Incorporating a Company in Singapore as a Foreigner: 2026 Complete Guide
Singapore allows 100% foreign ownership of a private limited company with no minimum investment requirement, no local partner obligation, and no restriction on the nationality of shareholders. The entire incorporation process can be completed remotely through an ACRA-registered filing agent — no trip to Singapore required.
The total government fee is S$315, and a standard application is typically approved within 1–3 business days. HeySara has helped thousands of international founders incorporate in Singapore from countries including the US, UK, India, China, Australia, and across Southeast Asia.
Can a Foreigner Own 100% of a Singapore Company?
Yes. Singapore has no foreign ownership restrictions on private limited companies. A single foreign individual can be the sole shareholder and beneficial owner of a Singapore Pte Ltd. There is no requirement for a Singaporean co-founder, local partner, or minimum local shareholding.
The One Requirement: A Singapore-Resident Director
The only mandatory local requirement is that at least one company director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore — meaning they are a Singapore citizen, PR, or valid pass holder (Employment Pass, EntrePass, or Dependent Pass).
A foreign founder who is not yet in Singapore has two main options to meet this requirement:
Option 1: Appoint a Nominee Director Engage a professional resident individual to serve as director while you manage the company as the beneficial owner. HeySara offers a compliant nominee director service with full legal safeguards.
Option 2: Apply for an EntrePass If you intend to be personally involved in running the company in Singapore, the EntrePass allows you to incorporate and serve as your own director. However, the EntrePass assessment takes approximately 8 weeks, so this route takes longer than nominee director-based incorporation.
Documents Needed From Foreign Founders
ACRA requires the following from foreign shareholders and directors:
- A certified copy of your passport (bio-data page)
- Proof of residential address (utility bill, bank statement, or government-issued document showing your home address, dated within 3 months)
- For companies as shareholders: a certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum and Articles of Association of the parent company
HeySara handles the KYC document collection and certification process, and will advise if any additional documents are required based on your nationality or structure.
Step-by-Step Process for Foreign Founders
- Engage HeySara as your Registered Filing Agent — Foreign founders without a SingPass account cannot file on BizFile+ directly. Appointing HeySara as your filing agent resolves this.
- Choose your company name and SSIC code — Use HeySara’s free Company Name Check tool to verify availability.
- Prepare your incorporation documents — HeySara sends you a structured checklist and handles the preparation of the company constitution, director consent forms, and shareholder agreements.
- Appoint a nominee director (if applicable) — HeySara provides a resident nominee director with a comprehensive Nominee Director Agreement.
- Provide a registered office address — Your company must have a physical Singapore address. HeySara’s registered address service fulfils this requirement.
- HeySara submits the application via BizFile+ — After document verification and payment (S$315 government fee), ACRA typically approves within 1–3 business days.
- Receive your UEN and business profile — Once approved, HeySara provides your Unique Entity Number and assists with post-incorporation steps including bank account opening and CorpPass setup.
Typical Total Costs for Foreign Founders
|
Item |
Cost |
|
ACRA government fee |
S$315 |
|
HeySara incorporation service |
From S$350+ |
|
Nominee director (if needed) |
Enquire with HeySara |
|
Registered office address |
From S$50/month |
|
Corporate secretarial (annual) |
From S$328/year |
Can Foreign Founders Apply for an Employment Pass After Incorporating?
Yes. Incorporating a Singapore company is typically the first step before applying for an Employment Pass. For EP eligibility, the company should demonstrate:
- Adequate paid-up capital (S$50,000–S$100,000 is commonly recommended)
- A credible business plan or existing business activity
- A salary offer meeting the EP minimum (S$5,600/month for general sectors in 2026)
HeySara can advise on the incorporation structure most likely to support a successful subsequent EP application
