Nominee Director in Singapore
A foreigner can’t run a business in Singapore if his company has no resident directors. Hiring a local nominee solves the problem. Once you've hired one, you can become a director yourself or appoint another executive from abroad.
We provide Nominee director services for both brand-new companies and existing ones.
Are there risks?
Hiring a nominee is legal according to Part IXA of Singapore’s Companies Act. So you won’t break any laws.
A nominee director is banned from interfering with your decisions. He doesn’t come to the office, isn’t present at negotiations and has no say during internal meetings. The real directors run the company while the nominee is only there to comply with the law.
No deposit needed
Taking a deposit when hiring a Nominee Director has been the industry standard in Singapore. We decided to get rid of it. With East river, you only pay for the service itself.
Why we offer Nominee Services in packages
The Nominee’s powers are limited but his liability isn’t – he can be prosecuted for his company’s breaches of the law. This is why our Nominee Director comes in packages with the Company Secretary. The Secretary ensures your company’s compliance by taking care of the required resolutions. It means we don't need any additional insurances such as deposits and can keep the costs lower for you.
The package approach also saves you time. You don’t have to harmonize services you ordered from different agencies. And you can ask all the questions and receive timely feedback in one single app.
If you want to start a company
We register your company remotely, help to open a bank account and provide counselling.
Bonanza Package
Company Incorporation + Nominee Director + Unlimited Corporate Secretary + Registered Address
Not included: Mandatory Compliance Package
Accounting & Taxation starting from $800/year: Compare price plans here
S$2,550 You save S$440
Company registration
We will need your company name and shareholder details. We prepare an application and submit it to ACRA, the registration body. The whole process can be as fast as 1–3 hours. S$315 government fee is included in the price.
Nominee Director for 1 year
No deposit required. We bill annually – but we refund the unused months. You’ll burn no money.
Unlimited Corporate Secretary for 1 year
Corporate Secretary tracks changes in your company’s structure and top management, compiles papers and reports to the government about your business. Every Singapore business must have one.
Forget about being charged per document. Our Unlimited service covers all standard resolutions you will need.
Registered Address for 1 year
A company must have a real office mailbox that is regularly checked. Official documents are sent there. We notify you about the correspondence, scan it and send it to you. The real letters are forwarded if necessary.
Monthly Accounting & Taxation for 1 year
Healthy and transparent books are a vital part of every company’s compliance especially when it comes to providing our Nominee Director services to you. This is why we require you to take our monthly Accounting service on top of this package. All our plans include Accounting, Taxation and all related filings, just choose a package based on your company’s revenue.
If you want to start a company and relocate with an Employment Pass
An Employment Pass is a visa that lets you live and work in Singapore. As an EP holder, you will be able to become the sole director of your company. Thus, you will only need a nominee while waiting for your visa.
Islander Package
Company Incorporation + Employment Pass + Nominee Director + Unlimited Corporate Secretary + Registered Address
Not included: Mandatory Compliance Package
Accounting & Taxation starting from $800/year: Compare price plans here
S$2,650 You save S$390
Company registration
We will need your company name and shareholder details. We prepare an application and submit it to ACRA, the registration body. The whole process can be as fast as 1–3 hours. S$315 government fee is included in the price.
Employment Pass
We will file your CV with relevant professional experience, education data and the company profile to get the visa.
Nominee Director for 6 months
You are highly likely to receive an EPs within 6 months. After that, you can become the sole director and save on the nominee services.
Unlimited Corporate Secretary for 1 year
Corporate Secretary tracks changes in your company’s structure and top management, compiles papers and reports to the government. Every Singapore business must have one.
Forget about being charged per document. Our Unlimited service covers all standard resolutions you will need.
Registered Address for 1 year
A company must have a real office mailbox that is regularly checked. Official documents are sent there. We notify you about the correspondence, scant it and send it to you. We also forward the real letters if necessary.
Monthly Accounting & Taxation for 1 year
Healthy and transparent books are a vital part of every company’s compliance especially when it comes to providing our Nominee Director services to you. All our Monthly Accounting & Taxation plans include Bookkeeping, Compilation of Unaudited Annual Statements, Review by your dedicated Accountant, Tax Filing of Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) and Tax Form C-S. Just choose the right package for you based on your company’s revenue.
