How to Register a Singapore Company from India, the US or Dubai (2026 Guide)

Quick Answer: Yes, you can register a Singapore private limited company entirely from overseas. As a foreigner you cannot file directly with ACRA — you must appoint a licensed Registered Filing Agent (like Assembly Works) to incorporate on your behalf. You will also need at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore (usually met with a nominee director until you relocate), a local registered address, a resident company secretary within 6 months, and S$1 minimum paid-up capital. The government fee is S$315 and approval typically takes 1–3 business days.

Singapore is the natural launchpad for founders in India, the United States and the Gulf who want a credible, low-tax base in Asia. The headline corporate tax rate is 17%, there is no tax on most capital gains or dividends, and the country sits at the top of global ease-of-doing-business rankings. Whether you are a Bengaluru SaaS founder, a Delaware-incorporated startup expanding into Asia, or a Dubai-based trading group, the incorporation mechanics are the same — and most of it can be done without ever flying in.

Can a foreigner own 100% of a Singapore company?

Yes. Singapore allows 100% foreign ownership of a private limited company, with no requirement for a local shareholder. You can be the sole shareholder and sole beneficial owner from overseas. What the law does require is local presence at director and secretary level, not local ownership.

The non-negotiable requirements

Every Singapore Pte Ltd, regardless of where the owner lives, must have:

• A Registered Filing Agent. Under ACRA rules, foreign individuals and foreign companies cannot self-register through BizFile. You must engage a licensed corporate service provider to submit the incorporation.
• At least one resident director. Section 145 of the Companies Act requires one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore — a citizen, permanent resident, or holder of an Employment Pass, EntrePass or Dependant Pass with a local address. Overseas founders usually satisfy this with a nominee director until they relocate.
• A local registered address. A physical Singapore address (not a P.O. box) for official correspondence. A virtual office address is acceptable.
• A company secretary. A qualified, resident company secretary must be appointed within 6 months of incorporation.
• Paid-up capital. A minimum of just S$1, which can be increased later.

What changes depending on where you are based

From India: The India–Singapore Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement means profits are generally not taxed twice, and Singapore is the single largest route for Indian outbound investment. Indian founders should plan around RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme and Overseas Direct Investment rules when funding the entity — speak to an Indian adviser on the outbound side while we handle the Singapore side.

From the US: US founders (including those with an existing Delaware C-corp) often set up a Singapore subsidiary as the Asia-Pacific operating entity. Be mindful of US controlled-foreign-corporation (GILTI) reporting — your US CPA should be looped in, but the Singapore entity itself is straightforward to form.

From Dubai / the UAE: Gulf-based founders value Singapore for its banking access, enforceable contracts and treaty network into the rest of Asia. There is no UAE corporate tax credit complication for most holding structures, and incorporation can be completed remotely with notarised/attested identity documents.

Opening a corporate bank account

This is the step that most often catches overseas founders out. Singapore banks apply strict know-your-customer checks, and some require at least one director or signatory to attend in person or via video call. We help match you to the right bank and prepare the documentation — see our guide on how to open a corporate bank account in Singapore.

Do you need to move to Singapore?

No — but many founders eventually do. If you want to run the company yourself on the ground and drop the nominee director, you will typically apply for an Employment Pass once the company is active. Until then, the nominee arrangement keeps you fully compliant while you stay overseas.

How Assembly Works helps

As a licensed filing agent supporting clients, we run the entire process end to end — name reservation, incorporation, nominee director, registered address, company secretary and bank-account introductions — so founders in India, the US and the Gulf can be operational in Singapore within days. See our incorporation service or get in touch to start.