1.        Purpose/Restrictions/Applications

Q1.1       What is the purpose of an RO?

A1.1       An RO is a temporary facility provided to foreign companies to study the business environment in Singapore. It must comply with activities on market research and feasibility studies. For details on the allowable scope, please refer to the Terms and Conditions of RO at https://roms.enterprisesg.gov.sg/tnc.aspx. If you require more information or clarification, please email to roms@enterprisesg.gov.sg.

Q1.2       What are the application modes available?

A1.2       All new and renewal applications are to be submitted online to Enterprise Singapore's website at https://roms.enterprisesg.gov.sg. For online renewal application, all basic information submitted in your last application will be populated for any updating. The processing fee is S$200 (nett) per year for each application and payment can be made online via either Visa or Master card, Corporate Paynow or Electronic Bank Transfer.

Please note that the processing fee is non-refundable even if the application is unsuccessful or withdrawn.

Q1.3       Can an RO of foreign commercial entity remain as RO indefinitely even when the RO is strictly a cost/service/support centre or conducting activities within the RO scope?

A1.3        No. An approved RO of a foreign commercial entity may operate in Singapore for a validity period of one year only from its commencement date. An extension of RO will only be granted on a case-by-case basis, and is subjected to approval for up to a maximum of three years.

Parent companies which intend to remain as cost/service/support centres (after being ROs here) are required to register their business/operations with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) at http://www.acra.gov.sg even if they do not intend to carry out commercial transactions.

Q1.4       My company was registered with Enterprise Singapore as a Representative Office (RO) in the past. Can I apply to re-register as RO?

A1.4         No. If you wish to have a presence in Singapore, you are required to incorporate an entity with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) of Singapore. For more information, please visit their website http://www.acra.gov.sg.

2.        Industry Sectors under Enterprise Singapore

Q2.1       Which are the sectors under the purview of Enterprise Singapore?

A2.1       Enterprise Singapore registers Representative Offices (ROs) from the manufacturing, international trading, wholesale, trade and trade-related business sectors. Other sectors such as banking, finance, insurance, legal, etc. come under the charge of other statutory authorities in Singapore. The ROs registered by Enterprise Singapore must comply with all the Terms and Conditions governing it.

Q2.2        If the foreign company's business is outside the purview of Enterprise Singapore, who should they turn to if they wish to register a representative office in Singapore?

A2.2       For the banking, finance, financial exchanges and insurance sectors, they may approach the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). For more details, please visit MAS' website at http://www.mas.gov.sg

For foreign law practice applying for a representative office, they may approach the Ministry of Law (MinLaw). For more details, please visit MinLaw's website at https://www.mlaw.gov.sg.

All other foreign entities may register/incorporate a branch office/company with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). For more details, please visit ACRA’s website at http://www.acra.gov.sg

Q2.3       Do Foreign Government Trade Promotion Agencies, which are interested in setting up Representative Offices, have to register with Enterprise Singapore?

A2.3        Yes. Enterprise Singapore is the authority to approve the establishment of a Foreign Government Trade Promotion Representative Office. Application should be submitted to Enterprise Singapore at https://roms.enterprisesg.gov.sg. 

You are required to attach (i) an official letter outlining (a) the functions/activities of your parent organization, (b) your proposed RO activities, and (c) your proposed RO Chief Representative name and staff strength; and (ii) the latest Audited Accounts of the parent organization, if available. Enterprise Singapore reserves the rights to request for additional information and/or supporting documents, when necessary.

3.        Registration Fee and Payment Mode

Q3.1       What is the registration fee of an RO?

A3.1       A processing fee of S$200 (net) is payable for each online application or renewal which is valid for one (1) year. The processing fee is non-refundable even if the application or renewal is unsuccessful or withdrawn.

Q3.2        What are the payment modes available?

A3.2        You may choose to pay by any of the following 3 mode of online payment.

-   Credit Card (either Master or Visa Card) when submitting online application.

