Referral authorities

Business name: Contains "architect" or any word that makes persons think you are an architect

Only registered architects can use "architect" in their business name.

Check the Architects Act 1991 to see the full rules about using "architect" in business names.

SSIC code: 71111

This code is for architectural services.

Business name: Contains "real estate agent" or "real estate agency"

-

Business name: You plan to change your business name

You must already work in real estate.

SSIC code: 68201

This code is for real estate agencies and valuation services.

SSIC code: 68209

This code is for real estate activities on a fee or commission basis, excluding online marketplaces.

Business activity involves: Spot commodity trading

You may also need a licence under the Commodity Trading Act 1992. ACRA approval does not remove this requirement.

Business activity involves: Rubber trading

You may also need a licence under the Rubber Industry Act 1991. ACRA approval does not remove this requirement.

SSIC code: 66124

This code is for commodity (excluding gold), futures brokers, and dealers.

Business name: Contains "academy", "college", "institute", or "university"

Avoid using "national" or "Singapore" in your business name.

Using these will normally get your registration rejected.

Business activity: Operating a school, learning centre, or training centre for academic education

Beauty, cooking, sports, and recreation training do not need MOE approval.

SSIC code: 85211

This code is for secondary schools, including combined primary and secondary schools.

SSIC code: 85212

This code is for junior colleges and centralised pre-university institutes (post-secondary non-tertiary).

This includes combined secondary schools and post-secondary non-tertiary schools.

SSIC code: 85301

This code is for polytechnics.

SSIC code: 85302

This code is for universities.

SSIC code: 85303

This code is for teachers' training institutes.

Business activity involves:

• Promoting religion

• Conducting religious worship

• Teaching religious beliefs

ACRA approval does not remove your duty to follow the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990.

SSIC code: 94911

This code is for churches.

SSIC code: 94912

This code is for mosques.

SSIC code: 94913

This code is for Buddhist or Taoist temples.

SSIC code: 94914

This code is for Hindu or Sikh temples.

SSIC code: 94919

This code is for activities of religious organisations.

Business name: Contains "law", "legal", "counsel", "chamber", "advocate", "solicitor", or "LLC"

Law practices should apply for a licence from LSRA e-Services before registering with ACRA.

SSIC code: 69101

This code is for legal activities (excluding online marketplaces).

Business name contains:

• "Bank" and related words (banking, banque, banco)

• "Finance company" and "finance"

• "Futures exchange", "clearing house", "securities exchange", or similar sounding names ("stock exchange", "clearing corporation", "clearing organisation")

You do not need approval if your business name contains:

• "Futures", "futures broker", "futures trading adviser", "futures pool operator"

• "Securities", "stockbroker"

• "Fund manager", "fund management", "asset management", "venture management"

• "Insurance", "insurance broker", "reinsurance broker", "assurance", "reinsurance", "reassurance", "insure", "insuring", "insuritz"

• "Financial", "financing", "financial adviser"

Business activity involves:

• Banking business

• Merchant banking

• Finance company business

You do not need approval if your business activity involves:

• Money-changing or remittance services

• Issuing credit cards or charge cards in Singapore

• Work covered by the Securities and Futures Act 2001 or the Financial Advisers Act 2001. This includes:

  • Trading securities or futures contracts

  • Managing investment funds

  • Providing financial advice

• Work covered by the Insurance Act 1966. This includes:

  • Insurance or reinsurance businesses

  • Life and general insurance brokers

  • Other insurance services, such as adjusters, surveyors, or insurance agents

Note: Getting ACRA approval does not mean your business is licensed by MAS.

Apply with MAS directly if you need a licence.

SSIC code: 64120

This code is for full banks.

SSIC code: 64130

This code is for wholesale banks.

SSIC code: 64140

This code is for merchant banks.

SSIC code: 64150

This code is for finance companies with deposit taking functions.

SSIC code: 64992

This code is for representative offices of foreign banks.

Business activity involves: Manufacturing macaroni, noodles, vermicelli, or related products

-

SSIC code: 10611

This code is for rice milling.

SSIC code: 10740

This code is for the manufacture of macaroni, noodles, vermicelli, and other related products.

When you need approval

Details

Business activity involves:

• Operating a school

• Operating a learning centre

• Operating an education centre

You do not need approval for non-academic training such as:

• Beauty care

• Dressmaking

• Cooking

• Sports

• Games

• Driving and recreation

Note: Avoid using "SkillsFuture" in your business name. Using this will normally be rejected.

SSIC code: 85220

This code is for technical, vocational, secondary and post-secondary, non-tertiary education.

SSIC code: 85230

This code is for international and foreign system schools.

SSIC code: 85240

This code is for schools for special needs.

SSIC code: 85304

This code is for commercial schools offering higher education programmes.