Obtaining Special Permits and Licenses in Singapore

Most investors are not required to obtain licenses or permits when registering a company in Singapore. However, there are many activities regulated by specific authorities and companies carrying out these activities are required to obtain special permits and licenses in Singapore from relevant authorities.

Quick Facts
What are business licenses and permits in Singapore?	Licenses and permits are documents that attest a legal entity has received the necessary approvals in order to carry out a specific commercial activity.
When should investors apply for business permits and licenses?	Obtaining special permits and licenses in Singapore is a procedure that must be initiated during the company registration process.
Institutions in charge with the issuance of the documents	The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) registers the business, while licences are applied for mainly through the GoBusiness Licensing portal and issued by the relevant agency, but other authorities can be involved in accordance to the type of activity the company will develop (Singapore Food Agency, Singapore Tourism Board, Ministry of Education, etc.).
Documents required for the issuance of a business license	– the company’s incorporation documents, – papers attesting the registered address and the place of operations, – documents attesting that the company meets the standards imposed in the sector it operates, – the identification data of the shareholders and directors, – proof of paying registration fees, etc.
Registered address requirements	Obtaining special permits and licenses in Singapore is bound by having a registered address in this country, therefore investors must make the proof in this sense by presenting a tenancy agreement.
Licenses and permits fees (yes/no)	Yes
Mandatory authorizations for businesses	All companies in Singapore need to obtain a mandatory authorization to function from ACRA.
Is it possible to obtain permits and licenses through a third party?	Yes, obtaining special permits and licenses in Singapore can be completed with the help of a third party, such as our lawyers.
Validity of Singapore licenses and permits	It ranges based on their type (such documents are generally valid for a period of minimum 1 year and up to 3 years).
When should investors apply for a license renewal?	Before the expiration date.
What happens when a company did not renew its license?	Business owners can face penalties, legal actions or they may have to close their companies.
Licensing processing times	1 day (registration with ACRA) to 2 months
Obligations in the case the company’s activities are modified	Investors are required to report to ACRA any changes made to the initial registration information.
Deadline to report changes	14 days
Ways in which our team can help investors	Our team can help you apply for all the necessary business permits and licenses required for your business, assist in renewal procedures and maintain the connection with the institutions involved in the issuance/renewal process.

Among these are private schools and childcare centers, restaurants serving liquor, retailers, financial institutions and import and export companies in Singapore. In order to apply for a special license or permit, one must first register the company with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority in Singapore.

Apply for a business license in Singapore

The process of obtaining special permits and licenses in Singapore is highly influenced by the type of activity the company wants to develop. For each type of business license in Singapore, company owners may need to comply with different procedures, available only for a specific type of license.

For instance, businesses that are involved in animal and veterinary services, have to apply for a certificate issued by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), which will issue a Certificate for Freedom of Disease. In this industry, there are a variety of activities, and each one of them needs to have a proper business license in Singapore.

Fees are also charged and they vary from one license to another. In the list below, our team of lawyers in Singapore presents some of the available licenses and fees imposed to companies involved in this industry:

a License for Pet Shops is issued by AVS and applicants must pay $126 license fee;
a License for Animal Research Facility costs $300, while the AVS also imposes a processing fee of $462;
a license for the import-export of animals used for non-food purposes costs between $22 to $174, depending on the nature of the import/export and the type of entity involved in the procedure (company or natural person);
a License to Treat Animals and Birds costs $80.

There are other licenses available for this industry, and we invite you to address our team of lawyers in Singapore for more details. The ones mentioned above fall only under the supervision of the AVS authority, but in Singapore, there are more than 40 bodies that can issue permits and licenses, therefore we advise you to send your inquiries to our team prior to starting the licensing process.

We also mention that one can’t obtain a trade license in Singapore, as this type of license is not regulated here. Thus, companies and any other entity that needs certificates and approvals, may only obtain business licenses in Singapore or relevant permits.

Types of special permits and licenses in Singapore

The first types of special licenses issued for Singapore companies are the business activity licenses and permits. These licenses are usually required if the company wants to carry out certain activities that do not appear in the Singapore business’ bylaws. Among these are:

renovation;
place advertising billboards on the business’ premises;
hire foreign employees;
import or export products;
selling controlled goods.

Another type of business license is the compulsory license. This is required for schools and financial institutions in Singapore. These types of businesses must apply for the appropriate special license when the company is registered. These documents are usually issued within 14 days to 2 months.

Foreign citizens supplying professional services in Singapore are also required to apply for occupational licenses. The categories requiring an occupational license are: doctors, accountants, pilots and Singapore lawyers. Find out from this video below what types of activities need special licenses or permits in Singapore:

Retail licenses in Singapore

One of the most thriving industries in Singapore is retail. However, when setting up a business in the retail sector, foreign entrepreneurs will be required to apply for several special licenses. Among these, we mention the following:

tobacco retail license;
liquor license;
telecommunication dealers license;
wholesale dealer’s license;
proprietary medicines license;
cosmetics products notification.

Do companies involved in financial activities need authorization to operate?

Yes, businessmen who plan to invest in the financial sector in Singapore, by incorporating a company, will need to verify the laws and procedures available for their specific field of activity, as financial entities must obtain various authorizations, permits and licenses.

These types of entities fall under the supervision of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), which provides its approval for the following financial sectors:

banking;
financial advisory;
insurance;
payments;
capital markets.

There are different types of licenses that can be issued for each category and different requirements to comply with and this is why we recommend you address our team of lawyers in Singapore, who can guide you through the licensing process.

Please know that businesses that apply for a financial license must pay processing fees. For instance, companies that need a banking license must pay a fee of $20,000. It is important to know that the fee is not refundable.

How long does it take to obtain a financial license in Singapore?

Investors who want to set up a business in Singapore need to spend several weeks with the registration process, obtaining various certificates, opening corporate bank accounts for their business and so on. To this, it is necessary to add the time required with the licensing formalities, which may vary from one industry to another.

For businesses involved in the financial sector, the licensing procedure takes around 3 to 4 months, but this applies in cases where MAS does not need additional papers or clarifications from the applicant.

In order to ensure that the application respects all the criteria imposed by the institution, it is advisable to receive legal advice from our team of lawyers in Singapore, who have a long-standing experience in preparing application files for corporate clients.

Licenses for hotels in Singapore

Hotels are complex accommodation units which must abide by many local and international quality and safety standards. They also provide connected services, such as concierge, restaurants and other catering units, spas, pools and many others, all of which must meet various regulations.

In Singapore, business owners must obtain the following 2 licenses for their accommodation units registered as hotels:

a license that reflects that the company can use the premises as a hotel (Certificate of Registration);
a license that allows an individual/company to manage the said unit (Hotel Keeper’s License).

Companies interested in hiring foreign workforce can complete the formalities for immigration to Singapore, necessary for all foreign workers, with the assistance of our team. Our immigration lawyers in Singapore can advise on the types of visas and can represent the employer and the foreign employee in connection to the formalities imposed by the local immigration authorities.

Of course, we can provide the necessary assistance for the issuance of a residence permit in Singapore. For a detailed list of other obligations you may address our law firm in Singapore. For a complete list of all special licenses and permits required to start a business you may refer to our lawyers in Singapore. Our team can also help you start an LLP in Singapore.