As one of the countries with the best ease of doing business in the world, and home to over 600 local and international financial institutions, Singapore offers entrepreneurs a variety of opportunities to invest and start businesses, both in terms of innovation and efficiency, thus gaining an international competitive advantage. Therefore, many large Chinese companies consider registering a company in Singapore as the first step in expanding their business reach globally.

If you are a foreign company looking to establish a representative office in Singapore, Esin Biz, an international business services agency, can provide a complete solution for the registration and operation of your representative office, ensuring the smooth development of your business in Singapore.

Details:

This package is applicable to foreign companies planning to establish a representative office in Singapore.

The foreign parent company must meet the following requirements:

1. The foreign entity’s turnover must exceed US$250,000;

2. The foreign parent company must have been in existence for at least 3 years;

3. The representative office must have fewer than 5 staff.

Documents/Information required for registering a representative office in Singapore:

1. Application form;

2. Copy of the parent company’s registration certificate, if required;

3. The parent company’s most recent annual report and a copy of its audited financial statements;

4. The Singapore representative office must comply with official operating regulations and jurisdictional conditions. All documents must be in English; if not, they must be translated into English before submission. In some cases, the Singapore government may request additional information.

Typically, foreign companies wishing to establish a representative office in Singapore will engage the services of a professional firm. The professional firm will be required to:

1. Assist with completing the application in accordance with regulatory requirements;

2. Prepare the necessary documents and registration processes;

3. Act as a liaison if the government requires clarification;

4. Once the representative office is approved and registered, apply for an Employment Pass for staff transferred from the head office to Singapore.

Singapore representative office approval and renewal:

1. Once approved, the Singapore representative office registration is valid for one year and must be renewed annually. The Singapore government will issue a confirmation letter for the representative office registration.

2. Typically, two months before the expiration date, the Singapore government will send a renewal notice. The representative office must renew its registration no later than seven days before the deadline. Because representative offices are temporary, registration can only be renewed annually, for a maximum of three years. After three years, the parent company must upgrade the representative office to a subsidiary or branch.

3. If the company does not respond, the Singapore government will send an additional reminder on the expiration date. If there is still no response, a final reminder will be sent to the parent company one month before the expiration date, giving it 14 days to respond. If no response is received, the Singapore government will initiate the registration cancellation process.

Esin Biz service process:

1. Initial consultation and communication

2. Completing the company application form

3. Preparing the required documents and payments

4. Registering your company

5. Fulfilling the Employment Pass requirements and applying for the Employment Pass.