Singapore company nominee director: A detailed guide (2025)

In compliance with Singapore corporate law, nominee director is one of the mandatory requirements for foreign owners. openning a company in singapore.

So what is a nominee director, what is their role and how to appoint one, what are the risks of hiring a nominee director for a Singapore company?

Our following guide will answer all of the above questions, with detailed explaination from business consultants in Singapore.

1. What is a Singapore company nominee director?

Singapore Company ActSingapore Companies Act) requires every company in Singapore to have at least 1 local director in Singapore. The local director must be a permanent resident, a Singaporean worker or an individual eligible for an Employment Pass, Entrepass. 

Therefore, foreigners opening a company in Singapore must appoint a local director for the company as per the Singapore law. This person is usually called a nominee director (the nominal director of the Singapore company). 

The appointed director will not be involved in any commercial activities or decision-making of the company.

2. When do you need to have a nominee director?

The appointment of a nominee director depends on the nationality of a business owner.

2.1. Business owner is a foreigner

1. If the business owner is a foreign individual or legal entity, the company needs a director residing in Singapore to comply with the law. 
2. If the Company does not intend to send personnel to work in Singapore as a director

Businesses can use the nominee director service from reputable service providers for short-term or long-term periods.

2.2. Business owner is a resident in Singapore

In case the business owner is a resident of Singapore, you do not need to hire a director for your Singapore company, the company owner can take on this role.

3. Roles and responsibilities of a nominee director

Although nominee directors are not involved in the day-to-day management of the company, these individuals still have duties and responsibilities under the Singapore Companies Act. 

The role of the nominee director includes:

• Compliance with the law:

The Nominee Director must ensure that the company complies with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. This includes keeping up to date with changes in legislation and keeping accurate records, as well as submitting required documents to government agencies on time.

• Fiduciary responsibility

The nominee director is responsible for maintaining stakeholder confidentiality and making decisions that are in the best interests of the company, in compliance with Singapore laws.

The nominee director will be the legal and documented head of the Singapore company – acting on behalf of the company’s owners (shareholders). Specifically, the nominee director must comply with and fully perform the responsibilities and duties stipulated in the Singapore Companies Act.

4. What are the requirements to appoint a nominee director?

To be eligible to hold the position of nominee director of a Singapore company, an individual must satisfy the following conditions based on the above ACRA regulations.

These criteria help ensure that nominee directors are responsible and trustworthy, and comply with the requirements of Singapore law.

5. How to appoint a nominee director (Simple process)?

To comply with the regulations, companies can choose to outsource corporate secretarial services to a professional corporate service provider such as Global Links Asia, or appoint a secretary themselves.

Below are the steps a Business needs to take when appointing a Singapore nominee director themselves or through a third party service:

6. How can we help you open a company with a nominee director in Singapore?

At Global Links Asia, we have over XNUMX years of experience helping SMEs and entrepreneurs expand into international markets. We understand what you need and provide comprehensive support for a smooth, hassle-free share transfer process.

• Register a company in Singapore quickly, legally and at a cost-optimized price.
• Select the best types of business structures for your endeavors
• Comply with Singapore law with corporate secretary service, nominee director service and registered address service.
• Manage your company sustainably with professsional accounitng and tax filing services.
• Open your company bank account with a reputable physical bank and licensed digital bank.
• Open PayPal, Stripe payment gateways with powerful premium payment features for your company.

7. Frequently asked questions about nominee directors in Singapore

Highlights

• Nominee directors are a requirement when setting up a company in Singapore. The Singapore Companies Act requires every Singapore company to have at least one person residing in Singapore or holding a valid work permit as a director.
• The company director must have a clean record, be 18 years of age or older and must be a Singapore citizen, permanent resident or an individual holding an Employment Pass or Entree Pass.
• Besides the director, a Singapore company needs to ensure that there are company secretary, Phu Quoc homestays, valid investment capital to open a company.
• Businesses should seek support from a reputable agency like Global Links Asia to find the most suitable candidate.