A Guide to Doing Business in Singapore

A foreign company is not allowed to "carry on business" in Singapore or acquire a "place of business" in Singapore unless it is registered with the Singapore Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority ("ACRA"). The foreign company may register itself as a branch, or it may incorporate a local private limited company. The governing legislation is the Singapore Companies Act (Cap. 50).

There is no precise definition of the phrase "carrying on business" in the Companies Act. It is defined in the Companies Act to include administering, managing or otherwise dealing with property situated in Singapore as an agent, legal personal representative or trustee, whether by servants, agents or otherwise. The Companies Act further provides that a foreign company is not to be regarded as carrying on business in Singapore for reason only that it: