🇸🇬 Doing business in Singapore

Structural scores

Highlights: #1 ease of doing business · Low 17% corporate tax · ASEAN headquarters hub

Key industries

Financial Services & Wealth Management ↑ Strong growth

Singapore manages $4T+ in assets. MAS has created one of the worlds most respected financial regulatory environments.

Main investors: UK, US, Switzerland, Hong Kong

Technology & Innovation ↑ Strong growth

Singapore hosts APAC HQs of Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and 4,000+ tech firms. Smart Nation initiative drives digital adoption.

Main investors: US, China, India, UK

Logistics & Supply Chain ↑ Growing

Singapore port is worlds 2nd busiest. Changi Airport handles 65M+ passengers. Logistics contributes 8% of GDP.

Main investors: Germany, Japan, Netherlands, China

Biomedical & Life Sciences ↑ Strong growth

Biopolis research cluster hosts GSK, Pfizer, Novartis and AstraZeneca regional operations. Strong IP protection framework.

Main investors: US, Switzerland, UK, Germany

Sector priorities

1. Financial Services & Fintech — MAS licensing framework, zero capital gains tax and deep talent pool make Singapore the top APAC financial services hub.
2. Technology & AI — EDB incentives, Smart Nation initiative and hyperscaler infrastructure investment creating strong tech sector growth.
3. Sustainability & Green Finance — Singapore Green Plan 2030 and MAS sustainable finance agenda creating significant ESG and green finance opportunities.

Talent & work permits

Singapore has Asia Pacifics most international talent pool. English is the business language. Government actively manages talent through EP and S Pass frameworks.

• Foreign workers: Employment Pass for professionals earning SGD 5,600+. S Pass for mid-skilled workers. Quota applies to S Pass holders.
• Localisation: Fair Consideration Framework requires firms to advertise roles on MyCareersFuture for 14 days before hiring Employment Pass holders.
• Key consideration: Singapore is using salary thresholds and COMPASS framework to ensure quality of EP applicants while managing local workforce priorities.

How to enter: first four steps

Singapore is the easiest Asian market to enter. ACRA incorporation takes hours. The main decision is choosing the right entity structure.

1. Incorporate via BizFile+ — ACRA online portal. Private Limited company takes less than 1 day to incorporate
2. Register with IRAS — Inland Revenue Authority for corporate tax and GST if turnover exceeds SGD 1M
3. Open corporate bank account — DBS, OCBC or UOB are primary options. Allow 2 to 4 weeks for full setup
4. Apply for relevant MAS licences — required for financial services, payments and capital markets activities

Indicative cost: 10-person team

Professional-services mix (1 senior, 5 professional, 2 admin, 2 support), Grade-A office, registration, legal, audit and tax compliance. Model estimate, not a quote. Model your own team size and industry →

Regulatory watch

• Jan 2026 · EP Salary Threshold Revised — MOM raised Employment Pass minimum salary threshold to SGD 5,600 per month.
• Mar 2026 · GST Rate Finalised at 9% — Singapore GST rate confirmed at 9% following phased increase. Businesses reminded to update systems.
• Mar 2026 · MAS Digital Asset Framework — Monetary Authority of Singapore issued final licensing framework for digital asset service providers. Applications open from April 2026.
• Feb 2026 · Corporate Tax Rebate 2026 — Singapore Budget 2026 announced 50% corporate income tax rebate capped at SGD 40,000 for qualifying companies for Year of Assessment 2026.