Company incorporation
Company incorporation in Singapore, done properly.
A foreigner can own 100 percent of a Singapore private limited company. Registration is the quick part. The real work is building a properly funded company with real substance that supports your Employment Pass and your bank account. We handle both.
You can hold 100 percent of the shares as a foreigner. A Singapore company needs at least one director who is ordinarily resident here, so at setup we provide a bridging nominee director. It is only a bridge: once your own Employment Pass is approved, you become the resident director and the nominee steps down. A one-dollar shelf company from an online platform is cheap, but it is the kind of thin setup that later fails an Employment Pass or a bank's checks, so we build real substance in from day one.
What we set up
A complete, credible Singapore company.
- Company name check and reservation with ACRA
- Incorporation of a private limited company, filed through a registered corporate service provider
- Company constitution and first resolutions
- A bridging resident director until your Employment Pass is approved
- Share structure and paid-up capital guidance
- Business profile and share certificates
Registered office, corporate secretary and corporate bank account assistance are available. Speak to us.
Why substance matters
Built to pass scrutiny, not just to register.
A thin shell company is easy to register and risky to own. When the Ministry of Manpower reviews an Employment Pass, and when a bank runs its checks, they look for a real business. We help you put that substance in place from the start:
- Sensible paid-up capital for a new company seeking a pass
- A real office and tenancy
- Real business activity and a plan for local hiring
- Clean documentation, ready if the authorities ask
How it works
From incorporation to your Employment Pass.
Incorporation is fast. The Employment Pass is where it counts, and where we focus. For a first time applicant, expect roughly one to one and a half months once documents and the Ministry of Manpower's qualification check are complete. If they request further documents, it can run to three to six months. We prepare a strong case to reduce that risk.
Consultation and review
We assess your profile against current requirements.
Incorporate
Name reservation and company registration, with a bridging resident director.
Build real substance
Office, activity, capital and a local hiring plan.
Prepare and submit the EP
A COMPASS aligned application, with every question anticipated.
You take the chair
Once your EP is approved you become resident director and the nominee steps down.
After you incorporate
A company comes with obligations.
Registration is the beginning of an ongoing relationship with the authorities. Within the first months and each year after, a Singapore company must keep these in order, and we handle them for you:
- Appoint a company secretary within six months of incorporation
- Maintain a local registered office address that is a real, physical address
- Hold an annual general meeting within six months of the financial year end, unless dispensed with under the Companies Act
- File the annual return with ACRA within seven months of the financial year end
- Keep proper books and file corporate tax with IRAS
From 2026 ACRA has removed the grace period for late filing, so timeliness matters. Our compliance service keeps all of this on track. Ongoing compliance and renewal ›
Company setup and Employment Pass, done properly.
- Singapore private limited company incorporation
- Bridging resident director until your EP is approved
- Employment Pass prepared and submitted
- A COMPASS profile review and strategy
Our Full-Support Commitment: if the Ministry of Manpower requests further documents we handle the response, and both appeals if needed, at no extra professional fee. We never promise an approval, because that decision rests with the authorities. We promise it is done right.
Book a consultationCommon questions
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Singapore company? +
Yes. A foreigner can hold all of the shares in a Singapore private limited company. You need at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore, which is why we provide a bridging nominee director at setup. Once your own Employment Pass is approved, you qualify as the resident director.
Do I need to keep paying for a nominee director? +
No. The nominee resident director is needed only until your own Employment Pass is granted. After that you satisfy the requirement yourself and the nominee can be resigned. The nominee is a bridge, not a permanent cost.
How much paid-up capital do I really need? +
The legal minimum is just one Singapore dollar. But for a foreign owned company seeking an Employment Pass and a bank account, a healthy paid-up capital, often around one hundred thousand dollars, signals that the company can sustain operations. We advise a credible level for your situation rather than the bare minimum.
How long does incorporation take? +
Incorporation itself is fast, often within a few days once your documents and name are ready. The longer, more important part is the Employment Pass that follows.
Do I need a company secretary and a registered office? +
Yes. Every Singapore company must appoint a company secretary within six months and keep a local registered office address that is a real physical address. We provide both as add-on services.
Start your company the right way.
Book a consultation and we will flag the roadblocks in your setup and your Employment Pass, before they cost you.