If you already have a company
We have a package that suits both new clients and those who spent a year with East river and want to continue working with us. This package provides a team of two: a Nominee and a Secretary. A registered address is included in the price.
Beyond Bonanza
Nominee Director + Unlimited Corporate Secretary + Registered Address
Not included: Mandatory Compliance Package
Accounting & Taxation starting from $800/year: Compare price plans here
S$2,550
Nominee Director Service for 1 year
Billed annually – but we refund the unused months. You’ll burn no money.
Mandatory Accounting
Healthy and transparent books are a vital part of every company’s compliance especially when it comes to providing our Nominee Director services to you. This is why we require you to take our monthly Accounting service on top of this package. All our plans include Accounting, Taxation and all related filings, just choose a package based on your company’s revenue.
Unlimited Corporate Secretary for 1 year
An officer to keep proper accounts. Available 24/7 via a secure chat. Forget about being charged per document. Our Unlimited service covers all standard resolutions you will need.
Registered Address for 1 year
A real office mailbox that is regularly checked. We notify you about the correspondence, scan it and send to you. We also forward the real letters if necessary.
Monthly Accounting & Taxation for 1 year
Healthy and transparent books are a vital part of every company’s compliance especially when it comes to providing our Nominee Director services to you. All our Monthly Accounting & Taxation plans include Bookkeeping, Compilation of Unaudited Annual Statements, Review by your dedicated Accountant, Tax Filing of Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) and Tax Form C-S. Just choose the right package for you based on your company’s revenue.
Here’s what our customers say
Q&A
Why do I need a resident director in the first place?
According to the Companies Act, your Singaporean company can have as many directors as you want but at least one needs to be local. If you do not have any eligible candidates in mind, hire a nominee director. Thus, you won’t have to look for a local you could entrust with actually running your company. You can become a real director yourself or hire another executive from abroad.
What is the Nominee Director Role in Singapore?
When someone wants to register a company in Singapore, they need a director who is a resident of Singapore, as per regulation by Singapore’s Companies Act.
For foreigners who want to incorporate a company in Singapore but do not have any local person to be the resident director, they can hire someone to take up the role of the Nominee Director for a fee. The Nominee Director fulfils the legal and regulatory obligations of the company and does not play an active role in the company’s operations.What are the risks a Nominee Director would face?
It is legal to hire a Nominee Director according to Part IXA of Singapore’s Companies Act, so you won’t be breaking any law. You must know that a Nominee Director is forbidden from interfering with your company’s decisions. Although their powers are limited, his liability isn’t – for his company’s breaches of the law, he can be prosecuted.
What is the fee for hiring a Nominee Director in Singapore?
Our Nominee Director comes with the Company Secretary in a package. The Secretary ensures that your company meets the required standards by ensuring compliance. This package eliminates the need for additional insurances such as a deposit and allows you to keep down your costs. You only have to pay for the service itself with East river.
Who can be a Director according to the Companies Act?
According to the Companies Act every company in Singapore needs at least one director who is responsible for managing the affairs of the company and giving it direction. This person must be a resident of Singapore, that is either a Singapore Citizen, Permanent Resident, or a foreigner on an Employment Pass or EntrePass holder.
Once again, who is a Nominee Director?
A nominee formally holds a director’s position, without any actual decision-making powers. Nominee’s only obligations are to act in the interests of the company and in compliance with the law. To achieve that, a company has him sign a special agreement called a Deed of Indemnity.
What is an Employment Pass?
It’s a type of working visa issued per specific company so it can invite foreign professionals, managers, executives, and technicians. It allows its holder to work exclusively for that company, live and bring your family to Singapore. It’s valid for 1 or 2 years and can be renewed afterward.
Why do I need a Nominee for 6 months only if I apply for Employment Pass?
Employment Pass is issued when there’s a company up and running that wants to hire you. Foreigners set up companies and hire themselves, getting the right to live and work in Singapore. With an EP, you are considered local enough to become the sole director yourself. Thus, you only need the nominee service while you wait for the EP (i. e. for about 6 months). After that, you can be the only director.
