Singapore company structures for foreign entities: at a glance

Hawksford

Last updated: 24 October 2025 |

Asia | Singapore

Options for registering foreign companies in Singapore

It’s hard for foreign companies to find a shortlist of the world’s top business destinations that doesn’t include Singapore. Well-connected in Asia’s trade routes, the country offers stable governance, transparent regulations and an environment supportive of regional expansion.

Singapore offers a range of incorporation options for international companies keen to establishing a presence:

Local company using private limited company (Pte Ltd) as the legal entity type
Registering as a branch of a foreign company
Setting up a representative office in Singapore

Among these, local private limited company (Pte Ltd) remains the preferred structure for most businesses. This structure offers a strong balance of flexibility and limited liability. Below, we discuss these most widely used business structures in Singapore by the global companies:

Private limited company in Singapore

The most popular and flexible structure, suitable for most industries and sectors.
Offers limited liability and tax efficiency.
Ideal for SMEs, foreign MNCs and entrepreneurs planning long-term growth in Singapore.
Highly suitable for establishing a regional headquarters, holding company or wholly owned subsidiary.

Singapore branch office of a foreign company

A good option for foreign companies looking to expand their operations.
The branch office in Singapore can engage in a wide range of business activities, but its activities are limited to those of the foreign parent company.
The branch requires a local authorised agent and must comply with all relevant Singaporean company laws, including filing annual returns and tax obligations.

Representative office in Singapore

Non-commercial structure used by foreign companies for research or liaison.
Cannot engage in revenue-generating activities and can only operate for a maximum of three years.
Governed by Enterprise Singapore. It does not require audited accounts or annual filings with ACRA and IRAS.

To help you choose the right structure, we have created an ‘at a glance’ summary table for the common company types that outlines key differences in formation processes, requirements, and timelines. It serves as a valuable resource for foreign companies looking to setup or expand a business in Singapore.

Table comparison of common entity types in Singapore

Key information	Private limited company (Pte Ltd)	Branch office of foreign company	Representative office (RO)
Commonly used for	All-purpose commercial operations	Extension of foreign parent company’s business in Singapore	Market research, liaison, non-commercial activities
Minimum capitalisation (local currency)	$1 (or higher)	No separate capital requirement (depends on parent)	N/A
Limited liability	Yes	No (liability borne by foreign parent)	No (has no separate legal personality)
Legal Status	Independent legal entity	Not separate legal entity	Not a legal entity
Activities allowed	Full commercial operations	Same as parent’s business (with regulatory permissions)	Restricted to non-profit / representative tasks
Time to incorporate / establish	~ few days to few weeks (depending on complexity)	~1–2 weeks (depending on approvals)	~1–2 weeks (depending on approvals)
Tax rate / tax treatment	17% on chargeable income	Subject to Singapore tax if taxable activities, may incur branch tax	Not taxed on profits (no commercial activities)
Resident management requirement	Yes - at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore	Yes - local authorised representative required	No (Chief Representative required, can be a foreign staff member from the parent company)
Common cost indication (approx.)	SGD 20,000 (including incorporation and annual compliance fees)	SGD 15,000 (including incorporation and annual maintenance fees)	< SGD 10,000 (including incorporation)