-   Corporate Paynow

-   Electronic Bank Transfer

Please note that CHEQUE and  CASH payments are not accepted.

Q3.3       Can I use my personal cheque to make payment?

A3.3       No, only online payment is accepted.

Q3.4       Will there be any receipts issued?

A3.4       Receipts will be issued only upon request and mailed to you within three (3) working days.  

Q3.5       How long will it take to approve my application?

A3.5        Processing will commence only upon the submission of a completed form, and supplemented with any additionally requested supporting documents and information. Our typical processing time is about five (5) working days.

4.        Supporting Documents (Certificate of Incorporation/Audited Accounts)

Existing Companies

Q4.1       Do I need to obtain certification or notarization by a competent person (lawyers) on all supporting documents, including the Certificate of Incorporation? 

A4.1        This is unnecessary as we do accept photocopies of supporting documents.

Q4.2       Do I need to provide all supporting documents in English, if they are in other languages?

A4.2       Official English translation of the parent company's Certificate of Incorporation (applicable to new applications only) is required. English translation of Annual Reports/Audited Accounts is required only upon Enterprise Singapore's request.

Q4.3       Are Audited Accounts required for renewal application?

A4.3       No. Audited Accounts are not required for renewals but Enterprise Singapore has the prerogative to request for your parent organization's latest Audited Accounts, if necessary.

Q4.4       Why does Enterprise Singapore still require the latest Audited Accounts when the turnover and net profit/loss figures are also sought?

A4.4       The latest Audited Accounts are required to allow Enterprise Singapore to process the new application and for verification purposes.

Newly incorporated subsidiary companies

Q4.5       My company is newly incorporated and unable to provide the latest Audited Accounts. Can we still apply?

A4.5       You may submit your application together with the Ultimate holding/parent company's/major share holders' latest Audited Accounts for consideration.

All new application of foreign commercial entity must fulfil the following criteria:

-   Sales Turnover of the foreign entity must be > US$250,000

-   No. of years of establishment of the foreign entity must be >= 3 years

-   Proposed No. of staff for RO should be < 5 people

5.        Name and Address/Leasing premises of RO

Q5.1       What would happen if the name of the RO/parent company is the same as that of a local company?

A5.1        Enterprise Singapore will seek the advice of the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) before accepting the name for registration.

Q5.2       Can the RO apply for a name, which is different from its parent company?

A5.2       No. The name of the RO must be the same as the parent company.

Q5.3       What do I have to do if my parent company's name has been changed?

A5.3       You have to notify Enterprise Singapore through online portal at https://roms.enterprisesg.gov.sg (select 'Profile Amendments') within one month after the change. The notification of name change must be accompanied by a copy of the parent company's Certificate of Change in name (in English or official English translation).

Q5.4       Is an RO allowed to sign a lease for its local office premises?
A5.4        Yes, as long as leased space is meant only for the RO's use.

Q5.5       Can an RO register its local address at a residential/private (non-approved office) apartment and use it as its office premises?

A5.5       You will have to seek Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) approval for changing of the use of private residential property.

The Housing & Development Board (HDB) does not allow ROs to use HDB residential address as its business address since the business would not belong to the Home Office applicant.

Q5.6       What happens if an RO leases part of its premises to another establishment? What kind of action(s) will Enterprise Singapore take against it?

A5.6       The RO should not lease its office to other establishment(s) for a fee. This breaches Enterprise Singapore's Terms and Conditions. A RO failing to comply with the stipulated Terms and Conditions may be de-registered.

6.        Currencies to be used in completing the Form

Q6.1       Must the RO provide the figures for Authorised Capital, Paid-up Capital, Sales Turnover and Business Spending in Singapore according to the currencies stated in the application form?

A6.1       Yes.

Q6.2       Why are some figures such as Authorised Capital, Paid-up Capital and Sales Turnover required to be stated in US currency and others like Business Spending in Singapore currency?

