How to Change Your Company Name in Singapore (2026 Guide)
Last Update: March 2026
Singapore registered 77,579 new businesses in 2025 — an 8.5% jump from the year before (ACRA, 2025). With more companies competing for attention, some discover their original name no longer fits their market, their services, or their ambitions. The good news? ACRA lets you change your company name for just S$15, and approval typically takes 1-3 working days.
This guide walks you through the full process: requirements, step-by-step filing on BizFile+, the real costs beyond the S$15 fee, and every stakeholder you’ll need to notify afterward.
Key Takeaways
- ACRA’s filing fee is S$15, with approval in 1-3 working days (ACRA)
- A special resolution requires at least 75% of shareholder votes
- IRAS updates automatically from ACRA filings — but banks, MOM, and contracts need manual updates
- Your company’s legal identity, debts, and obligations stay the same after the name change
What Does It Cost to Change a Company Name?
ACRA’s official filing fee is S$15 (ACRA). That’s one of the cheapest corporate filings in Singapore. But the ACRA fee is just the starting point — the downstream costs are where most business owners get surprised.
Here’s what the full picture looks like:
The S$15 fee handles the legal filing. Everything else depends on your situation. If you don’t have a trademark and you’re a home-based business with no signage, your total cost might stay under S$500. If you’re rebranding a customer-facing company with a physical office, budget for several thousand.
Key Takeaway: Changing a company name in Singapore costs S$15 in ACRA filing fees (ACRA), but total costs including corporate secretary fees, trademark re-filing, and marketing updates typically range from S$2,400 to S$15,000+ depending on the company’s size and branding needs.
What Are the Requirements Before You Can Change Your Name?
Your company must be active on ACRA’s register — you can’t rename a company that’s been struck off or is in the process of winding up. Beyond that, ACRA has specific rules about what names are allowed.
Name Reservation Rules
You must reserve your new name through BizFile+ before filing the change. A reserved name stays valid for 120 days (ACRA). If you don’t complete the name change within that window, the reservation expires and someone else can take it.
ACRA ignores generic words like “Singapore,” “Asia,” “International,” “Group,” “Holdings,” “Pte,” and “Ltd” when checking for name similarity. So if “ABC Holdings Pte Ltd” already exists, you can’t register “ABC Group Pte Ltd” — ACRA treats them as identical.
Restricted and Prohibited Names
Certain words trigger a referral to government authorities, adding 14-60 days to the approval process (ACRA). These include “bank,” “finance,” “insurance,” “school,” “education,” “university,” “media,” and “broker.”
One name is permanently banned: “Temasek.” The Minister has directed ACRA’s Registrar to never accept it for any company name (Companies Act).
If you’re unsure whether your new name will pass, your corporate secretary can run a preliminary search on BizFile+ before you commit.
How to Change Your Company Name: 5 Steps
The entire process can be completed in under a week for straightforward name changes. Here’s each step.
Step 1: Reserve Your New Name on BizFile+
Log into BizFile+ and submit a name application. Standard names get approved within the same day — often within 15 minutes. Names containing restricted words will be referred to the relevant government body, which adds 14-60 days.
Step 2: Pass a Special Resolution
Under the Companies Act, changing your company name requires a special resolution passed by at least 75% of voting shareholders (SingaporeLegalAdvice, 2024). For single-shareholder companies, this is a formality — you sign a written resolution and it’s done.
For companies with multiple shareholders, you can pass the resolution either at a general meeting or via written resolution (if your company constitution allows it). The written route is faster and avoids the 14-day notice period required for meetings.
Step 3: File the Resolution with ACRA
Once the resolution is passed, file it with ACRA through BizFile+ within 14 days (ACRA). Your corporate secretary typically handles this filing. The S$15 fee is payable at this stage.
Step 4: Receive Your New Business Profile
ACRA processes the filing within 1-3 working days. Once approved, you’ll receive an updated Business Profile reflecting your new company name. Straightforward filings can be processed in as little as 15 minutes (ACRA).
Step 5: Update All Records and Stakeholders
This is the step most guides gloss over — and it’s where the real work begins. See the next section for the full checklist.
In our experience handling name changes for Singapore companies, Step 5 takes longer than Steps 1-4 combined. The ACRA filing itself is straightforward, but coordinating bank updates, contract amendments, and marketing materials typically takes 2-4 weeks. Plan for this upfront so it doesn’t disrupt your operations.
