Usually the newly incorporated Singapore company acts as the employer and applies for the director's own Employment Pass. If the founder has raised investment or has a track record as an entrepreneur, EntrePass can also be considered.

To work in Singapore, even a managing director or director needs an Employment Pass. The Employment Pass is applied for online by the employer or an appointed employment agent, and approval depends on MOM's review.

• If a Korean head office is setting up a subsidiary: when a head office employee is seconded, the Singapore subsidiary applies for the Employment Pass, and intra-corporate transferees may be exempt from the COMPASS assessment.
• If you are an individual founder: after incorporation, the company applies for the director's own Employment Pass, and the review considers salary as well as education, work experience and the business.
• If your spouse holds an Employment Pass and you hold a DP: you can consider running the business with a separate permission (LOC).

Lee Kim Alliance provides an Employment Pass application service.

As of November 2026, source: MOM

The usual order is submitting company information and documents, paying the fees, signing the incorporation documents electronically and registering with ACRA. Once signing is complete, registration is completed within 1-2 business days.

1. Confirm the company name, business activities, directors and shareholders, and share capital, and submit documents
2. Pay the incorporation fees
3. Sign the incorporation resolutions and other documents electronically
4. Register with ACRA and receive the company registration number (UEN)
5. After incorporation, open a bank account, apply for an Employment Pass and start company secretary services

If the company name or business activity is subject to review by another authority, registration may be delayed.

You can find step-by-step guidance on the Lee Kim Alliance How it works page and apply through the online application form (for-profit company).

As of November 2026, source: ACRA

Yes. You can set up a Singapore company even if you live in Korea. However, at least one of the directors must be locally resident in Singapore, so you first need to decide how you will have a local resident director.

A local resident is a person who meets ACRA's residency requirement, such as a Singapore citizen, permanent resident or Employment Pass holder. There is no residency requirement for shareholders.

• If the founder plans to move to Singapore: If you obtain an Employment Pass after incorporation, you can become the local resident director. Whether a visa is issued depends on the outcome of the assessment.
• If you have an acquaintance or employee in Singapore who is a citizen or permanent resident: That person can be appointed as the local resident director.
• If neither is possible: You can use a nominee director service and replace the nominee director later.

Lee Kim Alliance provides a nominee director service.

As of November 2026, source: ACRA

Usually, once the required documents are ready and signed, registration of a Singapore company is completed within 1-2 business days. It may take longer if the company name or business activity requires review by another agency.

ACRA approves most registrations right after payment, and if review by another government agency is required, it may take up to 15 business days.

• Individual founders: Only passport and proof of address are needed, so document preparation tends to be quick.
• If a Korean parent company is setting up a subsidiary: More time is needed to prepare documents, such as notarising the appointment letter for the representative.
• Industries such as finance, education and real estate: Registration may be delayed by review from the relevant authorities.

You can check each step on the Lee Kim Alliance How it workspage.

As of November 2026, source: ACRA

Yes. If all directors live overseas, you can meet the local director requirement by appointing a nominee director through a corporate service provider (CSP) registered with ACRA.

From 9 June 2025, a person who acts as a nominee director by way of business can only be appointed after a registered CSP has confirmed that they are fit and proper. The company must file with ACRA the fact that the director is a nominee director and the details of the nominator, and a nominee director has the same legal duties as the other directors.

For this reason, customer due diligence procedures such as identifying the beneficial owners, and signing the nominee agreement, are required before the service begins.

As an ACRA registered Filing Agent (FA20122902), Lee Kim Alliance provides a nominee director service.

As of November 2026, source: ACRA

The basic documents are usually the company documents (BizFile, constitution), passport copies of directors, shareholders and authorised signatories, English proof of address dated within the last 3 months, and an English business profile.

All documents must be in English, and documents not in English must be translated and notarised. The bank may ask for additional documents such as business contracts and information on major customers or suppliers.

• If a Korean head office is setting up a subsidiary: the Korean company's business registration certificate and shareholder register (translated and notarised) are also required, and the bank usually asks for the identification of individual shareholders holding 25% or more.
• If you are an individual founder: the application proceeds with the passports and proof of address of the directors and shareholders themselves.

Lee Kim Alliance provides a corporate bank account opening support service.

S$1. A Singapore private limited company (Pte. Ltd.) can be set up with paid-up capital of S$1 and one share, and the capital can be denominated in currencies other than Singapore dollars, such as US dollars.

However, it is advisable to set the actual capital taking into account the size of the business, initial operating funds, corporate bank account opening and any plans to apply for an Employment Pass. Banks and MOM also look at the substance of the company's business, and the outcome depends on their assessment.

Capital can also be increased after incorporation by issuing new shares.

Lee Kim Alliance reviews a capital structure that suits your business plan as part of its company incorporation service.

As of November 2026

Yes. Singapore does not restrict the nationality or residence of shareholders, so an individual living in Korea or a Korean parent company can hold 100% of a Singapore company.

However, separately from the shareholders, at least one of the directors must be locally resident in Singapore.

• Regulated industries such as finance: Regardless of the shareholding structure, you should first check the licensing requirements of the relevant authorities.

Lee Kim Alliance provides a nominee director service.

As of November 2026, source: ACRA

With at least one director (at least one of whom is locally resident), one shareholder, capital of S$1, a Singapore registered address and a company secretary, even foreigners can set up a Singapore private limited company (Pte. Ltd.).

• Directors: At least one, and at least one of them must meet the local residency requirement, for example as a Singapore citizen, permanent resident or Employment Pass holder.
• Shareholders: 1 to 50, and both individuals and corporate entities are allowed. There are no nationality or residency restrictions, so 100% foreign ownership is also possible.
• Capital: A minimum of S$1, with at least one share issued.
• Registered address: An address in Singapore is required.
• Company secretary: A locally resident individual must be appointed within 6 months of the date of incorporation.

You can check the items to prepare in the incorporation checklist, and Lee Kim Alliance provides a company incorporation service.

As of November 2026, source: ACRA

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