100% foreign ownership: Indian nationals can own a Singapore company without becoming Singapore citizens or residents, subject to local director and regulatory requirements.
• 17% corporate tax rate: Singapore's headline corporate income tax rate is 17%, with tax exemptions and incentives available to eligible companies.
• No capital gains tax: Singapore generally does not impose capital gains tax. Its one-tier corporate tax system also generally means dividends paid by Singapore companies are not taxed again in Singapore.
• India–Singapore DTAA: The bilateral tax treaty provides mechanisms to address double taxation on qualifying income, subject to its conditions.
• Established India–Singapore ties: Strong trade and investment links between the two countries make Singapore a familiar regional base for Indian businesses.
• Digital incorporation: Companies can be incorporated online through ACRA's BizFile portal, making the process accessible to founders based in India.
• Financial and startup ecosystem: Singapore has established banking, investment, professional services, and startup networks that can support regional expansion.
• Strong IP protection: Singapore provides a well-developed intellectual-property framework for technology, creative, and innovation-focused businesses.
• English-speaking business environment: English is widely used for business and government processes, while Singapore's common-law framework provides a familiar commercial environment for many international businesses.

Note: Singapore is one of several markets Indian founders set up in remotely. If you're comparing options, RegisterKaro also handles USA, UK, New Zealand, and Ireland company registration from India.

Singapore offers several business structures, each suited to a different type of business and level of commitment. The table below compares the main options available to Indian founders:

For most Indian entrepreneurs, a Pte Ltd can provide a straightforward structure for operating in Singapore. An Indian company may instead establish a subsidiary when it wants the Singapore entity to be owned by the existing parent company.

Singapore's requirements for incorporating a private limited company are set by ACRA and are straightforward for foreign founders to meet:

• At least one shareholder: An individual or corporate entity can hold the shares, and 100% foreign ownership is permitted. A private company can have 1–50 shareholders.
• At least one resident director: At least one director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore.
• Company secretary: A company secretary must be appointed within 6 months of incorporation and must ordinarily reside in Singapore.
• Minimum paid-up capital of SGD 1: You can incorporate with as little as SGD 1 and increase the capital later.
• Singapore registered office: The company must have a local registered office address for official correspondence. A PO box cannot be used.
• Eligible directors: Directors must be at least 18 years old and must not be disqualified from acting as directors or be undischarged bankrupts.

The Resident-Director Requirement and Nominee Director

Every Singapore company must have at least one ordinarily resident director. This can be a Singapore citizen, permanent resident, or eligible pass holder who meets the residency requirements.

If you are based in India without an eligible resident director, you can appoint a nominee resident director through a corporate service provider:

• Appointment: A local resident individual is appointed as the nominee director.
• Ownership: You can retain 100% of the shares and control the company.
• Responsibilities: The nominee remains a legally appointed director with statutory duties, even without managing daily operations.
• Your role: You can also serve as an additional director while managing the business from India.
• Replacement: If you later obtain an appropriate eligible EntrePass or Employment Pass and meet the applicable local residency requirements, you may be able to replace the nominee director. This is subject to the company's circumstances and regulatory requirements.

For an Indian founder, the incorporation process for a Singapore company is largely digital, but the company and its officers must provide KYC and corporate documents. These are:

1. For each individual director and shareholder:

• • Passport copy
  • Proof of residential address, such as a utility bill or bank statement issued within the last 3 months
  • Recent photograph and basic KYC details, including nationality and occupation

2. For a corporate shareholder (an Indian company):

• • Certificate of Incorporation and constitution
  • Board resolution approving the Singapore investment and appointing an authorized signatory

3. For the company itself:

• • Proposed company name and business activity (SSIC code)
  • Singapore registered office address
  • Company constitution

Note: Documents not in English generally require an English translation. The incorporation agent will also conduct the required KYC and due diligence checks before filing.

