Singapore, decoded.
Best for Asia headquarters, fintech, holding and trading companies.
* Directional only - we confirm your actual position with licensed counsel before you commit.
Why founders choose Singapore.
A Singapore Pte Ltd is taken seriously by banks, investors and enterprise counterparties across Asia and beyond. That credibility is the product.
Standard companies are typically incorporated in 1–3 days once documents and the resident director are in place.
An extensive network of double-taxation agreements makes Singapore a genuine holding and regional trading hub, not just a nameplate.
Global banks and a mature neobank ecosystem - multi-currency accounts that support real cross-border operations.
The options.
Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd)
The workhorse: limited liability, 100% foreign shareholding permitted, and the structure banks and investors expect.
Subsidiary of a foreign parent
A Pte Ltd owned by your existing overseas company - the standard route for enterprises opening an Asia office.
Holding company
Used to hold shares in operating subsidiaries or IP across the region, leaning on the treaty network.
How it runs.
We reserve the company name with ACRA. Usually same-day unless the name needs referral.
At least one director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore. We provide a nominee director where you don't have one.
Company constitution, shareholder details, and compliance checks on all beneficial owners.
Filed with ACRA - typically 1–3 days for standard activities. Regulated activities take considerably longer.
A company secretary must be appointed within the statutory window. We handle that, the bank introduction and ongoing accounting.
The honest position.
Tax
Singapore operates a territorial-leaning system with a competitive headline corporate rate, partial exemptions that benefit smaller companies, and no tax on most capital gains. Its double-taxation agreement network is one of the widest in Asia. There is no substitute for confirming your own position - how your income is sourced and where management sits both matter, and we work with licensed tax advisors on that.
Banking
Singapore banking is excellent but compliance-heavy. Traditional banks generally want to understand your business model in detail and may want to meet a director. Neobanks and digital-first providers are quicker and often the pragmatic first account. Having a properly structured company with a clear activity and a resident director materially improves your odds - we prepare the file accordingly.
What it actually requires.
This is the rule people trip on. We provide a nominee resident director so you can own 100% of the company without relocating.
A qualified company secretary must be appointed after incorporation. We act as, or appoint, yours.
A Singapore registered office address is mandatory. Included in our setup.
Annual filings with ACRA and IRAS, with audit required above certain thresholds. We run the calendar and the books.
Setting up in Singapore.
The long version: structures, timeline, tax, banking and the requirements that catch people out.
Singapore is not the cheapest place to incorporate and it isn't trying to be. What you're buying is credibility: banks, investors and enterprise counterparties across Asia take a Singapore Pte Ltd seriously in a way they don't take a newly formed offshore company. If your business needs that, the cost is reasonable. If it doesn't, there is probably a simpler jurisdiction for you.
Who it suits
- Companies opening an Asia headquarters or regional subsidiary.
- Fintech and technology businesses that benefit from regulatory standing.
- Holding and trading structures leaning on the treaty network.
- Founders selling to Asian enterprise customers who diligence their suppliers.
The resident director rule - the thing everyone trips on
Every Singapore company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore - in practice a citizen, permanent resident, or holder of an appropriate pass with a local address.
This is a directorship requirement, not an ownership requirement, and the distinction matters: a foreigner can own 100% of a Singapore company. There is no local shareholding requirement for a standard Pte Ltd. You simply need a resident person on the board.
You have three options: relocate and obtain an appropriate pass; appoint someone you already trust who is resident; or use a nominee resident director supplied under a documented agreement. The third is the common route for foreign founders.
Company types
- Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd) - the workhorse. Limited liability, 100% foreign shareholding permitted, and the structure banks and investors expect.
- Subsidiary of a foreign parent - a Pte Ltd owned by your existing overseas company. The standard route for enterprises opening an Asia office.
- Holding company - used to hold shares in operating subsidiaries or IP across the region.
What setup involves
- Name approval with ACRA - usually same-day unless the name needs referral.
- Resident director in place - yours or a nominee.
- Constitution and KYC - company constitution, shareholder details, compliance checks on all beneficial owners.
- Incorporation - typically 1–3 days for standard activities. Regulated activities take considerably longer.
- Company secretary - a qualified secretary must be appointed within the statutory window after incorporation.
- Registered local address - mandatory.
- Bank account - the slowest step, as everywhere.
Ongoing obligations
Singapore is a well-run jurisdiction, which is another way of saying it expects things filed on time. Annual return with ACRA, tax filings with IRAS, and audit above certain thresholds. The corporate secretary and, where used, the nominee director are recurring annual costs - not one-off setup fees.
Tax
Singapore operates a territorial-leaning system with a competitive headline corporate rate, partial exemptions that benefit smaller companies, and no tax on most capital gains. Its double-taxation agreement network is among the widest in Asia, which is a genuine reason to use it as a holding location rather than a cosmetic one.
How your income is sourced and where management actually sits both matter to your outcome. That's a question for licensed tax counsel against your specific facts, not a website.
Banking
Excellent, and compliance-heavy. Traditional banks generally want to understand your business model in detail and may want to meet a director. Neobanks and digital-first providers onboard faster and handle multi-currency well.
A properly structured company with a clear activity and a resident director materially improves your odds - which is a structural argument for getting the setup right rather than cheap.
Regulated activities, including crypto
Payment services and digital token services fall under a licensing regime with real requirements. "Credible base for crypto" means "licensed", not "tolerated". If your model needs a licence, that's a months-long process with substantive obligations - and it's better to know before you incorporate than after.
Is it right for you?
Choose Singapore if credibility with Asian banks, investors or enterprise customers is worth a real recurring cost. Choose something leaner if you're an owner-operated online business whose customers don't care where you're incorporated - you'd be paying for a benefit you won't use.
Singapore questions.
Yes - every Singapore company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident there. If you don't have a suitable person, we provide a nominee director. You still retain 100% ownership and full control of the company.
Yes. There is no local shareholding requirement for a standard Pte Ltd. The resident-director rule is about directorship, not ownership.
Standard companies are typically incorporated in 1–3 days once name approval, KYC and the resident director are in place. Regulated activities - payments, fund management, certain crypto services - take weeks to months and involve a licensing process.
It's a credible base for regulated crypto activity, but 'credible' means 'licensed'. Payment and digital-token services fall under a licensing regime with real requirements. We'll tell you honestly whether your model needs a licence before you spend money.
Usually not for incorporation itself. Some banks prefer to meet a director in person, though many now onboard remotely or via video. We'll tell you which route your profile suits.
Yes - every Singapore company must have at least one. If you don't have a suitable resident person we provide a nominee. You keep 100% ownership and full control.
Yes. There's no local shareholding requirement for a standard Pte Ltd. The rule concerns directorship, not ownership.
Usually not for incorporation. Some banks prefer to meet a director, though many now onboard remotely or by video.
There are real recurring costs - corporate secretary, nominee director where used, filings and accounting. It isn't the cheapest jurisdiction and isn't trying to be. You're buying credibility and banking access.
Related guides.
Do you need a resident director in Singapore?
What the rule means, how nominee directors work, and what to watch for.
Read →How to open a business bank account as a non-resident
What banks actually look for - and the mistakes that get applications rejected.
Read →What it really costs to set up in each of 6 jurisdictions
Every category of line item - government fees, agents, banking - so there are no surprises.
Read →Thinking about Singapore?
Tell us the goal and we will confirm whether it is the right fit. That part is free.