Foreign companies expanding to Singapore need to make a crucial choice of their legal structure for their Singapore business expansion. There are different types of business structure in Singapore.

Appointing a nominee shareholder lets you retain economic control and anonymity while a trusted party holds legal title to your shares, and a nominee director fulfils local residency requirements without diluting your board authority. Robust agreements protect your interests and ensure compliance with ACRA’s disclosure and anti–money laundering rules.

Foreign subsidiaries in Singapore must comply with annual statutory obligations, including holding an AGM and filing annual returns with ACRA. Directors are responsible for ensuring accurate financial reporting and timely compliance to avoid penalties.

Setting up a Singapore offshore company in 2025 unlocks significant tax savings on foreign-sourced income, robust asset protection, and streamlined 1–2 day incorporation via ACRA’s BizFile+. However, businesses must weigh higher compliance costs, substance requirements, and limited local trading permissions against these benefits.

Appointing a nominee shareholder in Singapore lets you keep your identity private while complying with ACRA’s disclosure rules—your nominee holds legal title but must follow your instructions for voting and dividends. A formal Declaration of Trust and related safeguards protect you against misuse, ensuring anonymity, regulatory compliance, and strategic flexibility.

An SSIC code—a five-digit, hierarchical identifier based on ISIC—categorizes your business’s principal activities for ACRA registration, licensing, and grant or loan applications in Singapore. Learn how to find, select, and update your SSIC code on BizFile+ to stay compliant, unlock tax incentives, and avoid costly classification errors.

Establishing a sole proprietorship in Singapore comes with its own set of pros and cons, and this article provides comprehensive details of the incorporation process.

A Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd) in Singapore offers unparalleled liability protection and investor appeal by capping shareholder risk at their capital contribution while enabling share issuance and option plans to fund growth and retain talent.

Discover how Singapore’s Unique Entity Number (UEN) streamlines your company incorporation by serving as a single, permanent identifier for all interactions with ACRA, IRAS, and other government agencies.