Registering a Singapore company is generally a six-step process completed through ACRA's BizFile portal (bizfile.gov.sg). Indian founders can complete the incorporation application remotely from India, with straightforward applications typically taking 1–3 working days. Here is how the process works:

Step 1: Choose Your Structure and Reserve the Company Name

Start by deciding the company structure, business activity, and name:

• Choose the structure: For most Indian founders, this is a Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd).
• Select the SSIC code: Choose the Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) code that best matches your business activity.
• Reserve the name: Apply through ACRA's BizFile portal and pay the SGD 15 name-application fee. Most names are cleared within an hour, while names requiring referral to another authority can take around 14-60 days.

An approved name is reserved for 120 days, giving you time to complete incorporation.

Step 2: Appoint Directors, Shareholders, and a Resident Director

Once the structure is decided, confirm who will own and manage the company:

• Shareholders: Singapore permits 100% foreign ownership, so Indian founders can hold all the shares.
• Directors: Appoint at least one director who meets Singapore's ordinary-residency requirement.
• Nominee director: If you are based in India and do not have an eligible resident director, you can arrange a nominee director through your incorporation partner. The nominee remains legally responsible as a director, even if they do not manage daily operations.
• Company secretary: Identify your company secretary, who must be appointed within 6 months of incorporation.

Step 3: Prepare the Incorporation Documents

After confirming the company's officers, prepare the documents required for filing:

• Company constitution: Prepare the governing document that sets out the company's internal rules.
• Consent forms: Obtain the required consent-to-act forms from the directors and company secretary.
• Registered office: Confirm a Singapore registered office address.
• KYC documents: Provide passport and address-proof copies for each relevant director and shareholder. The incorporation agent uses these to complete the required due diligence checks.

Step 4: File the Incorporation Application with ACRA

With documents in hand, the application goes to ACRA through BizFile:

• Submit the incorporation application to ACRA.
• Pay the SGD 300 incorporation fee.

Straightforward applications are often approved the same day, while those referred to another regulator take longer.

Step 5: Receive Your Incorporation Confirmation and UEN

On approval, the company is issued its official identification details:

• Incorporation confirmation: ACRA sends an email confirming the company has been incorporated.
• UEN: The company receives its Unique Entity Number (UEN), used for all official dealings in Singapore.
• Business Profile: Download the company's Business Profile from BizFile as proof of incorporation.

Your company legally exists from the incorporation date stated by ACRA.

Step 6: Complete the Post-Incorporation Steps

After incorporation, complete the remaining steps required to make the company operational:

• Bank account: Open a corporate bank account. For non-residents, this is often the longest step and may involve a video call or in-person verification.
• Company secretary: Appoint the company secretary within 6 months, if not already done.
• GST registration: Register for GST once taxable turnover crosses the S$1 million threshold.
• Ongoing compliance: Set up annual filings, corporate tax obligations, and other applicable statutory requirements.

The incorporation itself is relatively quick, but document preparation, KYC, banking, and tax registration can extend the overall setup time:

Most straightforward incorporation applications are approved within 1–3 working days. However, where an application is referred to another government authority for review, it can take around 14–15 working days or longer. Complex ownership structures or additional KYC checks on foreign directors and shareholders can also extend the timeline.

Setting up a Singapore company from India typically costs SGD 2,500–5,000 (≈ ₹1.9–3.75 lakh) in the first year. The mandatory ACRA government fees total S$315, while professional and local services are additional.

The ACRA fee is split into:

• Company name application: S$15
• Company incorporation: S$300

Most of the remaining first-year cost for a non-resident founder comes from services such as a registered local address, nominee resident director, company secretary, and incorporation support.

Here’s a typical breakdown:

Note: The basic incorporation costs are just S$315 (≈ ₹23,600) in ACRA government fees. However, non-resident founders may need additional local services, which account for most of the first-year cost.

Singapore's tax regime is one of the key considerations for Indian founders, with a 17% corporate tax rate and tax exemptions for qualifying new companies.

