Is a local director required to set up a company in Singapore?

Yes. Every company set up in Singapore must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore (local resident director). The other directors may live overseas, for example in Korea.

The local resident director can be a Singapore citizen, permanent resident or work pass holder who meets the local residency requirement. The local resident director has the same legal duties as the other directors.

• If a Korean parent company is setting up a subsidiary: The employee or executive to be seconded can obtain an Employment Pass under the subsidiary and become the local resident director, or the company can use a nominee director service until the visa is issued.
• Individual founders (living overseas): The usual approach is to set up the company with a nominee director service and then, if needed, replace the nominee director after the founder obtains an Employment Pass.
• Singapore residents (PR and work pass holders): First check the type and conditions of your pass to see whether you can be the local resident director yourself.

Lee Kim Alliance provides a nominee director service.

As of November 2026, source: ACRA