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Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority

Striking off a foreign company

Authorised representatives may apply to strike off a foreign company branch from ACRA's register if certain criteria are met.

Apply to strike off business entity
Last updated 29 January 2026

On this page

Before you apply
How to strike off a foreign company
What to expect after striking off
Withdrawing your application
Striking off process

Overview of the striking off process

Before you apply

This guide explains how to strike off a foreign company from ACRA's register. ACRA may approve the application if it believes that your company is not carrying on business and meets the striking off criteria.

Who may apply

Authorised representatives can apply directly if the foreign company meets the striking off criteria.

If the company has no authorised representatives, a corporate service provider (CSP) may apply for striking off.

What you need to do

Required steps

Step

Details

Check the striking off criteria

Foreign companies may apply for striking off if it meets any of these criteria:

  • The sole authorised representative is unable to resign as the company has not appointed a replacement.

  • The authorised representative has received no response for at least 12 months after they made a request about whether the company will continue Singapore operations.

  • The foreign company has no authorised representative.

In addition, the company needs to meet all of these conditions:

  • Has no unpaid debts or unresolved issues with any government agency

  • Is not involved in legal cases in Singapore or overseas

  • Is not subject to regulatory action or disciplinary proceedings (ongoing or pending)

  • Owns nothing and owes nothing (no property, debts, or potential future claims)

Note: Applying without meeting these criteria can constitute a false declaration and lead to an investigation.

Check for outstanding tax credits

Ensure your company does not have any outstanding tax credits before applying. When your company is dissolved, any tax credits will be transferred to the Insolvency and Public Trustee's Office (IPTO).

Shareholders of the closed company may approach the Insolvency Office to claim these tax credits, but may have to pay processing fees.

Cancel the GST registration of the foreign company or its local branch, if applicable

Apply for cancellation of GST registration with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

Make sure your company information is up-to-date

Update any changes to your company information:

  • Registered office address

  • Company's email address

Make sure the company has no ongoing summons

You may check your Bizfile inbox for notices from ACRA.

Prepare required information

You need to prepare:

  • Company unique entity number (UEN)

  • Cessation date of your company, if applicable

Fees and processing time

Apply to strike off business entity

What you need to know

Details

Fee

Free

Approval time

Immediate

Note: If the branch in Singapore has ceased business, the authorised representative must file the change via the File cessation or dissolution of business entity eService.

How to strike off a foreign company

Follow these steps to strike off a foreign company on Bizfile.

Business login
1. Click "Login" on the Bizfile homepage and select "Business User" to log in via Corppass.

All entity and personal information (including UEN, entity details, NRIC or FIN numbers, names and addresses) shown are dummy data for illustration purposes only.

What to expect after striking off

The striking off process starts after your application is approved by ACRA. The process takes at least three months after ACRA approval, depending on whether anyone objects.

Review process

Stage

Details

Review by ACRA

If approved, ACRA may send a striking off letter to:

  • The company's registered office address

  • The company officers' residential address

During this period, your entity remains "Live" and registered with ACRA.

Note: Make sure your registered addresses are correct to receive these striking off letters. Otherwise, your strike off may fail, and the company may return to a "Live" status.

(If applicable) Submit objections within 30 days

The company's officers have 30 days from the date of the striking off letter to object.

More details: Submitting an objection against striking off

(If no objections) First gazette notification

ACRA will publish the company's name in the First Gazette Notification within 30 days of approval.

60-day waiting period

Interested parties may object to the strike-off during this period.

If an objection is accepted: ACRA will notify the company. The company then has two months to resolve the issue.

If an objection is not resolved within two months: The striking-off application will lapse. You can apply again only after the objection is cleared.

(If no objections) Final gazette notification

ACRA will publish the company's name in the Final Gazette Notification.

The company is officially struck off on the stated date. This means the company:

  • Has been removed from ACRA's register

  • No longer legally exists

Tip: You can restore a struck-off company within six years by getting a Court Order. After you file the Court Order on Bizfile, the company status will change to "Live" once ACRA has processed the application.

More details: Section 344A of the Companies Act

Withdrawing your application

You can withdraw your striking off application [PDF, 1.2 MB] anytime through Bizfile.

After your withdrawal is approved, ACRA will publish the company's name in the list of entities that withdrew their striking off applications.

Cost: Free