True only for a Singpass holder filing on their own. Foreigners must go through an ACRA-registered CSP, so the service fee is unavoidable.
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COMPANY REGISTRATION
Singapore company registration cost 2026: year one versus year two
Short answer
Government fees are fixed at S$315 (S$15 name application plus S$300 registration). That is only the starting point: as a rough market-price estimate (for reference only, not official data), local founders spend around S$1,500-2,500 in the first year, and foreign founders who need a nominee director and a registered address around S$3,500-5,000. What gets underestimated is the recurring cost from year two onwards.
The numbers at a glance
| Item | Amount (non-ACRA items: market price, for reference only) | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Name application (ACRA) | S$15 | One-off, reserved 120 days once approved, non-refundable |
| Company registration (ACRA) | S$300 | One-off |
| Annual return filing (ACRA) | S$60 | Yearly |
| Company secretary | approx. S$300-900 / year | Yearly, legally required |
| Registered address | from approx. S$300 / year | Yearly, legally required |
| Incorporation service | approx. S$500-1,500 | One-off, depends on complexity |
| Nominee (local) director | case by case, often with a deposit (market practice, for reference only) | Recurring yearly, only where no local director exists |
| Minimum share capital | S$1 | One-off, can be increased later |
Only one part of the cost is fixed
Incorporation happens on ACRA's BizFile+ portal, and the government charges exactly two fees: S$15 for the name application and S$300 for registration, S$315 in total. That figure is the same for everyone, regardless of which service provider you use.
An approved name is reserved for 120 days. If registration is not completed within that window, the name is released. The S$15 is not refunded whether or not the name is approved.
What actually changes the cost is this: logging in to BizFile+ requires a Singpass. Foreigners without one cannot file themselves, and must appoint an ACRA-registered corporate service provider (CSP) to file for them (since the CSP Act took effect on 9 June 2025, former Registered Filing Agents are treated as registered CSPs; Source: ACRA, verified 2026-09). So for foreign founders, "save money by doing it yourself" is not an available option.
Three things the law makes you keep paying for
Most cost surprises come from treating incorporation as a one-off expense. The following three are statutory requirements and must remain in place for as long as the company exists.
1. At least one locally resident director
This must be a Singapore citizen, permanent resident, or a valid pass holder approved to act as a director. If the founding team is entirely foreign with no pass yet, a nominee director service is needed. That is an annual fee, and providers often require a deposit (market practice, for reference only). This single item is the largest cost gap between foreign and local founders.
2. A company secretary, appointed within 6 months
Must be ordinarily resident in Singapore. Market rates run roughly S$300-900 a year (for reference only), with the difference lying in whether annual return filing and board resolution drafting are included.
3. A Singapore registered address
It must be a real address capable of receiving mail, not a post box number. Virtual office address services start from around S$300 a year (market price, for reference only).
Year one and year two spend on different things
| Item | Year one | Year two onwards |
|---|---|---|
| ACRA registration fees | S$315 | — |
| Incorporation service | S$500-1,500 | — |
| Company secretary | S$300-900 | S$300-900 |
| Registered address | from S$300 | from S$300 |
| ACRA annual return | usually falls after the first financial year end | S$60 |
| Bookkeeping, tax, annual filing | depends on volume | depends on volume |
| Nominee director (if needed) | case by case | recurring |
| Market-price reference (local founder, for reference only) | S$1,500-2,500 | approx. S$800-1,500 |
| Market-price reference (foreign founder, for reference only) | S$3,500-5,000 | depends on the nominee director |
The key point: how cheap a first-year quote looks depends largely on which annual fees the provider folded into it. Two quotes that differ by a few hundred dollars may simply have shifted the secretary and address fees into year two. The question to ask when comparing is what year two costs.
There is another reason the range is wide: low-priced packages usually exclude bank account support, and nominee director arrangements differ in deposit structure and scope of responsibility. Add those back and a complete package sits well above the lower bound. Our own package and per-item prices are published on the pricing page, so you can compare directly rather than requesting a quote.
Registering a company and getting an EP are two different things
This is the misunderstanding we see most. Incorporation gives you no status and no pass.
An Employment Pass is applied for by the company as employer on behalf of an employee, even when that employee is you. The 2026 thresholds are:
- Minimum monthly salary of S$5,600 (S$6,200 in financial services), rising with age — roughly S$10,700 at 45 and above (S$11,800 in financial services)
- At least 40 points under the COMPASS framework
- Unless an exemption applies, the employer must first advertise the role on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 consecutive days
- S$105 application fee, plus S$225 on issuance
- Online applications are generally processed, or given an update, within 10 business days; for overseas companies without a Singapore-registered entity, most within 6 weeks (Source: MOM, verified 2026-09)
One thing to plan around: the floor rises to S$6,000 (S$6,600 in financial services), and to S$11,500 (S$12,700) at age 45 and above — for new applications from 1 January 2027, and for renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028 (Source: MOM, verified 2026-09). If your timeline spans 2026 into 2027, that change affects feasibility directly.
Common misconceptions
It is an annual fee, and providers often hold a deposit as well (market practice, for reference only). It continues until the company has its own locally resident director.
Check whether "all-inclusive" covers the first year or continues. Most low-priced packages include only the first year of secretary and address.
Account opening is a separate process assessed independently by the bank, and it can be declined. Business substance, shareholder background and source of funds all affect the outcome, and it usually takes several additional weeks.
ACRA moved fully to the SSIC 2025 classification in May 2026. The wrong code affects later pass applications, bank review and licensing requirements, and changing it later is more trouble than choosing correctly at the start.
How we handle it
We confirm three things first — the nationality and residency status of shareholders and directors, whether there is a pass plan, and the intended operating substance — before deciding which services are necessary and which can wait. Where legal judgement is required, such as an EP pathway without a third-party employer offer, a partner law firm assesses the case before we advise, and we state clearly which party is responsible for which part. The relevant scope is set out under company registration and compliance and EP work pass and legal pathway assessment.
Frequently asked
Can foreigners own 100% of a Singapore company?
In most general industries, yes — 100% foreign ownership is possible, though regulated sectors are reviewed separately. The constraint is on directors: at least one must be locally resident.
What is the minimum capital?
Minimum share capital is S$1. However, very low capital can weaken credibility assessments during bank account opening and EP review, so in practice we suggest setting it in line with the business.
How long does registration take?
Per ACRA: most name applications are approved shortly after payment, up to 3 working days if ACRA review is needed and up to 15 working days if referred to another agency; most registrations are approved shortly after payment, complex cases up to 15 working days, and those requiring referral-agency approval 14–60 days. This assumes documents are complete.
Can I register the company first and apply for an EP later?
Yes, and this is a common sequence. But the company needs enough operating substance to support the application at the time of submission, otherwise rejection is likely.
Can a dormant company simply be left alone?
No. Annual returns and tax filings remain due even with zero transactions, and late filing creates penalties that attach to the directors' records. A company that will not continue should be struck off properly.
Sources: ACRA (BizFile+ fees, annual return requirements, processing times, CSP requirement) and MOM (EP salary thresholds, COMPASS, processing times), verified 2026-09. Non-official cost ranges are market prices, for reference only; actual quotations depend on the case. This article is general information and is not legal or tax advice.
Which case applies to you?
Shareholder nationality, whether a local director already exists, the pass plan and your timeline all change every figure above. Tell us your conditions and we will give a cost and timeline assessment for your case.
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