Opening Representative Office

Opening a Representative Office In Singapore

With the development of global financial trade, more and more companies from all over the world have started to set up companies or offices in Singapore as the Asia Pacific regional headquarters or corporate management center.

Allowed business: Conduct market research Conduct a feasibility study Supervise the activities of local agents and distributors at their headquarters Liaison office during negotiations Provide customer support.

Unallowed business: Signing a commercial contract Provide repair and technical services Transport or store goods in Singapore without the need to designate a local distributor or agent Rent a rental facility or rent it from another office Issue invoice/receipt Open/receive letter of credit Qualified foreign company qualifications: Foreign parent company’s turnover must exceed $250,000 Foreign parent company established for at least three years The representative office has a maximum of 4 employees.

The chief representative of the representative office can be stationed by the parent company or hire a Singapore resident. The Singapore International Enterprise Development Authority has the authority to make reasonable decisions about the employees of the office.

The representative office is valid for one year. The application can be submitted for an extension within the first two months of the due date. In principle, the establishment of the representative office must not exceed three years. After three years, the parent company can upgrade the representative office to a branch or other form of company. Office representatives can apply for EP and home DP licenses.