HOW TO REGISTER A BUSINESS

All applications to register a new business must be submitted online via BizFile, ACRA's electronic filing and
information retrieval system. To register the business, the owner may do any of the following:

(a) Log into www.bizfile.gov.sg to submit an online transaction to apply for a new business.

(b) Engage the services of a professional firm or service bureau for assistance in submitting the online
application to register a new business.

(c) Call at ACRA in person to submit the online transaction via BizFile at the Self-Help Kiosks. We have
provided 10 Self-Help Kiosks for use by the public.

Once the application is submitted, the system will decide if the application needs to be referred to another
authority for approval or comments. For example, if you intend to carry out activities involving the setting up of
a private school, your application will be referred to the Ministry of Education, the licensing agency. When an
application has been referred to another authority, it may take 14 days to 2 months before the outcome is known.
Click here for the Referral Authorities Table.

If there is no referral required and if the business is a sole-proprietorship, the applicant may proceed to pay the
fee of $65 for registering the new business in Singapore is $65 (registration fee of $50 and name approval fee of
$15).

From 1 January 1994, self-employed persons are required to top up their Medisave account with the CPF Board
before they register / renew / become the owner of a business. You may wish to contact the
Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB) at their toll-free number
1800-227 1188 for more information or click here for more information on Medisave. To check on your
Medisave status (i.e. whether you have any outstanding Medisave liabilities with the CPF Board), please login to
www.cpf.gov.sg using your NRIC No. If you have outstanding Medisave liabilities and wish to check on the
outstanding amount, please login to www.cpf.gov.sg using your NRIC No. and SingPass.

What does a foreigner have to do if he wants to register a business firm in Singapore?

Under the Singapore Immigration Regulations, any foreigner who is not a Singapore permanent resident and
wishes to engage in any business, profession, occupation or any form of paid employment in Singapore is
required to apply for an Employment Pass. All applications for Employment Passes should be sent to
Employment Pass Department (EPD), Work Pass Division, Ministry of Manpower 18 Havelock Road Singapore
059764. A successful applicant will be issued with an Approval-In-Principle letter to enable him / her to register
the business at the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.

Upon receipt of the Certificate of Registration from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, the
applicant needs to send / fax a copy of the certificate and the Approval-In-Principle letter to the Employment
Pass Department for the processing of his / her Employment Pass.

For a successful applicant who is already an existing shareholder / partner of a registered company / business, an
In-Principle Approval letter will be issued for the collection of his / her Employment Pass.

Please note that this procedure applies only to foreigners intending to be actively involved in the day-to-day
operations of the business and to businesses where no local manager has been appointed yet. Where a local
manager has already been appointed, we will process your application in the usual manner.