Rebranding is a common strategic move for growing businesses — and for Singapore companies, changing the registered company name requires a formal application through the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). The process is straightforward, but there are approval criteria, procedural steps, and post-change obligations that directors and company secretaries must follow correctly.

This guide explains how to change a company name in Singapore under the Companies Act 1967, what ACRA looks for when approving a name change, what the process costs and how long it takes, and what your company must do after the change is approved.

Why Do Companies Change Their Name?

Common reasons Singapore companies apply to change their registered name include:

  • Rebranding: A change in business direction, product offering, or target market often prompts a new company name to reflect the new identity.
  • Mergers and acquisitions: When a company is acquired or merges with another, a name change typically follows.
  • Resolving a naming conflict: ACRA may require a company to change its name if it conflicts with an existing trademark or another registered business name.
  • Name no longer reflects the business: Many early-stage companies register a generic or placeholder name and later want a name that better represents the business.
  • Dropping a dormant subsidiary name: A group may simplify its corporate structure by renaming subsidiaries.

ACRA’s Name Approval Criteria

Under Section 27 of the Companies Act 1967, ACRA must approve the new name before a company can adopt it. ACRA will reject a proposed name that:

  • Is identical or too similar to an existing company name or business name on the ACRA register
  • Infringes a registered trademark (ACRA cross-checks with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore register)
  • Is undesirable — this includes names that are offensive, names that imply a connection with a government body that does not exist, or names that are misleading about the nature of the business
  • Contains restricted words — certain words such as “bank,” “insurance,” “law,” “finance,” and similar require prior approval from the relevant regulatory authority (e.g., MAS approval is required before a company can include “bank” in its name)

ACRA’s online name search tool on BizFile+ allows you to check if a proposed name is available before submitting the formal application.

Step-by-Step Process to Change a Company Name

Step 1: Pass a Shareholders’ Resolution

A company name change must be authorised by shareholders. Under most company constitutions (including the ACRA Model Constitution), a name change requires an ordinary resolution — a simple majority of votes at a general meeting or by written resolution. However, some bespoke constitutions require a special resolution (75% majority), so check your constitution first.

Your company secretary will need to prepare the resolution. See our guide to board resolutions and shareholder resolutions in Singapore for more detail on how resolutions are passed.

Step 2: Submit the Application via BizFile+

The name change application is filed through ACRA’s BizFile+ portal. The person filing must be an authorised representative of the company (typically a director or the company secretary).

The filing requires:

  • The proposed new name
  • Confirmation that the shareholders’ resolution has been passed
  • Payment of the ACRA filing fee (S$15 for the name application; S$15 for the change of name filing)

Step 3: Await ACRA’s Approval

ACRA typically approves straightforward name applications within one business day. If the name requires additional review (e.g., a restricted word, a potential trademark conflict, or a similarity to an existing name), it may take longer. ACRA may also reject the name and require you to propose an alternative.

Step 4: Receive the Certificate of Incorporation (New Name)

Once approved, ACRA will issue a new Certificate of Incorporation reflecting the changed name. The company’s registration number (UEN) remains the same — it does not change when the name changes.

Costs of Changing a Company Name

The ACRA fees for a name change are modest:

  • Name reservation (optional, reserves the name for 120 days): S$15
  • Name change lodgement: S$15

The main costs are the professional fees if you use a corporate secretarial firm to prepare the resolution, lodge the application, and update statutory registers. These typically range from S$150 to S$400 depending on the service provider.

What to Do After the Name Change

Once ACRA approves the name change, your company has a number of post-change obligations:

  • Update all company documents: Letterheads, invoices, contracts, email signatures, and marketing materials must reflect the new name. Under Section 144 of the Companies Act, the company must display its registered name on all business correspondence and at its registered office.
  • Update bank accounts: Notify your bank of the name change and update the account name. Banks will typically require a copy of the new Certificate of Incorporation and a certified resolution.
  • Update IRAS records: Notify IRAS of the new company name. The UEN remains the same, but the name in IRAS’s records should be updated.
  • Update GST registration: If the company is GST-registered, update the name with IRAS through the GST portal.
  • Update MOM records: If the company has employees on work passes, the employer name on work pass records should be updated with MOM.
  • Notify contractual counterparties: Existing contracts continue to bind the company despite the name change (as the legal entity and UEN are unchanged), but it is good practice to notify key counterparties to avoid confusion.
  • Update the company’s statutory registers: The register of members, register of directors, and other statutory books maintained by the company secretary should be updated to reflect the new name.

Keep in mind that the annual compliance deadlines for ACRA filings, IRAS returns, and AGM remain unchanged — a name change does not affect your company’s compliance calendar.

ACRA’s Power to Direct a Name Change

Under the Companies Act, ACRA also has the power to direct a company to change its name — even without the company’s initiation — if the name:

  • Was registered based on false information
  • Infringes a registered trademark
  • Is identical to a company that was previously on the register
  • Is found to be undesirable after registration

If ACRA issues a direction to change a name, the company must comply within 60 days. Failure to comply is an offence under the Companies Act. If you receive such a direction and need legal advice on challenging or complying with the direction, we can point you in the right direction.

For the latest Singapore business and corporate news, directors can find useful updates online. Sound financial and business planning is equally important alongside regulatory compliance for growing companies.

How Raffles Corporate Services Can Help

Changing a company name involves both a regulatory process and a corporate communications exercise. Raffles Corporate Services handles the end-to-end process — from checking name availability and preparing shareholder resolutions to lodging the application with ACRA and updating all necessary records.

Our corporate secretarial team ensures the name change is properly documented in the company’s statutory registers and that all notification obligations are met. We can also advise on the AGM requirements if the name change resolution is to be passed at an upcoming general meeting.

To speak with the team at Raffles Corporate Services, you can email [email protected] or call, SMS, or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133. We are happy to assist with any queries.

— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services