How long does company incorporation take in Singapore?
Once documents are ready, ACRA registration through Bizfile can often be completed the same day if the company name needs no referral; a referred name can take 14 days to 2 months. Provider due diligence, a resident director and bank account opening usually take longer.
The ACRA filing itself is quick. Registration is submitted through Bizfile, and when the proposed name does not need referral to another government agency, the name and the registration can often be approved on the same day. If the name contains words that need another authority's review, approval can take from 14 days to 2 months. An approved name is reserved for 120 days, which gives you time to complete the registration. ACRA charges S$15 for the name application and S$300 for registration.
Most of the elapsed time sits outside ACRA. Foreign businesses must engage a registered corporate service provider (CSP) to register in Singapore, and the provider carries out due diligence on directors, shareholders and controllers before filing; corporate shareholders increase that work. You also need at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore, which overseas founders often meet through a nominee-director service, and a company secretary must be appointed within six months of registration. Opening a business bank account follows registration, and bank approval is not guaranteed.
| Stage | Timing | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Name and registration, no referral | Often the same day | Filed through Bizfile |
| Name referred to another agency | 14 days to 2 months | Depends on the reviewing authority |
| Name reservation | 120 days | Complete registration within this window |
| Company secretary | Within 6 months of registration | A director can be fined up to S$1,000 for non-compliance |
| Bank account | Not fixed | Bank approval is not guaranteed |
What changes the answer
- Name referral: a name needing another authority's review adds 14 days to 2 months.
- Who files: an eligible individual can register a local company through Bizfile, but foreign businesses must use a registered CSP.
- Ownership structure: corporate shareholders mean more due diligence and more documents.
- Resident director: without a locally resident director you need a nominee arrangement, which can involve security deposits and indemnities.
- Overseas documents: certifying founders' documents can add time.
What to check before you decide
- Apply for the company name early and complete registration within the 120-day reservation.
- Confirm your provider's CSP registration through the Bizfile entity search.
- Ask whether the package includes ACRA fees, the first year of company secretary service, a registered address and initial resolutions, and what renewal costs after the first year.
- Diary the six-month deadline for appointing a company secretary.