Incorporate in Singapore as a Foreigner: Compare 3 Vetted Providers in 24 Hours
Incorporate a company in Singapore as a foreigner: compare 3 vetted service providers, each ACRA-registered, with itemised quotes in 24 hours.
Why you need a service to incorporate a company in Singapore as a foreigner#
To incorporate a company in Singapore as a foreigner you need a service provider. A non-resident cannot self-file through BizFile+, every company needs a resident director and a qualified company secretary, and since 9 June 2025 only a firm registered with ACRA under the Corporate Service Providers Act 2024 may supply those services.
So the provider decision is unavoidable. It is also the decision on which you have the least reliable information, because every comparison article, pricing guide and "best providers" listicle you will find is published either by a provider or by an affiliate paid per referral. The headline numbers are structured to win the click: a S$0 incorporation offer that recovers its margin in a nominee director fee, or a "from S$699" quote that firms up at three times that once someone assesses your file.
This page exists to route around that. You submit one brief. We send it to three providers we have already screened. They quote against the same specification, knowing they are being compared, and you choose on the merits.
What "vetted" actually means here#
Vetting is a word every referral site uses and few define. Ours is a seven-point screen, weighted by what causes founders problems twelve months in rather than what looks good in a proposal.
| # | Criterion | Weight | What we verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACRA CSP registration and RQI depth | 20% | Registration confirmed on ACRA's register; named Registered Qualified Individual; work performed in-house |
| 2 | All-in 12-month price in writing | 20% | Single itemised figure covering every mandatory service, with Year 2 renewal pricing stated |
| 3 | Nominee director terms | 15% | Fee, deposit, indemnity scope, resignation notice and exit path all documented |
| 4 | Compliance ownership | 15% | Named deadline owner, proactive reminders, written escalation path |
| 5 | Fit for your risk profile | 10% | Demonstrable experience with your sector and shareholder structure |
| 6 | Portability and exit | 10% | Transfer-out process and fee stated upfront; no multi-year lock-in |
| 7 | Enquiry responsiveness | 10% | Substantive answers within one business day, from a named person |
A provider that fails criterion 1 is not in our network at any price. A provider that will not commit to criterion 2 in writing is not in it either, because a number a firm won't stand behind is not a quote.
What incorporation actually costs#
So that you can sanity-check the quotes you receive — from us or anyone else — here is the shape of the spend. The government layer is fixed and identical for every applicant. Everything else is the service layer, and it is where quotes diverge by a factor of three.
| Component | Who charges it | Typical 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|
| Name application | ACRA | S$15, once |
| Company registration | ACRA | S$300, once |
| Annual return filing | ACRA | S$60 a year |
| Incorporation service fee | Provider | S$400–S$1,200 |
| Nominee resident director | Provider | S$1,800–S$4,000 a year, plus deposit |
| Company secretary | Provider | S$300–S$1,500 a year |
| Registered office address | Provider | S$120–S$400 a year |
| Basic accounting and tax filing | Provider | S$600–S$1,500 a year |
A realistic all-in first year lands near S$3,800 for a lean, low-risk setup where you do not need a nominee, and S$6,000–S$9,000 for a typical foreign-owned company that does. If a quote sits far below that band, the question is not why it is cheap — it is which mandatory line item has been left out. The full cost breakdown itemises each line, and the nominee director guide explains why that row varies most.
How the matching works#
Step 1 — You submit one brief. Shareholder nationalities, sector, expected turnover, whether you need a nominee resident director, whether you plan to relocate, and your banking needs. Five minutes.
Step 2 — We match, we do not broadcast. Your brief goes to three providers selected for fit with your specific profile, not to a list. Fintech with non-resident shareholders goes to firms that handle that structure routinely; a bootstrapped local consultancy does not need or want the same firm.
Step 3 — Three itemised quotes, within 24 hours. Each provider quotes the same specification, in the same format, including Year 2. Each knows it is one of three.
Step 4 — You choose, or you don't. Talk to all three, one, or none. There is no obligation, no lock-in, and no charge to you at any point.
Who this is for, and who it is not#
A good fit if you are a non-resident founder or a foreign company incorporating a Singapore private limited entity, you need a nominee resident director or a company secretary, and you want comparable pricing rather than a single sales conversation.
Not a good fit if you are already ordinarily resident in Singapore with a straightforward local company — you can incorporate directly through BizFile+ for S$315 and engage a company secretary separately for less than any bundle. Say so on the form and we will tell you the same thing.
Also not a good fit if you have not yet decided that Singapore is the right jurisdiction, or which structure you need. Comparing providers is the last step, not the first. If you are still weighing a private limited company against a branch or representative office, start with the entity structure comparison and come back once that decision is settled. The same applies if you have not yet read the step-by-step registration process.
Why this is free, and how we make money#
A reasonable question, and the answer determines whether you should trust the recommendations.
Providers in our network pay a fee when they are matched into a comparison set. That fee is flat and identical across every provider, and it does not vary with the size of the engagement you eventually sign. No provider can pay for a better ranking, a larger share of matches, or exclusion of a competitor, because there is no ranking to buy — you receive three quotes and we express no preference among them.
The incentive that shapes this business is repeat trust rather than any individual placement, which is why the screen removes firms that miss deadlines and why we will tell you when you do not need the service at all. If our recommendations were for sale, the comparison would be worth nothing and so would the platform.
Get your three quotes#
Tell us your shareholder structure, sector and requirements, and we will match you with exactly 3 vetted Singapore corporate service providers within 24 hours — each confirmed on the ACRA CSP register, each pre-screened against the seven criteria above, and each quoting itemised all-in pricing for Year 1 and Year 2 against your actual profile. Independent, free, and with no obligation to proceed.
Common questions
Can a foreigner incorporate a company in Singapore without visiting?
Yes. The entire process can be completed remotely. You will need to complete identity verification with your corporate service provider, which is a legal requirement under the Corporate Service Providers Act, and you will need a resident director — usually a nominee — to satisfy the Companies Act. Opening a corporate bank account is the step most likely to require a video call or, at some traditional banks, an in-person visit.
How long does Singapore incorporation take?
ACRA can approve a straightforward private limited company within a day once the name is cleared and documents are in order. The realistic end-to-end timeline for a foreign founder is one to three weeks, driven by identity verification and document collection rather than the filing itself. Corporate bank account opening then adds a further two to six weeks.
Is 100% foreign ownership allowed in Singapore?
Yes. A Singapore private limited company can be wholly owned by non-residents or by a foreign parent company, with no local shareholding requirement. The only local requirement is at director level: at least one director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore.
Do I have to accept one of the three providers you send?
No. There is no obligation and no charge to you. You can speak to all three, one, or none, and you are free to engage a provider you found elsewhere. The three quotes are useful as a pricing benchmark even if you do not proceed with any of them.
What information do you share with the providers?
The brief you submit — shareholder nationalities, sector, requirements and contact details — so that each provider can quote accurately against your profile. We do not share identity documents, and providers collect those directly under their own regulated due diligence process only if you choose to proceed with one of them.
How do I know the providers are actually registered with ACRA?
We confirm each provider's CSP registration on ACRA's register before it enters the network and re-check it periodically. You should also verify it independently — ask for the registration number and check it yourself. Any provider that hesitates to give you a number is telling you something useful.
Darren Chew
Webmaster, Expand With Asia
Expand With Asia is an independent information platform — not a corporate service provider. Our editorial desk verifies every figure against primary sources (ACRA, IRAS, MOM, EDB) before publication.
Sources & verification: Figures verified 17 August 2026 against ACRA and the Companies Act, with a market rate survey of Singapore corporate service provider pricing.