• Corporate tax: Companies pay 17% on chargeable income. Tax exemptions can reduce the effective tax payable for qualifying companies.
• Start-Up Tax Exemption: For its first three consecutive Years of Assessment, a qualifying new company gets a 75% exemption on the first S$100,000 of normal chargeable income and a 50% exemption on the next S$100,000.
• Partial Tax Exemption: After the start-up exemption period, companies receive a 75% exemption on the first S$10,000 and a 50% exemption on the next S$190,000 of normal chargeable income.
• GST: GST is charged at 9%, with compulsory registration generally applying when taxable turnover exceeds S$1 million.
• Dividends and capital gains: Singapore generally does not tax capital gains, while dividends paid by Singapore resident companies are generally not taxed again under the one-tier corporate tax system.
• YA 2026 tax rebate: Companies receive a 50% corporate income tax rebate for YA 2026, capped at S$40,000, subject to the applicable rules. The YA 2026 tax package also includes a S$2,000 CIT Rebate Cash Grant for eligible companies. To qualify for the cash grant, the company must be active and have employed at least one local employee in 2025, subject to the applicable eligibility conditions.

For Indian founders, the India–Singapore DTAA provides mechanisms to relieve double taxation where the same income may be taxable in both countries. The applicable relief depends on the type of income and the treaty conditions.

ACRA does not normally issue a physical incorporation certificate. After successful registration, it sends an email confirming incorporation and the company's UEN.

For detailed registration information, you can purchase the company's Business Profile through ACRA's BizFile portal. A formal Certificate Confirming Incorporation can also be purchased separately from ACRA for the applicable fee.

How to Download Your Company Details from BizFile?

Since 2026, ACRA delivers the free Business Profile straight to the filing person's BizFile inbox after successful incorporation, rather than requiring a separate purchase. Here's how to get and use it:

• Log in to the ACRA BizFile portal with your Singpass.
• After incorporation, the filing person receives the free Business Profile as an attachment in the inbox; you can download it within 60 days of the notification.
• Review the profile, which includes the company name, UEN, registration date, business activities, directors, shareholders, and registered address.

If you need the profile later (or after the 60-day window), you can still purchase a Business Profile from BizFile at any time for a small fee. A formal Certificate of Incorporation can also be requested from ACRA for S$50.

Note: Once operating, your company must file its annual return with ACRA, which carries a filing fee of S$60, in addition to keeping its BizFile records up to date.

How to Check a Company's Registration Status in Singapore?

You can check a company's basic registration status through the ACRA BizFile portal:

• Search the company: Enter its Singapore company registration number (UEN) or company name in BizFile.
• Check its status: The record may show statuses such as Live, In Liquidation, Struck Off, or Dissolved.
• View basic details: The record provides information such as the registration date and current status.

When an Indian resident invests in shares of a foreign company, the investment is regulated under FEMA and the Overseas Investment Rules and Regulations, 2022. The investment must be made through the prescribed route and reported to the RBI as Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) where applicable.

The main compliance requirements are:

• Route the investment through an AD bank: Remittances for your overseas investment must be made through the designated AD Category-I bank, which handles the required ODI reporting and UIN process.
• Stay within the LRS limit: A resident individual can remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year under the Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS), subject to applicable FEMA conditions.
• Check ODI eligibility: Resident individuals can make an ODI in a foreign entity carrying on a bona fide business activity, subject to the applicable conditions. Certain activities, including financial services, are restricted for resident-individual ODI.
• File the Annual Performance Report (APR): Where applicable, the resident individual must submit the APR through the designated AD bank by 31 December each year for the overseas entity.

Note: This is an outbound investment from India, so the applicable reporting is under the ODI framework. Form FC-GPR applies to certain inbound foreign investment into an Indian company and is not the form used for your investment in a Singapore company.

