Plan your Singapore entity in about two minutes.
Answer seven short questions about your business. The planner shows the structure that fits, the approvals you need, a typical timeline, the government fees and your tax position, straight away on this page.
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The right structure
Subsidiary, branch or representative office, and the reasons.
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Your critical path
Director, work passes, bank account and licences, week by week.
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Your tax position
Which exemption applies and what affects treaty access.
Structures compared
Subsidiary, branch or representative office?
Foreign companies have three ways to establish in Singapore. Most choose a private limited company, but the other two have their uses. The planner above weighs these differences for you.
| Private limited company | Branch | Representative office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Separate Singapore company | Part of the foreign parent | No legal status |
| Sign contracts and earn revenue | Yes | Yes | No |
| Liability | Limited to the capital invested | Parent fully liable | Rests with the parent |
| Resident officer | At least one resident director | At least one resident authorised representative | Not required; fewer than five staff |
| Start-up tax exemption | Available if the shareholder conditions are met | Not available | Not applicable |
| Registered with | ACRA | ACRA | Enterprise Singapore |
| Duration | Unlimited | Unlimited | One year at a time, up to three years |
| Government fee | S$315 | S$315 | S$200 a year |
Common questions
Can a foreign company own 100 per cent of a Singapore company?
Yes. Singapore places no restriction on foreign shareholding in a private limited company. The residency requirement applies to directors: at least one director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore. Where you have nobody suitable, a nominee director fills the role.
What is the difference between a subsidiary and a branch in Singapore?
A subsidiary is a separate Singapore company, so its liabilities stay in Singapore, it can be Singapore tax resident and it can qualify for tax exemptions. A branch is part of the foreign parent: the parent is fully liable for its debts, the branch is usually not tax resident, and it cannot claim the start-up tax exemption.
When does a representative office make sense?
When you want a presence for market research and relationship building without trading. A representative office cannot sign contracts or earn revenue. It is registered with Enterprise Singapore for one year at a time, up to three years, and the parent needs sales above US$250,000 and at least three years in operation.
Can I relocate to Singapore as the director of my new company?
Yes, through an Employment Pass sponsored by the Singapore company. Because the company must exist before it can apply, and needs a resident director to exist, most founders appoint an interim nominee director who steps down once the pass is issued.
Does a Singapore subsidiary qualify for the start-up tax exemption?
Usually not when it is wholly owned by a foreign company. The exemption needs at least one individual holding 10 per cent or more of the shares. Subsidiaries owned only by a corporate parent receive the partial tax exemption instead.
Discuss your plans with a senior adviser.
A scoping call costs nothing and commits you to nothing. You will speak with one of our directors, not a sales team.