Singapore registered address and BizFile+ filings — Timeline and processing benchmarks

Every Singapore company must maintain a registered office address in Singapore and keep its records current through ACRA’s BizFile+ portal. A registered address can be activated the same day, and most BizFile+ transactions — from incorporation to annual returns — are processed within minutes to a few hours once submitted.

Raffles Corporate Services works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.

What a registered address and BizFile+ are

Section 142 of the Companies Act 1967 requires every company to have a registered office in Singapore that is open and accessible to the public for at least three hours each business day, and to which all official correspondence is sent. It cannot be a PO box. BizFile+ is ACRA’s online filing system through which companies incorporate, lodge annual returns, update officers and shareholders, and file changes. Corporate-services firms commonly provide the registered address and handle BizFile+ lodgements on the company’s behalf.

Who it is for

Foreign founders without local premises, home-based businesses that prefer not to publish a residential address, and overseas parents establishing a subsidiary all use a provided registered address. Founders arranging local directorship and work passes should read this alongside our EntrePass Singapore 2026: A Founder’s Complete Walkthrough, and those layering a fund or family-office structure above the operating company will find the tax context in our Section 13O vs 13U 2026: Comparing Singapore Family Office Tax.

Requirements and what must be filed

The registered address must be a genuine Singapore address where statutory registers can be inspected; under the Home Office Scheme a residential address may be used with prior approval. Key BizFile+ filings include the annual return (due within seven months of financial year-end for a private company), changes of directors or secretary within 14 days, changes in share capital, and updates to the register of registrable controllers. Section 143 of the Companies Act 1967 requires the company name and registration number to be shown on the registered office and on business documents.

Cost and timeline benchmarks (2026)

A registered address service typically costs S$120 to S$400 a year. ACRA government fees include S$15 for company name application and S$300 for incorporation; the annual return filing fee is S$60. Timeline: name approval is usually instant to one hour, incorporation within the same day, and most change filings are processed within minutes of submission. Mail-forwarding and scanning add-ons are commonly S$10 to S$30 a month.

Step-by-step process

Appoint a provider and confirm the registered address to be used. Include the address in the incorporation application on BizFile+. After incorporation, display the company name and registration number at the address. Route all ACRA, IRAS and bank correspondence there. For ongoing compliance, file changes of officers within 14 days, keep the controllers register updated, and lodge the annual return within seven months of the financial year-end. A corporate secretary usually manages these lodgements.

Common mistakes and gotchas

The most frequent breaches are missing the annual return deadline, failing to update officer or shareholder changes within 14 days, and using an address where statutory registers are not actually kept or accessible. Some founders use a residential address without Home Office Scheme approval. Others forget that changing the registered address itself is a filable event. Late filings attract ACRA penalties and can flag the company for enforcement, so a diarised compliance calendar matters.

FAQs

Can I use a PO box as my registered address? No. It must be a physical Singapore address accessible to the public.

When is the annual return due? Within seven months of the financial year-end for a private company.

How fast is BizFile+? Most transactions process within minutes to a few hours of submission.

Can I use my home address? Yes, with Home Office Scheme approval; many founders prefer a provided address for privacy.

Authoritative references: ACRA, IRAS and the Ministry of Manpower set out the filing, tax and pass requirements.

Related reading on this site: Court Application to Rectify the Singapore Company Share Register.

Need help with this? Call, SMS or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133, or email [email protected]. Raffles Corporate Services works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.