Most company registrations on Singapore's national business portal are approved within about 15 minutes of payment. When you are registering a company in Singapore through ACRA's BizFile portal, incorporation can be finished in the time it takes to finish a coffee — as long as your documents are in order.
Bizfile is the online filing system of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), the government body that regulates Singapore companies. Every private limited company in Singapore is born through this portal: first a name reservation, then the incorporation itself, and later a long series of filings for annual returns, officer changes and other updates.
The portal is fast, but it is not forgiving of sloppy preparation. A name that clashes with an existing business, a missing director consent or an unendorsed application can hold things up for weeks. Fees are also easy to misread, because several one-off and recurring charges apply at different stages. Our Singapore incorporation cost guide includes a first-year fee breakdown, so you can see exactly what you will pay to ACRA and what services cost before you commit.
This guide explains BizFile, what to prepare, and the registration steps. It also covers 2026 fees, timelines, post-incorporation changes and company secretary rules.
Table of Contents
What Is BizFile, and What Do You Need to Register a Company in Singapore?
When you register a business in Singapore, BizFile is ACRA's online portal for corporate filings. Nearly every transaction with the regulator — reserving a name, incorporating, filing annual returns, lodging company changes — happens through this single system. As the official guide on how to register a local company using BizFile explains, incorporation is a two-part process: reserve a business name first, then register the company under that name.
Before you touch the portal, confirm that you meet ACRA's core requirements. In our experience, most delays trace back to one of these four points being overlooked, which is why we check them with every client before filing.
1. A Locally Resident Director
Every local company needs at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore and is a Singapore Citizen, Singapore Permanent Resident or otherwise meets ACRA's local residency rules. Employment Pass holders must first obtain a Letter of Consent (LOC) from the Ministry of Manpower. Directors must be at least 18 years old.
2. Shareholders and a Company Secretary
There must be at least one director and at least one shareholder, and one person can hold both roles. Appoint a company secretary within six months of incorporation.
3. A Registered Address and a Constitution
You need a local registered office address for the company. Position holders must also provide a contact address for public records, and there is no fee to register it. You must also submit a constitution — if you do not want to draft your own, you can adopt ACRA's model constitution.
4. A Registered Filing Agent for Foreigners
Foreign applicants cannot self-file. ACRA requires foreigners to engage a registered filing agent, such as a law firm, accounting firm or corporate secretarial firm, to submit the application on their behalf. In practice, we file most of our clients' applications as their registered filing agent.
How Do You Register a Company on BizFile Step by Step?
Once you meet the requirements, you can begin the business registration singapore process. Complete these five steps on the portal:
- Reserve your company name. Submit a name application through BizFile for a fee of S$15. Names that are unavailable may be rejected; where applicable, ACRA may request a consent letter or supporting information, and applicants can request a name review.
- Prepare your incorporation details. You will need the proposed commencement date, registered office address and share capital. You will also need shareholder and director details, plus the constitution. You may appoint a company secretary at incorporation or within six months.
- Submit and gather endorsements. After you submit the application, all other position holders must endorse the registration within 60 days; endorsements are not required if a corporate service provider filed the registration. A registered corporate service provider can file for you, but confirm with ACRA whether each position holder's endorsement is still required before payment.
- Pay the registration fee. The fee is S$300, payable by credit card, debit card or online banking. During payment, you can choose a special unique entity number (SUN) for the company.
- Receive your documents. After successful payment, ACRA issues a notice of successful incorporation and your Unique Entity Number (UEN). It also provides a free downloadable Business Profile.
ACRA's current guidance requires position holders to provide a contact address, and ACRA charges no fee to register it.
BizFile Registration Fees and Timelines (2026)
| Item | Fee (SGD) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Name application | 15 | Usually approved within 15 minutes |
| New company registration | 300 | Mostly approved soon after payment |
| Complex applications | Included in registration fee | Up to 15 working days |
| Referral authority review | Included in registration fee | 14 to 60 days |
How Much Does Company Incorporation in Singapore Cost in 2026?
The base cost to register a company in Singapore is S$315: a S$15 name application plus a S$300 one-time registration fee. There is no renewal fee for a private limited company, which is a key difference from sole proprietorships and partnerships that renew every one or three years.
Timing depends on the application. Most straightforward registrations are approved soon after payment, often within 15 minutes, subject to ACRA review. Complex applications may take up to 15 working days, and if your business activity needs approval from a referral authority, expect 14 to 60 days.
The figures below follow ACRA's list of service and transaction fees for companies, which was last updated in January 2026. If your plans involve a simpler structure, the comparison with sole proprietorships is worth a look before you commit.
Company vs Sole Proprietorship Setup Costs (2026)
| Business structure | Registration fee (SGD) | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Local private limited company | 315 (name plus registration) | None — one-time fee |
| Sole proprietorship or partnership | S$115 for one year (including name application), or S$175 for three years | Renew every one or three years |
| Alternate address (optional) | 40 per address | Not applicable |
What Company Changes Can You File on BizFile After Incorporation?
