Regulated activities entered with the right permissions in hand.
Many activities in Singapore require a licence, registration or permit before the first dollar of revenue. Meridium assesses what your business model actually requires, prepares and submits the applications, and manages the regulator's questions until a decision is reached. We manage the process with care; no adviser can promise the outcome, and we will not pretend otherwise.
The regulators we work with
Singapore regulates by activity, and the regulator depends on what you do. The agencies we most commonly deal with:
Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)
Telecommunications licensing for service-based and facilities-based operations, and licensing that touches media and broadcast services. Technology businesses that resell connectivity or operate communications infrastructure are often surprised to find themselves in scope.
Health Sciences Authority (HSA)
Licences and registrations for health products: import, wholesale and distribution of therapeutic products and medical devices, and the notifications that apply to cosmetic products. Distribution models matter here, and the right structure can materially simplify what you need.
Singapore Customs
Activation of the company’s Customs account for import and export, permits through the trade platform, and the controls that apply to specific categories, including strategic goods. Any business moving physical product through Singapore touches this layer.
Other regulators, depending on your model
Certain models fall under additional regimes, each of which we scope with you before anything is filed:
- Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for payment services and other regulated financial activity.
- Singapore Food Agency (SFA) for food import, processing and retail.
- Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for employment agency activity.
- Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for construction and contractor registration.
Where an application crosses into territory that demands specialist counsel, for example a contested MAS licensing question, we say so early and bring the right firm in under your instruction, rather than learning on your application.
What's included
- A licensing assessment mapping your activities to the permissions they require
- Application preparation: forms, supporting documents and the narrative the regulator expects
- Submission and fee handling through the relevant government portals
- Responses to regulator queries and requests for further information
- Coordination with specialist counsel where an application demands it
- A licence register for your company, with renewal dates tracked by your named contact
How it works
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Assessment
We map your intended activities against the licensing landscape and give you a written view of what is required, what is optional and what to avoid triggering.
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Preparation
We assemble the application: corporate documents, personnel details, premises, processes and the supporting narrative, shaped to what the regulator actually assesses.
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Submission
We file through the relevant portal, pay the fees, and confirm the application is complete and under review.
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Follow-up
Regulator questions are answered promptly and precisely, and you are kept informed until the decision arrives and the licence is in force.
What we need from you
- A clear description of the intended activities, products and customers
- Corporate documents and details of directors, shareholders and key personnel
- Premises details where an activity is tied to a location
- Existing policies or processes the regulator expects, which we help you prepare where gaps exist
Common questions
How do I know whether my business needs a licence at all?
That is the first question we answer, in writing, before any application is prepared. Many activities need nothing beyond incorporation; others are regulated in ways that are not obvious from the outside. The assessment protects you from both surprises: applying for permissions you do not need, and trading without ones you do.
Can you guarantee the licence will be granted?
No, and you should be wary of anyone who says otherwise. Licensing decisions belong to the regulator. What we control is the quality and completeness of the application and the speed and precision of every response, which is where most avoidable rejections and delays originate.
How long do applications take?
It varies widely by regulator and licence class, from days for simple registrations to months for substantive licences. We give you a realistic expectation for your specific application at the assessment stage rather than a general number here.
What happens after the licence is granted?
Most licences carry conditions and renewal cycles. We record every licence in a register with its conditions and renewal dates, and your named contact tracks them alongside your other compliance deadlines.
Discuss licence applications with a senior adviser.
A scoping call costs nothing and commits you to nothing. You will speak with a senior practitioner, not a sales team.