Question 1

Does the Singapore government have any nationality or status restrictions on foreigners registering companies locally?

Accepted Answer

Singapore law requires that a non-resident person setting up a company in Singapore needs a Singaporean resident to act as a director to bind the company so that it can operate legally and legally in Singapore. Therefore, if you do not have a candidate to act as a director of your Singapore company, you can use the services of Upper House to match you with a Singapore Nominee Director.

Question 2

Does a client need to provide a reason for requesting a nominee shareholder?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When a client requests a nominee shareholder, they must specify the reason/justification. This rationale is required for compliance/KYC purposes before the nominee shareholder service can proceed.

Question 3

What is the scope of the nominee director service — what does the nominee director actually do?

Accepted Answer

The nominee director service is strictly limited to facilitating company registration and bank account opening. The nominee has no actual operating or decision-making authority and serves only a formal compliance purpose. Any other cooperation or action by the nominee is charged separately and cannot be guaranteed within the standard contract; a director-change fee should generally be collected in advance.

Question 4

Is it better to have one or two directors when planning to open a company bank account?

Accepted Answer

Two directors is generally preferable for later bank account opening, because banks usually require two director signatures. With only one director, a provider/nominee director must assist and pass the bank's risk control, which is more complicated. If the client insists on a single individual director, an additional witness (with passport and ID provided) is typically also required to co-sign.

Question 5

Under Singapore's ACRA reforms, does a company officer need a separate contact address, and must nominee directors and shareholders be registered?

Accepted Answer

Under Singapore's Corporate Registers (Miscellaneous Amendments) / ACRA reform measures effective 2024, ACRA introduced a 'contact address' so that an officer's residential address is no longer disclosed to the public via the register; the contact address is shown publicly instead. Officers who do not want their residential address disclosed must provide a separate contact address. In addition, any nominee/nominal directors and nominee/shadow shareholders must be registered with ACRA, which incurs fees. As the registry system is updated, registering the controller and nominee director may also require phone and email details.

Question 6

What due-diligence documents are required for a Singapore incorporation that uses a nominee (proxy) shareholding arrangement?

Accepted Answer

Where a Singapore incorporation involves nominee/proxy shareholding, an Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) package must be verified before proceeding, typically including: a completed EDD form; the client's business background and source-of-funds explanation with related-company information, tax-clearance proof and bank statements; the fully signed nominee/proxy-holding agreement; the commercial rationale for using the nominee service; identification of the ultimate controller and UBO (with ID, address proof and CV); an explanation of bank-account control; a description of the business model; and a list of main customers and suppliers (with countries).

Question 7

Does TKEG provide nominee directors for a Singapore company with real operations, and what fees apply if a publishing/media business name or scope is rejected by ACRA?

Accepted Answer

Nominee (named) directors are not provided for a Singapore company that has genuine operating activity. Publishing and media-related business scopes or company names are more likely to be scrutinised by the registry (ACRA), which may raise follow-up queries. If a proposed name is rejected, a name re-submission fee applies; and if registration cannot proceed because the client is unable to cooperate with the registry's queries, a document withdrawal/cancellation fee applies.

Question 8

How is a nominee (shadow) director registered for a Singapore company, and what is required?

Accepted Answer

A nominee (shadow) director for a Singapore company must be attached to a licensed Corporate Service Provider (CSP), which conducts a Fit and Proper assessment of the nominee. This incurs additional charges, typically a nominee-director registration fee plus an annual risk-control fee. A 'Fit and Proper Assessment Form - Nominee Director' must be completed, with the relevant section filled in and signed personally by the nominee director, and the client must disclose any related/affiliated/sister companies or past employers.

Singapore nominated director

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