BizFile is not just for incorporation — it is your company's permanent channel for updates and recurring filings. The fees below are per ACRA's published 2026 schedule, and each transaction is lodged online.
Many of these filings carry statutory deadlines, so it helps to have a compliance calendar. Missed deadlines are among the common challenges in company incorporation. We help clients avoid them. We maintain one for every client whose company secretary duties we handle.
1. Annual Filings
Your company must file its annual return, which costs S$60. If you need more time to file accounts or hold your annual general meeting, an extension of time application costs S$200, as does an application for exemption from financial statement requirements.
2. Structural Changes
Converting your company type via general lodgement costs S$40. Registering an amalgamation of business entities costs S$400, and a separate S$300 company registration fee applies where the amalgamated company is a new entity.
3. Charges, Corrections and Name Matters
Registering a new charge over company assets costs S$60, and correcting an earlier filing through a notice of error costs the same. Applications to omit the word "Limited" from a company name, or for ACRA to direct a name change, cost S$200 each.
Common BizFile Transaction Fees (2026)
| Transaction | Fee (SGD) |
|---|---|
| File annual return | 60 |
| Extension of time for accounts or AGM | 200 |
| Exemption from financial statement requirements | 200 |
| Convert company type | 40 |
| Amalgamation of business entities | 400 (plus 300 if a new company results) |
| Register new charge | 60 |
| Notice of error | 60 |
| Name-related applications | 200 |
Why Does Every Singapore Company Need a Company Secretary?
Because the Companies Act requires it. Every local company must appoint a company secretary within six months of incorporation.
The secretary cannot be the company's sole director. Single-shareholder companies therefore almost always need external help. In our experience, this is one of the first compliance points foreign founders overlook.
1. Appointment Within Six Months
You must appoint a company secretary within six months of incorporation. The secretary cannot be the company's sole director.
2. Ongoing Compliance Duties
After incorporation, the secretary tracks filing deadlines and lodges annual returns and company changes through BizFile. The secretary also keeps the company's registers up to date. Missed filings draw ACRA's attention and can lead to penalties.
3. Outsourcing the Role
We provide company secretary services to clients across every sector. This includes founders incorporating a private limited company and lodging annual returns through BizFile. The statutory duties are the same.
What Happens Once Your Company Is Incorporated?
Your company receives its UEN, the identification number used in all transactions with government agencies, together with a notice of incorporation and a free Business Profile. Keep the UEN handy — you will quote it on everything from tax filings to licence applications.
After business registration singapore is complete, the company takes on recurring obligations. Annual returns must be filed through BizFile. Changes to directors, shareholders or the registered address must be lodged promptly. Depending on your turnover, you may need to register for Goods and Services Tax (GST) with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). Some ventures need extra licences from other agencies — a home-based business in Singapore may need additional permits — but the BizFile incorporation route itself is identical.
If any part of the process is unclear, reach out through our contact page and we will walk you through it before you file.
Conclusion
ACRA's BizFile portal makes Singapore incorporation genuinely quick. Speed depends on preparation: have a locally resident director, registered address and constitution ready before you file. The base cost in 2026 is S$315: a S$15 name application plus a S$300 registration fee. Most approvals land within 15 minutes. Referral cases can take up to 60 days.
After incorporation, the portal handles annual returns, officer changes, charges, conversions and corrections. The related fees range from S$40 to S$400. A company secretary who tracks these deadlines is a legal necessity, not a luxury.
At SG Company Incorporation, we register a company in Singapore on your behalf as your registered filing agent. We can act as your company secretary and manage your ongoing ACRA compliance. That lets you focus on running the business. Foreign founders in particular must file through a registered agent — we handle that from end to end. If you would like help, reach out through our contact page.
Let Us Handle Your Filing
Tell us about your business and we will prepare your documents, reserve your name and file your incorporation through BizFile on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most registrations are approved within about 15 minutes of payment. Complex applications may take up to 15 working days, and applications requiring review by a referral authority take 14 to 60 days.
The base cost is S$315 — a S$15 name application plus a S$300 one-time registration fee. An optional alternate address costs S$40 each, and there is no renewal fee for a private limited company.
No. ACRA requires foreign applicants to engage a registered filing agent, such as a law firm, accounting firm or corporate secretarial firm, to submit the online application on their behalf.
The Unique Entity Number (UEN) is your company's identification number for all transactions with government agencies. ACRA issues it, along with a notice of successful incorporation, once your registration is approved and payment is made.
You can lodge a notice of error through BizFile for a fee of S$60. Larger corrections, such as converting a company type, cost S$40 via general lodgement, so it pays to get the original filing right.
SG Company Incorporation
Author
SG Company Incorporation is a Singapore corporate services provider that helps entrepreneurs and foreign investors register a company in Singapore and keep it compliant, with support for company secretarial, nominee director and tax filing needs.