After incorporation, a Singapore company must continue meeting ACRA, IRAS, and other statutory requirements to remain compliant. The exact obligations depend on the company's structure, financial year-end, and business activities:

• Appoint a company secretary within 6 months of incorporation. An auditor must generally be appointed within 3 months, unless the company qualifies for an audit exemption.
• Qualify for an audit exemption as a "small company" if the business is a private company that meets at least two of these three criteria in each of its two most recent financial years: annual revenue of S$10 million or less, total assets of S$10 million or less, and 50 or fewer employees. If the company is part of a group, the group must also qualify as a small group on a consolidated basis.
• Hold an Annual General Meeting within 6 months of the financial year-end unless the company is exempt or has validly dispensed with the AGM. Private companies can generally avoid an AGM by sending financial statements to members within the prescribed period or by passing the required resolution to dispense with it.
• File the Annual Return with ACRA within 7 months of the financial year-end for a private company. The filing updates key company, officer, shareholder, and financial information.
• File ECI with IRAS within 3 months of the financial year-end unless the company qualifies for the filing waiver. The waiver generally applies when annual revenue is S$5 million or less, and ECI is nil.
• Submit the Corporate Income Tax Return using Form C-S, Form C-S (Lite), or Form C by 30 November each year, unless IRAS has granted a filing waiver.
• Maintain the company's statutory registers and accounting records, including the Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC) and supporting financial documents.

For an Indian resident founder, Singapore compliance also runs alongside the FEMA overseas investment requirements in India. Where the investment qualifies as ODI, the Annual Performance Report (APR) is generally submitted through the designated AD bank by 31 December, subject to applicable exceptions.

For a non-resident founder, opening a corporate bank account can take longer than incorporation because banks conduct detailed KYC and business due diligence. Traditional banks and online business-account providers may offer different onboarding options, but approval depends on the company and its risk profile.

• Traditional banks: DBS, OCBC, and UOB offer full-service corporate banking, but some applications may require a director or authorized signatory to complete identity verification or attend a meeting in Singapore.
• Digital business accounts: Providers such as Wise and Aspire may offer online onboarding for eligible Singapore businesses. Availability, verification requirements, and account features depend on the provider and applicant.
• Documents required: Banks typically request the company's Business Profile, constitution, board resolution or account-opening authorization, and KYC documents for directors, shareholders, and beneficial owners.
• Timeline: Allow around 2–4 weeks for account opening, although the actual timeline can be shorter or longer depending on the bank, ownership structure, business activity, and due diligence.

For Indian founders, it is practical to start the banking application soon after incorporation rather than waiting until the business needs to receive or make payments. A digital account can be considered where eligible, while a traditional Singapore bank account may be useful for businesses that need broader banking services or local banking relationships.

You do not need a visa or work pass to own or register a Singapore company from India. You can be a shareholder and director while living abroad. A work pass is required only if you plan to move to Singapore and work for the company. The two relevant options are:

1. Employment Pass (EP)

The Employment Pass (EP) may suit a founder who plans to relocate to Singapore and work for their Singapore company in a qualifying professional or managerial role.

• Salary requirement:
  • General sector: S$5,600 per month (2026), rising to S$6,000 from 1 January 2027.
  • Financial services: S$6,200 per month (2026), rising to S$6,600 from 1 January 2027.

The minimum salary requirement also increases with age, reaching about S$10,700 for general sectors and S$11,800 for financial services for applicants aged 45 and above in 2026.

• COMPASS requirement: Most EP applications must score at least 40 points under Singapore's Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS).
• Application: The Singapore company or an authorized employment agent submits the EP application on the founder's behalf.

Note: Applicants earning at least S$22,500 a month are exempt from COMPASS scoring, as are overseas intra-corporate transferees.

2. EntrePass

The EntrePass is intended for founders of venture-backed or innovative technology businesses.

You must hold at least 30% of a Singapore private limited company and meet at least one qualifying criterion, such as:

• Funding: At least S$100,000 raised in a qualifying funding round.
• Incubator: Support from a recognized incubator or accelerator.
• Track record: Previously founded and sold a qualifying venture-backed or technology business.
• IP: Registered intellectual property providing a significant competitive advantage.
• Research: An ongoing collaboration with a Singapore university or research institution.

Certain businesses, including food outlets, bars, and employment agencies, are excluded from the EntrePass.