A6.2       Enterprise Singapore requires the currency in US Dollars where the money earned/turnover is at the parent company's country. This is to facilitate the applicant to simply state the currency with which the transaction was carried out. Enterprise Singapore requires the currency in Singapore Dollars where the money spent by the RO is in Singapore.

Q6.3       Can a foreign company use its country's currency when declaring turnover and net profit figures?

A6.3       No. The foreign currency must be converted into US currency at the rate standing at the time of completing the form.

7.        Staffing strength/Representatives

Q7.1       Can a distributor/agent, a service provider, a secretary or a friend/3rd party of the foreign company/organization represent the RO as the appointed representative/staff?

A7.1       No, the appointed representative must be either a staff from the HQ of the parent company/organization or a Singapore employee of the parent company/organization. The appointed representative's main function is to represent the parent company/organization.

Q7.2       How do foreign expatriates obtain Employment Passes (EPs)?

A7.2       Employment Pass application forms can be obtained from the Ministry of Manpower. For more details, please visit MOM's website at: http://www.mom.gov.sg.

8.        Upgrading/Closure/De-Registration of an RO and Rejection of Applications

Q8.1       Will Enterprise Singapore de-register the RO if its parent company is dormant?

A8.1       Yes. Enterprise Singapore will de-register the RO.

Q8.2       Will Enterprise Singapore give reasons for rejecting an application to register an RO?

A8.2       Enterprise Singapore reserves the right not to provide any reason for rejecting an RO application.

Q8.3       How to I close/de-register my RO?

A8.3       The Chief Representative or the parent company can submit a ‘Change Status’ request online at http://roms.enterprisesg.gov.sg.

9.        Opening Bank Account & Phone/Fax Lines

Q9.1       Why is my RO registration number/approval letter required by the bank to open a bank account?

A9.1       This is a requirement set by the bank for opening a bank account. Please check with the banks for more details.

Q9.2       How do I apply for phone/fax lines for my RO?

A9.2       You can apply for business phone and fax lines at the following address together with a copy of Enterprise Singapore's RO approval letter:

Singapore Telecommunications Limited 31 Exeter Road Singapore 239732 Main line: 6838 3388 Mon-Sat: 10.00am – 9.00pm Sun & Public Holidays: 11.00 am – 8.00 pm

10.        Login ID, Password and Official Registered Email for Online Access

Q10.1   If I have forgotten either my Login ID or Password, how/where can I check/obtain them?

A10.1       Login ID: It is always indicated in our renewal email reminder email notification. If you have misplaced it, please email your request to roms@enterprisesg.gov.sg. Password: If you have forgotten your Password, you can logon to Enterprise Singapore's website at https://roms.enterprisesg.gov.sg to request for a new password using the "Forgot Password" function. You can also request for "Change Password". Online password request will be processed within 1 working day. Please note that your login email address must be identical to the email address you have used to register for your Login ID.

Your email requests will be processed within 3 working days.

11.        Renewal Notification

Q11.1       Will there be any notification to remind me to renew my RO?

A11.1       The 1st renewal notification will be sent to the Account Registration Owner by email, at the earliest, two (2) months before the expiry of your RO.

A final email reminder will be sent to the Account Registration Owner and the RO’s HQ authorized personnel on the expiry date of your RO.

If there is no response from the RO or its HQ within seven (7) days from the date of the final email reminder, Enterprise Singapore will proceed to de-register the RO. Please note that it is the responsibility of the company to renew your RO at least seven (7) days before the expiry date of the current approval.

12.        Unique Entity Number (UEN)

Q12.1       What is UEN and will there be a UEN issued to my RO?

A12.1       The Unique Entity Number (UEN) is the standard identification number of an entity. An RO will have a UEN as its identification number. All entities in Singapore, including Representative Offices (ROs) registered with Enterprise Singapore, will be issued with a UEN. For more information on UEN, please visit http://www.uen.gov.sg.

If you require additional information or clarification, please email to go.gov.sg/askenterprisesg.