Company registration in Singapore for foreigners
Emerhub registers and runs Singapore companies for foreign founders and overseas businesses, from ACRA incorporation to tax, visas, and banking.
- 100% foreign ownership, incorporated remotely
- Resident director, secretary, and registered address arranged
- One team across the region when you expand
Full range of corporate services in Singapore
From the company and the resident-director requirement to tax, visas, and banking, we handle the parts of setting up in Singapore that foreign owners cannot do alone.
Company registration
Pte Ltd setup, filed with ACRA as your registered agent, from name check to your Certificate of Incorporation.
Learn moreNominee director
A compliant resident director so you can meet the local rule and still own the company outright.
Learn moreTax & accounting
Bookkeeping, GST, payroll, and your corporate tax return, filed accurately and on time.
Learn moreTrademark registration
Register your brand name, logo, and marks and protect your identity in Singapore.
Learn moreWhy foreign founders choose Emerhub
Plenty of providers give you fast, low-cost incorporation software. Emerhub gives you that platform too, with a dedicated team who knows your situation behind it, and a presence across the region most of them cannot match.
Experts behind the software
You get our Entity Management System to run the company, and a dedicated team that handles foreign setups every day, from nominee director arrangements to Employment Passes.
Built for foreign founders
Foreigners cannot file with ACRA directly. As a registered filing agent, we handle the parts locals take for granted: the resident director, the documents, the bank account, and the work pass.
One partner across the region
Singapore is often the first step. When you are ready for Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, or the Philippines, the same team is already on the ground in those markets.
One place to track your projects and run every entity.
From the first incorporation to every filing after it. Follow active work step by step, send documents, start new requests, add your team, and keep every company compliant, all in one dashboard.
Every project, entity, and deadline in a single view.
From an incorporation in progress to the filings years later, kept current by the team that does the work.
Book a demoTrack every project live
Follow each incorporation, licence, or filing through every step, in real time.
Documents in one place
Send what we ask for, and keep every paper, licence, and register stored and versioned.
Request new services
Open a new entity, file annual reports, or add a licence, all from the dashboard.
Deadlines handled for you
Every filing, audit, and renewal date by market, with a reminder before each one.
Bring your whole team
Add colleagues, choose what each can see, and keep everyone up to date.
One source of truth. Every filing, document, and deadline updated by the team that handles it.
The right structure for your business
Almost every foreign founder chooses a Pte Ltd. A branch or representative office suits narrower cases.
| Feature | Pte Ltd (subsidiary) | Branch office | Representative office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Operating and earning in Singapore | A foreign company extending its operations | Market research and liaison, no revenue |
| Legal status | Separate legal entity | Extension of the parent, parent is liable | Temporary, not a separate entity |
| Foreign ownership | Up to 100% | Wholly owned by the parent | Set up by the parent |
| Local presence | At least one resident director | One authorized representative in Singapore | A representative, registered with EnterpriseSG |
| Tax | 17%, qualifies for the startup exemption | 17%, no startup exemption | No revenue, so not taxed |
| Registered with | ACRA | ACRA | Enterprise Singapore, up to three years |
The setup process.
A clear path from your first call to a registered company, often within a working day once all your documents are ready.
Initial consultation
Tell us your planned activities and we advise on the right structure, the resident-director question, and whether you will need an Employment Pass.
Documents and signing
We confirm the documents, including shareholder, director, and controller details, and prepare them for electronic signing. Foreign founders cannot file with ACRA directly, so we file as your registered agent.
ACRA incorporation
We reserve the company name and register the company with ACRA, usually within one to two business days, and appoint the nominee director and company secretary if you need them.
Bank account and compliance
We help you open a corporate bank account and set up the ongoing work: accounting, GST, annual returns, and tax filing.
Tax and the filings that follow
What a Singapore company pays, and what it has to file.
The corporate income tax rate is a flat 17%, with no capital gains tax and no further tax on dividends under the one-tier system. New companies that qualify for the startup tax exemption pay much less: the first S$100,000 of chargeable income is 75% exempt and the next S$100,000 is 50% exempt for the first three years, which brings the effective rate down to about 4.25% on that first slice. GST is 9%, and you only register once turnover passes S$1 million.
After incorporation a company appoints its secretary within six months, files an annual return within seven months of its financial year end, and files corporate tax by 30 November. Many small companies are exempt from audit. We handle the bookkeeping, GST, and every filing so nothing slips past a deadline.
What clients say
Rated 4.7 across 226 Google reviews.
“A smooth process from start to finish, from translating the documents to getting everything issued.”
“Very smooth process. The team was very helpful and got my company registered. Total transparency and good service.”
“Handled by a professional team. Active follow-up, responding in less than 24 hours, and the project was done within the promised deadline.”
Company formation in Singapore
What foreign founders ask before they incorporate.
What are the different types of business entities in Singapore?
Most foreign founders set up a private limited company (Pte Ltd), which is a separate legal entity with full foreign ownership and limited liability. A foreign company can also register a branch, which is an extension of the parent, or a representative office for market research with no revenue. Funds often use a Variable Capital Company. For almost all operating businesses, the Pte Ltd is the right choice.
Can foreigners own 100% of a company in Singapore?
Yes. A foreigner can own 100% of a Singapore Pte Ltd with no local shareholder required. The one structural rule is that the company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore. If you do not have one, we provide a nominee director so you can still own the company outright.
Do I need a local resident director in Singapore?
Yes. Every company needs at least one director who is a Singapore citizen, permanent resident, or valid work pass holder. Foreign founders who are not yet resident use a nominee director, which since June 2025 must be arranged through an ACRA-registered corporate service provider. Emerhub is registered and provides the nominee director and the company secretary.
How much capital is required to incorporate a business in Singapore?
The minimum paid-up capital is S$1, so there is no large sum to lock away. In practice founders set capital at a level that fits the business and any work pass plans, since a higher figure can support an Employment Pass application. We advise on a sensible amount for your situation.
What are the key steps to register a business in Singapore?
Confirm the structure and check the company name, prepare the director, shareholder, and controller details, and sign the documents electronically. As a registered filing agent, we then submit to ACRA, usually with approval in one to two business days, appoint the secretary and nominee director if needed, and help open the bank account.
How long does it take to register a company in Singapore?
Once your documents are in order, ACRA usually approves a straightforward incorporation within one to two business days. Cases that involve foreign corporate shareholders or regulated activities can take longer because of extra checks. We tell you which path applies to you up front.
What industries are restricted for foreign ownership in Singapore?
Most sectors allow full foreign ownership. A few regulated areas, such as banking, finance, media, and legal services, need a license or carry conditions, and some professional services have residency or qualification rules. We confirm whether your activity is open before you commit.
What are the main taxes businesses need to pay in Singapore?
Corporate income tax is a flat 17%, with a startup exemption that lowers the effective rate in the first three years. There is no capital gains tax and no further tax on dividends. GST is 9% and you only register once turnover passes S$1 million. We handle the corporate tax, GST, and the annual filings.
Talk to the Emerhub team
Tell us what you are planning. Emerhub will confirm the right structure, file with ACRA as your registered agent, arrange the resident director and secretary, and handle the tax, visas, and banking, so you can focus on the business.
The Octagon
Singapore 069534
