Enterprise Ireland and Hawksford: supporting business expansion into Singapore

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We have developed a practical guide in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland for Irish companies exploring the Singapore market. To access the full guide, please provide your name and email address in the form below.

 

Why Irish businesses may consider Singapore for expansion

Singapore remains a leading location for regional headquarters, with the connectivity and infrastructure to support companies managing activities across multiple markets from one central base.

The appeal of starting in Singapore is reflected in the growing presence of Irish businesses in the market. In 2024 and 2025, Singapore was the second most popular international location for Enterprise Ireland-supported fintech companies establishing an overseas presence, behind only the United Kingdom (UK).

There is also a strong sector fit between the two markets. Ireland has established strengths in areas such as fintech, technology, medtech and life sciences, engineering and high-tech construction, while Singapore continues to develop many of these same areas. For Irish businesses, this can create opportunities to grow in and from Singapore.

Regional expansion across Asia from Singapore

Singapore is not only attractive because of the opportunities within the country itself, but also because of the access it provides to the wider Southeast Asian market. Having initially established a presence in Singapore to serve local customers or work with local partners, many businesses go on to use it as a base to explore new markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

For Irish businesses planning expansion across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, this makes Singapore a natural place to start.

As business operations develop, Singapore is well-positioned to become a regional headquarters or coordination hub, providing a central base from which to manage customers, teams and partners across Southeast Asia and the wider region.

Depending on its growth plans, a company may decide to keep regional management and other key functions located in Singapore while entering other markets through local partners or separate entities. The most suitable approach will vary by country and should always take account of local tax and regulatory frameworks, together with any employment or licensing requirements.

For more insight into the opportunities across ASEAN, our Head of Middle East and Asia, Dario Acconci, discusses the region’s potential and what businesses should consider in this Expert Q&A.

How we can support your expansion from Ireland to Singapore

Expanding from Ireland to Singapore often involves support at different stages. Enterprise Ireland can be a useful starting point if you’re in the process of evaluating opportunities.

Once you are ready to move forward, our Hawksford teams in Ireland and Singapore can then assist you from the early planning stage to incorporation and ongoing compliance. Subject to the scope of our engagement and applicable regulatory requirements, this may include reviewing your proposed market-entry structure, setting up your Singapore entity, supporting banking preparation and helping you manage company secretarial, accounting, tax, payroll and compliance requirements.

We can also support you as your structure develops across Asia, including the establishment and administration of entities in additional jurisdictions. For more information on the incorporation process and estimated timeline, please get in touch with us.

FAQs

Depending on your activities, the following are some of the key Singapore authorities you may need to engage with:

Singapore authority Role
Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) Oversees company incorporation, business registration and ongoing corporate filings in Singapore
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) Administers corporate income tax, goods and services tax (GST) and other tax obligations
Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Oversees Employment Passes, other work passes and workforce-related requirements
Singapore Customs Relevant for companies importing or exporting goods. Businesses may need to activate a Customs Account and apply for import or export permits through TradeNet

Additional licences or approvals may be required depending on the activity. For example, financial-services businesses may need to engage with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

The most relevant events will depend on your sector and whether you are looking for customers, distributors, investors or strategic partners. Large regional trade shows can help you meet decision-makers from across Southeast Asia, while smaller business events can be useful for building more targeted relationships.

A distributor can be an effective way to assess demand without immediately establishing your own operation. A Singapore subsidiary, however, can be preferred if you want more control over customers, pricing, employees and day-to-day activity, or when Singapore is becoming an important long-term or regional market for the business.

Irish companies can generally establish a business in Singapore, but some activities cannot begin until the relevant licence or regulatory approval has been secured. This is particularly important in regulated sectors such as financial services, healthcare and food. If you’re unsure which licences apply to your activities, get in touch with our team before proceeding with the setup.

Once you operate through a Singapore entity, you may need to consider corporate income tax, goods and services tax (GST), withholding tax and transfer pricing, depending on your activities and transactions. Cross-border dealings with your Irish parent or other group companies should also be considered, particularly where services, financing or intellectual property are involved.

The tax treatment depends on how profits are returned to Ireland. Singapore generally does not impose withholding tax on dividends, while certain payments such as interest and royalties may be subject to withholding tax.

Relief or reduced rates under the Singapore-Ireland Double Taxation Agreement are not automatic and depend on the payment, the recipient’s eligibility and whether the relevant conditions and supporting document requirements are satisfied. The repatriation method should therefore be reviewed as part of wider tax planning before payments are made.

Irish employees relocating to Singapore will need the appropriate work authorisation. For professionals, this will often be an Employment Pass (EP). As of 2026, an EP application must meet the applicable qualifying salary and, unless an exemption applies, pass the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS). The employer may also need to comply with the Fair Consideration Framework job-advertising requirements before applying.

If you’re planning to transfer employees from Ireland to Singapore, our team can provide guidance on the relevant work pass requirements. Connect with us for more information.

 

 

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