By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 29 September 2026
Foreigners can own 100% of a Singapore company, but every company must have at least one locally resident director: a Singapore citizen, a permanent resident, or an Employment Pass or EntrePass holder. You register the company with ACRA, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, usually through a registered filing agent if you have no Singpass. Owning a company does not give you the right to live and work here; to run it in person, you need a pass from MOM.
Singapore makes incorporation fast and cheap; the harder questions are who your resident director is, and which pass lets you work in your own business. Answer both before you register.
Starting a business: quick facts
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership allowed |
| Resident director | At least one: a citizen, PR, or Employment Pass or EntrePass holder |
| Registration | With ACRA through BizFile+; non-residents usually file through a registered filing agent |
| Other requirements | A Singapore registered address, a company secretary within six months, and at least one shareholder |
| Running it yourself | You need a work pass from MOM, such as an EntrePass or Employment Pass |
| Sole proprietorships | Foreigners who manage one in Singapore need MOM approval after registering |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Incorporation | Quick, online and inexpensive. |
| The hard part | The resident director and your own work pass. |
| The trap | Assuming a company lets you live and work here. |
| If you hold an EP elsewhere | Check with MOM before taking a directorship in your own company. |
| Worth doing | Speaking to a registered filing agent or accountant first. |
The resident director rule
ACRA requires every local company to have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore. A Singapore citizen, a permanent resident, or an Employment Pass or EntrePass holder can fill the role. Other foreign directors can serve alongside, and foreigners living overseas can own shares and be directors, as long as the resident requirement is met. Other pass holders should check their eligibility with MOM or ICA before taking an appointment.
Registering with ACRA
Companies register online through ACRA’s BizFile+ portal: reserve a name, then file the incorporation with details of the business, shareholders, directors, share capital and constitution. You need a physical Singapore registered address, not a PO box, and a company secretary within six months. Filing without Singpass generally means using a registered filing agent.
Working in your own business
A company does not give you a pass. To live in Singapore and run the business yourself, you need a work pass, such as an EntrePass for entrepreneurs or an Employment Pass issued through your company, each with MOM’s criteria. If you already hold an Employment Pass with another employer, check with MOM before becoming a director of your own company. Work passes explained covers the main passes.
Starting a business: FAQ
Can a foreigner own a company in Singapore?
Yes, up to 100%, but the company must have at least one locally resident director.
Who can be a resident director?
A Singapore citizen, a permanent resident, or an Employment Pass or EntrePass holder, according to ACRA.
Does owning a company let me live in Singapore?
No. You need a work pass from MOM, such as an EntrePass or an Employment Pass, to live and work here.
Can I register a company without being in Singapore?
Yes, usually through a registered filing agent, as long as the resident director requirement is met.
Read next
This page belongs to Moving to Singapore. For tax, read income tax for new residents.
Sources checked 29 September 2026: ACRA, requirements for local residency; 3E Accounting on registering remotely; 3E Accounting on directors holding Employment Passes. General information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Last updated 29 September 2026.
