A foreign company that intends to register an office in Singapore can choose among:
1) Subsidiary Company
2) Representative Office or
3) Branch Office Office
| Types | Subsidiary Company | Representative Office | Foreign Company Branch Office |
| Entity Name | Need not be the same as parent company | Must be the same as parent company | Must be the same as the parent company |
| Allowed Activities | Can conduct all business activities | Can only conduct market research or coordinating activities | Must be the same as the parent company |
| Suitable For | For local or Foreign Companies who wish to expand their operations in Singapore | For Foreign Companies who wish to set up temporary vehicle in Singapore to conduct research and act as liaison office | For Foreign Companies who wish to expand their operations in Singapore |
| Disadvantages | Continuing Compliance Obligations eg Financial Reports, Audit, AGMS, etc | It is a temporary vehicle and cannot generate revenue | Continuing Compliance Obligations eg Financial Reports, Audit etc |
| Ownership | Can be 100% foreign or locally owned | No Ownership | No ownership |
| Separate Legal Entity | Yes | No | No |
| Cap on Number of Members | Yes, max 50 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| Minimum Setting up Requirement | One shareholder , which can be foreign or local individual or corporate shareholder AND must have at least one resident director | Must appoint a Chief Representative who will relocate from headquarters | Must have two Singapore Resident Agents |
| Limited Liability | Yes | No | No |
| Need for Audited Accounts | Yes | No | Yes |
| Filing of Accounts with ACRA and IRAS | Yes | No | Yes |
| Annual Filing | Must file audit report of the Singapore subsidiary | Not Applicable | Must file branch office’s as well as parent company’s audit reports |
| Tax Treatment | Taxed as Singapore resident entity, local tax benefits available | Not Applicable | Taxed as non-resident entity, local tax benefits not available |
| Cessation of Business upon Death of a Member/Partner | No. Equity shares go on in perpetuity | Not Applicable | No |
| Validity Period | Perpetually until deregistered | This is a tempoarary Setup. It is intended not to last more than 3 years | Perpetually until deregistered |
| Normal Registration Time | 3 hours | 3-5 days | 3 hours |
| Appointment of Officers | Must appoint at least one local resident director | Must appoint a Chief Representative who will relocate from headquarters | Must appoint two resident agents |
| Governing Body | ACRA & IRAS | International Enterprise Singapore | ACRA & IRAS |
| Learn More | | Learn More | Our Fees | Learn More | Our Fees |
About Rikvin
Rikvin is an ACRA registered service provider for BizFile. Rikvin is Singapore’s leading company and business registration specialist that provides company formation services and emigration assistance (i.e application of work visas – Employment Pass, Entrepreneur Pass and Permanent Residence).
Our services are custom designed for non-Singapore Residents. We offer expertise drawn from years of experience in incorporation and work pass application. To find out more on how we can help you start up your Singapore company, please contact us.