ProSec supports eligible foreign-owned Singapore companies with nominee director arrangements, subject to due diligence, KYC review and clear written service terms.
Nominee director support for foreign-owned Singapore companies, subject to due diligence, clear agreement terms and compliance review.
Read ProSec’s practical updates on the CSP Act, ACRA annual return deadlines and compliance obligations.
| Package | Price | Suitable for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | S$2,500/year | Simple and lower-risk company profiles | Subject to KYC, business review and nominee director agreement. |
| Enhanced | S$4,800/year | Companies requiring more monitoring or support | Enhanced due diligence, documentation and ongoing compliance conditions may apply. |
We explain what the nominee director can and cannot do before appointment.
KYC, ownership, business activities and source-of-funds information are reviewed.
Often combined with foreigner incorporation, registered office and corporate secretary support.
This page is the primary page for nominee director Singapore searches. The focus is resident director requirements, KYC, role boundaries, risk controls and ongoing compliance expectations.
These examples focus on director-risk planning and should support the foreigner incorporation page without duplicating it.
A founder wants to set up a Singapore company but does not have a trusted local director. In this situation, nominee director support should be paired with company secretary, registered office and clear responsibility boundaries.
An existing company may need to change from an informal local director arrangement to a more documented nominee director service. We would first review the company status, ownership, business activity and any outstanding compliance matters.
A foreign company may establish a Singapore subsidiary before hiring a local management team. Nominee director support can be considered during the initial stage, subject to KYC, risk assessment and ongoing compliance updates.
A nominee director appointment cannot be treated as a name-only service. Ownership, funds, business activity and transaction countries should be clear before appointment.
Nominee director appointments carry real compliance responsibility. We may decline matters where ownership, funds or business activity cannot be explained properly.
A nominee director service is often required when a foreign-owned Singapore company does not have its own locally resident director. However, a nominee director is still a director under Singapore law. The arrangement must be reviewed carefully and supported by proper due diligence, written documents and clear limits on authority.
A nominee director is not simply a contact person. The director may face statutory duties and compliance exposure. This is why responsible providers review the business model, ownership, source of funds and expected operations before agreeing to act.
A proper nominee director process should include identification documents, proof of address, beneficial owner information, business activity description, expected transaction countries and checks for regulated or high-risk activities.
Where appropriate, the nominee director agreement should describe the role boundary, signing authority, information obligations, indemnity, reporting duties and situations where the director may refuse, resign or require further explanation.
The risk does not end after incorporation. Changes in business activity, bank issues, unpaid taxes, suspicious transactions or unfiled annual returns can affect the nominee director’s position and must be communicated early.
For many foreign founders, the nominee director is part of a broader incorporation package that also includes company secretary, registered office, accounting and tax filing support. The safest approach is to ensure all these elements communicate with each other. A company that has a nominee director but poor accounting records or missed ACRA deadlines creates unnecessary risk.
Companies should avoid treating nominee director arrangements as a way to bypass proper governance. The beneficial owners and real operators must remain responsible for running the business lawfully, maintaining records, explaining transactions and providing timely documents. If the company changes business activity, ownership or risk profile, the nominee director arrangement should be reviewed.
Since the CSP Act and related anti-money-laundering expectations place more attention on corporate service providers, foreign founders should expect more structured onboarding questions than in the past. A provider who asks no questions may feel convenient at first, but it can create problems later when banks, ACRA, IRAS or counterparties request explanations.
Related guidance: Read the CSP Act guide View foreigner incorporation package
A nominee director is usually appointed to help a Singapore company meet the local resident director requirement, while the foreign shareholder or business owner continues to control the commercial decisions. The exact role, limits and resignation conditions should be documented clearly.
Nominee director arrangements are commonly used, but they must be handled responsibly. A director still has legal duties, so ProSec only considers nominee director support after reviewing the company profile, business activity, ownership and compliance risk.
No, not unless shares are separately issued or transferred to that person. A nominee director role is separate from share ownership. Shareholding should be reflected in the company’s official share records and supporting documents.
Not by default. Many nominee director arrangements do not include bank signatory powers or day-to-day management authority. Bank access, signing rights and operational authority must be separately agreed and are subject to risk review.
Yes, in many cases the foreign shareholder may keep full share ownership while appointing a locally resident nominee director. The key is to maintain clear records showing who owns the shares, who manages the business and what the nominee director is expected to do.
A nominee director appointment carries real compliance and reputational risk. We need to understand the business activity, shareholder profile, source of funds, transaction countries and expected filing needs before confirming whether we can assist.
We usually request identity documents, proof of address, shareholder information, proposed business activity, expected transaction details, source of funds explanation and any existing company documents if the company is already incorporated.
Businesses with unclear ownership, unclear source of funds, regulated financial activity, crypto-related activity, high-risk trading, sanctions exposure, or inconsistent information may not be suitable. ProSec may decline the engagement even if incorporation is technically possible.
Yes. The resignation process and triggers should be addressed in the service terms. If the company becomes non-compliant, fails to provide information, changes business activity without notice or creates unacceptable risk, the nominee director may need to resign.
Not always. Some packages combine nominee director, company secretary and registered office support; others are scoped separately. It is better to confirm the package before incorporation so that annual compliance and filings are not missed.
No. Nominee director support is not the same as running the business, signing customer contracts, managing bank transactions or making daily commercial decisions. The business owner remains responsible for real operations and records.
Nominee director service carries more responsibility and risk than routine secretary filing. The fee reflects due diligence, ongoing monitoring, director risk, communication needs and the possibility that the director may be exposed if the company does not comply.
Send us your business activity, ownership structure and whether the company is newly incorporated or existing.
