How to Open a Restaurant in Singapore

Singapore is one of the few markets in Southeast Asia that allows foreigners to fully own a restaurant business, but opening one is not as straightforward. The process spans multiple government agencies and follows a strict order of approvals before you can begin operations.

This guide walks foreigners through the legal requirements and administrative process for opening a restaurant in Singapore. It covers the foreign ownership rules, the food safety certifications you will need, and the building permits required for a compliant setup.

Can Foreigners Own a Restaurant in Singapore?

Singapore places zero restrictions on foreign ownership in the F&B sector. You can own 100% of the shares in your restaurant, café, or bar without needing a local partner or shareholder.

However, there are two requirements you must meet to incorporate and operate the restaurant in Singapore:

• You need at least one locally resident director. Every Singapore-registered company must have a director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore. That can be a Singapore citizen, a permanent resident, or someone holding a valid Employment Pass or EntrePass. If you are based overseas and do not plan to relocate, you will need to appoint a nominee director.
• You must work through a Corporate Service Provider (CSP). Foreigners cannot self-register a company on ACRA's BizFile+ portal. You must engage a registered CSP, such as Emerhub, to file the incorporation on your behalf.

Compliance Tip: If you intend to relocate to Singapore to run the restaurant yourself, you will also need a valid work pass. The EntrePass is the most relevant option for foreign entrepreneurs starting a new business in the country. 

Essential Permits and Licenses for Opening a Restaurant in Singapore

Singapore's food sector is closely regulated to protect public health, and a restaurant cannot legally operate until the right permits are in place. These fall into three categories: licenses tied to food and beverage service, building permits for your premises, and corporate registrations that establish your business as a commercial entity.

Mandatory F&B Licenses in Singapore

These are the licenses directly tied to serving food and drink to the public:

• Food Shop License: The most important license for any restaurant in Singapore. Issued by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), it is mandatory for any outlet selling food or drink. The application requires a metric layout plan of your kitchen and a pre-licensing inspection that verifies grease traps, drainage, and hygiene facilities meet SFA standards.
• Liquor License: Required if you intend to serve alcohol for on-site consumption. Issued by the Liquor Licensing Board under the Singapore Police Force, with categories based on service hours (such as until 10 PM or midnight). Renewal is annual.
• Food Handler and Hygiene Certification: Every staff member who handles food must complete the WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1 before working in your kitchen. You must also appoint a certified Food Hygiene Officer (FHO) with at least Level 3 training to oversee internal hygiene audits.
• Music and Entertainment Licenses: If you play copyrighted music in your restaurant, live or recorded, you need licensing from copyright bodies such as COMPASS or MRSS. This protects your business from costly copyright disputes over music or performance for entertainment.
• SAFE Framework Compliance: Singapore has replaced the older A-to-D food grading system with the Safety Assurance for Food Establishments (SAFE) framework. Your establishment's grade now reflects your long-term safety record and whether you have implemented a certified Food Safety Management System (FSMS).

Building and Safety Permits

These permits confirm that your physical premises meet Singapore's commercial building codes and safety standards:

• Change of Use Permit: Required if your unit was previously occupied for a non-F&B purpose, such as retail or office use. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) reviews these applications, or the Housing & Development Board (HDB) if the premises fall under their jurisdiction. Without approval, your space cannot legally function as a restaurant.
• Fire Safety Certificate (FSC): Issued by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) after an inspection of your fire exits, extinguishers, smoke alarm systems, and emergency lighting. The FSC confirms your premises meet fire safety regulations.
• Signage Permit: Required to display external signage at your premises. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) reviews your signage for structural safety and compliance with local rules on size, placement, and lighting.

Business Operation Permits 

These are the corporate and tax registrations that establish your restaurant as a recognised commercial entity:

• Business Registration (ACRA): Your restaurant must be registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). Most foreign investors opt for a Private Limited Company (Pte. Ltd.), which separates personal liability from business risk and supports 100% foreign ownership.
• Tax & GST Registration: You must obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) from the IRAS. If your annual turnover is projected to exceed S$1 million, you are also legally required to register for Goods and Services Tax (GST), currently at 9%.
• CPF Employer Registration: Once you hire your first local employee (Singaporean or PR), you must register with the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board to make mandatory social security contributions.
• Corppass Account: The official digital identity that gives your company access to all government-to-business services in Singapore. Your CSP will set this up after incorporation and use it to file taxes, apply for work passes, and renew your SFA licenses.

How to Open a Restaurant in Singapore as a Foreigner

Opening a restaurant in Singapore requires sequencing approvals correctly across ACRA, the SFA, URA or HDB, and the SCDF. Each agency operates on its own timeline, and a delay at one stage can stall everything that follows. 

Emerhub's local team in Singapore manages this end-to-end, so you can focus on building your restaurant while we handle the regulatory process on your behalf. Here is how our team can help you set up your restaurant in Singapore:

1. Incorporate Your Restaurant Business with ACRA: We register your Private Limited Company on ACRA's BizFile+ portal, including company name reservation, nominee director arrangements where needed, and your registered office address. We also draft your business activity classification to reflect food retail operations accurately, which affects your subsequent license applications.
2. Open a Corporate Bank Account: As part of our end-to-end service, we support your KYC documentation and help you open a Singapore corporate bank account. You will need this before depositing paid-up capital, paying suppliers, and managing your restaurant's revenues.
3. Verify Premises Zoning Before You Sign: Before you commit to a tenancy agreement, we confirm whether your target premises is approved for food retail use. If a Change of Use application to URA or HDB is needed, our team prepares and submits it to the proper authorities. We also ensure any previous Food Shop License tied to the address is formally cancelled. Any prior permits that are still active may stall your own application upon SFA review.
4. Guide Your Renovation Against COPEH Requirements: Before renovation begins, we walk you through the Code of Practice on Environmental Health requirements that govern restaurant fit-outs in Singapore. This covers kitchen layout, ventilation, waste disposal, handwashing facilities, and pest control arrangements. Aligning your build to these requirements upfront prevents costly rework after the pre-licensing inspection.
5. Register Your Food Handlers and Food Hygiene Officer (FHO): We help you arrange WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1 certification for your food handlers and Level 3 or 4 for your Food Hygiene Officer. We then formally register the FHO with SFA, which must be in place before your Food Shop License is issued.
6. Submit and Manage Your Food Shop License Application: Once your premises is ready and your team is certified, we compile your full application package and submit it through GoBusiness. We coordinate the pre-licensing inspection with SFA, manage any follow-up clarifications, and see the license through to issuance on schedule.
7. Apply for Additional Operational Licenses: Depending on your concept, we handle your Liquor License with the Singapore Police Force, Public Entertainment License if relevant, MUIS Halal Certification, and/or import registration with the SFA Food Control Division.

Planning to launch a restaurant in Singapore? Schedule a free consultation with our local experts to discuss how we can support you.