Singapore Company Incorporation 2026 - Local & Foreign Founders

A Singapore private limited company (Pte Ltd) is the most popular business structure in Singapore. It is a separate legal entity from its shareholders, meaning personal assets are protected - shareholders' liability is limited to their share capital. Pte Ltds enjoy Singapore's competitive 17% corporate tax rate and can benefit from the Startup Tax Exemption, which reduces tax to near-zero for the first S$200,000 of chargeable income in the first three years.

Yes - Singapore allows 100% foreign ownership of private limited companies with no restrictions on foreign shareholding. However, the Companies Act requires at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore (a Singapore Citizen, Permanent Resident, or holder of an EntrePass or Employment Pass). If you are based overseas and don't yet have a local director, Karman can provide a professional nominee director through our Foreign Founder package while you establish your Singapore presence.

Most applications are approved by ACRA within 1–3 working days. When your application involves a regulated business activity (financial services, education, medical, food & beverage), ACRA may refer it to the relevant authority for approval, which can take 14–60 days. For standard Pte Ltd incorporations, Karman typically submits the same day and approval arrives within 48 hours. We will advise you upfront if your business activity requires additional approvals.

Karman's packages start from S$699 for local founders (includes all ACRA government fees of S$315, company constitution, share certificates, and post-incorporation documents). The Complete package at S$1,199 adds one year of corporate secretarial services. The Foreign Founder package at S$2,800 includes everything plus a nominee director and registered office address. All prices are all-in with no hidden charges.

For Singapore citizens and PRs: a copy of your NRIC (front and back). For foreign nationals: a colour copy of your passport and a recent proof of residential address (utility bill or bank statement issued within the last 3 months). You will also need to provide your proposed company name, share structure (number of shares and ownership percentages), and the nature of your business activities. Karman guides you through every detail - you will never be left wondering what to provide.

You need a nominee director only if none of your intended directors are ordinarily resident in Singapore. Our nominee director is a qualified Singapore resident who appears on ACRA's register to satisfy the statutory requirement. He or she has no operational control over your company - your interests are fully protected by a Nominee Director Agreement, a Deed of Indemnity, and a signed (undated) resignation letter held in escrow. As soon as you obtain your Employment Pass or appoint a local director, we remove the nominee at no additional charge.

Singapore requires a minimum paid-up capital of just S$1 to incorporate a private limited company. There is no minimum capital requirement for most business activities. Some regulated activities - such as financial services, insurance, and banking - require higher minimum capital as set by MAS. Most founders start with S$1 and increase capital later as needed.

Yes, residential addresses can be used under Singapore's Home Office Scheme, subject to HDB or URA approval depending on your property type. However, most founders use a professional registered address (included in all Karman packages) to maintain privacy and ensure that ACRA correspondence and statutory notices are handled correctly.

Once ACRA issues your UEN (Unique Entity Number), Karman delivers your full incorporation package: share certificates, company constitution, first board resolutions, and CorpPass setup guidance. Your immediate next steps are: (1) open a corporate bank account using your UEN, (2) ensure a corporate secretary is appointed if not already done - required within 6 months of incorporation, and (3) register for GST if your projected turnover exceeds S$1 million annually.

An SSIC (Singapore Standard Industrial Classification) code describes your company's primary business activity and is required during incorporation. It affects licensing requirements, grant eligibility, and certain tax schemes. Choosing the wrong SSIC code can restrict your access to government grants (such as EDG or CDG) or trigger unnecessary licence applications. Karman advises on the correct SSIC code for your business during onboarding.