Key Takeaway: Changing a company name in Singapore follows a 5-step process: reserve the name on BizFile+, pass a special resolution with 75% shareholder approval, file with ACRA within 14 days for a S$15 fee, receive the notice of incorporation under your new name within 1-3 working days, and update all external records (ACRA).
Who Do You Need to Notify After the Name Change?
Some agencies update automatically. Others need you to reach out. Here’s the breakdown.
Automatic updates (no action needed):
- IRAS — syncs from ACRA filings weekly (IRAS). No separate notification required for corporate tax, GST, or other IRAS-administered taxes.
- ACRA records — your BizProfile updates immediately upon approval.
Manual updates required:
- Banks — visit your branch with the new Business Profile. Each bank has its own processing timeline (typically 1-2 weeks).
- CPF Board — update your employer records if you have employees.
- MOM — if you employ foreign workers on work passes, notify MOM to update the pass records.
- Suppliers and vendors — update contracts and payment details. Some contracts may have name-specific clauses that need formal amendment.
- Clients — send a professional notification. Existing contracts remain valid since your UEN and legal identity don’t change.
- Insurance providers — update all policy documents.
- Domain registrar and website — update your domain WHOIS records, website footer, about page, and legal pages.
- Social media accounts — update handles and page names across all platforms.
Based on our experience with Singapore SME clients, the bank update is consistently the most time-consuming item on this list. Some banks require board resolutions on top of the notice of incorporation under your new name. Start the bank notification process on the same day you receive your notice of incorporation under the new name.
For the full picture on post-change accounting compliance, make sure your bookkeeper updates all invoice templates, letterheads, and accounting software profiles to reflect the new name immediately.
Does Changing Your Name Affect Your Trademark?
No. Changing your ACRA-registered company name does not update or protect your trademark. These are two completely separate registrations managed by different agencies.
If you had a trademark under your old name, you’ll need to file a new trademark application with IPOS (Intellectual Property Office of Singapore) for the new name. Filing fees start at S$240 per class of goods or services.
Don’t assume that because ACRA approved your new name, it’s protected from being used by others. ACRA registration gives you the right to use the name as a company name. Only trademark registration with IPOS gives you exclusive brand protection. We’ve covered this distinction in detail in our guide on trademark vs company registration.
We see companies skip trademark registration after a name change because they’ve already “registered” the name with ACRA. This is a costly mistake. ACRA and IPOS serve different legal purposes, and a competitor can still trademark your company name if you don’t file with IPOS first.
Key Takeaway: Changing a company name with ACRA does not update or protect the trademark. A separate application with IPOS is required, starting at S$240 per class. ACRA registration grants the right to use a company name, while only IPOS trademark registration provides exclusive brand protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to change a company name in Singapore?
The ACRA filing itself takes 1-3 working days for standard names. However, names containing restricted words like “bank” or “finance” require government referral, adding 14-60 days (ACRA). Including the shareholder resolution and post-change updates, most companies complete the entire process within 2-4 weeks.
Can ACRA reject my new company name?
Yes. ACRA rejects names that are identical or too similar to existing registered names, contain restricted words without approval, or are considered obscene or offensive. The word “Temasek” is permanently prohibited. ACRA also disregards generic words like “Singapore,” “International,” and “Holdings” when comparing similarity.
Do I need to update my contracts after a name change?
Legally, your existing contracts remain valid because your company’s UEN (Unique Entity Number) and legal identity don’t change. However, it’s good practice to notify counterparties and issue supplementary letters confirming the name change. Some contracts with name-specific clauses may require formal amendment.
Can a foreign-owned company change its name?
Yes. The process is identical regardless of ownership structure. Foreign-owned Singapore companies follow the same BizFile+ filing, special resolution, and S$15 fee. Ensure your nominee director or local representative coordinates the shareholder resolution if directors are based overseas.
Does a name change affect my company’s tax obligations?
No. IRAS automatically updates its records from ACRA filings on a weekly basis (IRAS). Your tax obligations, filing deadlines, and YA assessments remain unchanged. If your name change happens close to your financial year-end, make sure your annual return filings reflect the current legal name.
Getting Your Name Change Done Right
Changing your company name in Singapore is one of the simplest corporate filings available — S$15, a few clicks on BizFile+, and 1-3 days of processing. The real work is in what comes after: updating banks, contracts, marketing materials, and ensuring your trademark protection is in place.
If you’d rather hand the entire process to someone who handles it regularly, Excellence Singapore manages company name changes end-to-end — from ACRA filing and shareholder resolutions to bank notifications and trademark coordination.
For companies still in the setup phase, see our complete guide on how to register a company in Singapore.
