Why Nominee Directors Are Required in Singapore

Singapore is one of the most attractive places in Asia for foreign investors to set up a company. However, under the Companies Act, every Singapore company must have at least one resident director — a citizen, permanent resident, or EntrePass holder residing in Singapore.

If you’re a foreigner without a local presence or residential status, you’ll need a nominee director to fulfil this statutory requirement and legally incorporate your business.

Who Can Act as a Nominee Director?

A nominee director must be:

  • A Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident

  • A valid Employment Pass or EntrePass holder residing in Singapore

  • A person above 18 years old, not disqualified or bankrupt

It is important that the nominee is trustworthy and understands their legal responsibilities — even if they do not participate in business operations.

What Does a Nominee Director Do?

A nominee director acts as the company’s resident director for compliance purposes but does not interfere with business decisions or operations. Their responsibilities include:

  • Meeting statutory requirements to register the company

  • Ensuring the company complies with local laws

  • Signing statutory filings, if authorised

  • Resigning when a full-time local director is appointed (if applicable)

Nominee directors must still act in the best interest of the company and can be held liable for any legal violations. That’s why professional nominee services include safeguards for all parties involved.

Why Foreigners Use Nominee Director Services

  1. Fast Company Incorporation
    Allows foreigners to set up a company even without local residency or employment pass.

  2. ACRA Compliance
    Fulfils the legal requirement of having at least one local director.

  3. Operational Flexibility
    Allows business to start operating while the foreign director applies for an EntrePass or Employment Pass.

  4. Investor or Holding Company Setup
    Ideal for holding structures or companies with no staff on the ground yet.

Risks of Unregulated Nominee Arrangements

  • Personal liability if nominee directors act improperly

  • Exposure to blacklisted or non-compliant individuals

  • No written agreement outlining scope and limitations

  • Difficulty replacing or communicating with the nominee

To avoid these risks, it’s critical to engage nominee director services from a licensed, reputable provider — with proper legal documentation and safeguards in place.

How Excellence Singapore Provides Nominee Director Services

Our nominee director services include:

  • Appointment of a qualified, experienced resident nominee

  • Legal nominee agreement to define non-involvement in operations

  • Ongoing statutory compliance support

  • Coordination with your team or foreign directors

  • Flexibility to transfer directorship once local director is appointed

  • Strict confidentiality and professional indemnity

We ensure full compliance with ACRA while protecting your business interests.

Complementary Services for Foreign-Owned Companies

We also assist with:

  • Company incorporation

  • Corporate bank account opening

  • Employment Pass or EntrePass applications

  • Virtual office and registered address

  • Corporate secretarial services

  • Annual filing and tax compliance

Our integrated services allow foreign clients to launch and run their Singapore business smoothly from anywhere in the world.

Conclusion: Set Up Legally and Securely in Singapore

Having a resident director is mandatory — but it doesn’t need to be complicated. With our nominee director services, you can incorporate and operate in Singapore quickly, compliantly, and confidently.

Contact us to appoint a nominee director for your company or learn more about our full foreign company setup solutions.