Singapore is one of the world’s easiest places to incorporate. The standard vehicle is the private limited company (Pte Ltd), registered with ACRA through the BizFile portal — often within a single day.
Capital and shareholders
There is effectively no minimum capital — a company can start with S$1 — and it can be 100% foreign-owned.
The resident-director rule
A Pte Ltd must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore. Foreign founders without a local director typically appoint a nominee director or apply for an EntrePass. A company secretary must be appointed within six months.
After incorporation
The company registers for taxes with IRAS and for GST where turnover crosses the threshold, and must keep a registered office and statutory registers.
For foreign founders
The resident-director requirement is the main planning point. A verified Singapore colleague — or a corporate service provider working with one — can provide the local director and handle the ACRA filing.
Director and pass rules change — confirm with admitted Singapore counsel.