Is having a local director necessary for a Singapore company?

Yes, it is necessary for a Singapore company to have at least one director who is a local resident. In order to qualify as a local resident of Singapore, the individual has to be a Singapore citizen, a Singapore permanent resident or an Employment Pass holder (the employment pass must be from the same company where the individual wants to be a director).

Furthermore, the local director must be a natural person above the age of 18 years and not a corporate entity. Foreign companies or entrepreneurs who wish to incorporate and operate a Singapore company can either:

A) Have a foreign executive relocate to Singapore to act as the resident director (subject to the approval of their work pass);

B) Or use the Singapore nominee director service of a corporate services firm to meet the resident director requirement.

Read more:

• How to register company in Singapore
• Singapore company incorporation requirements