Singapore rules
- Entity: private limited company (Pte Ltd), registered with ACRA.
- Directors: at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore (a citizen, permanent resident or qualifying pass holder).
- Company secretary: must be appointed within six months; locally resident, and not the sole director.
- Capital: minimum S$1.
- ACRA fees: S$15 for the name application and S$300 for registration.
Tax
- Corporate tax rate: 17%.
- Start-up tax exemption for the first three years of assessment: 75% of the first S$100,000 and 50% of the next S$100,000 of chargeable income — for companies with up to 20 shareholders and at least one individual holding 10% or more.
- Partial exemption afterwards: 75% of the first S$10,000 and 50% of the next S$190,000.
- For year of assessment 2026, a 50% corporate tax rebate (with a cash grant), capped at S$40,000.
- India–Singapore treaty: capital gains on Indian shares acquired from April 2017 are taxable in India — see our Singapore page.
Recent changes
Since 9 June 2025, nominee directors provided as a business must be arranged through a registered corporate service provider, and nominee directors and shareholders are recorded on ACRA’s registers. If you plan to use a nominee resident director, budget for this.
The India side
| Resident individual (founder) | Indian company | |
|---|---|---|
| Route | ODI within the Liberalised Remittance Scheme | ODI under the automatic route |
| Limit | USD 250,000 per financial year (all LRS remittances together) | Up to 400% of net worth; RBI approval above USD 1 billion in a year |
| What you can invest in | Only an operating foreign company, not in financial services, and — if you control it — one with no subsidiaries of its own | Operating companies and, with conditions, holding structures |
| Reporting | Form FC through your bank; Annual Performance Report by 31 December | Form FC; Annual Performance Report by 31 December |
| Tax side | 20% TCS on remittances above ₹10 lakh a year (creditable); disclose in Schedule FA | Transfer pricing on dealings with the subsidiary |
If the company will be run day-to-day from India, read about place of effective management first. Considering moving a Singapore holdco back to India later? See reverse flips.
Frequently asked questions
Can an Indian register a company in Singapore?
Yes. An Indian resident can own a Singapore Pte Ltd, invested through the overseas direct investment route, but the company needs at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore and a locally resident company secretary within six months.
How much does it cost to register a Singapore company?
ACRA charges S$15 for the name application and S$300 for registration; professional, resident director and secretarial fees are extra.
What is the corporate tax rate in Singapore?
17%, with a start-up exemption on the first S$200,000 of chargeable income for the first three years of assessment for qualifying companies, and a partial exemption afterwards.
Please note: this guide is general information based on the rules as they stood on the review date above. Regulations and RBI/CBDT procedures change often — please get advice on your specific facts before acting.