Guide

Applying for a new business entity name

Audience

Accounting entities

Businesses

Corporate Service Providers (CSP)

Task or topic

Registration

Restructure or convert business type

18 August 2025

Use Bizfile to reserve a name for your business, whether you are registering a new entity or managing an existing one.

Before you apply

You may apply and reserve a new business entity name to:

Register a new business entity
Convert an existing sole proprietorship, partnership or local company to a limited liability partnership (LLP)
Convert an existing public accounting firm or public accounting corporation to an accounting LLP
Apply for public accounting entity status
Revoke public accounting entity status (to update the suffix of the entity)
Change an existing business entity name
Convert a local company type to another type (for example, from a private company to public company)
Amalgamate local companies

Who may apply

Three options for name applications

Options	Notes
Apply directly using Singpass	If you are applying for a business name to register a new business entity, you can apply directly if you intend to hold any of these positions: Owner of a sole proprietorship or partnership Director of a local company Partner of a limited liability partnership (LLP) General partner or general partner as a nominee or trustee of a limited partnership (LP) Partner under section 18(3)(c) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for a public accounting firm (PAF) Director under section 17(3)(d) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for a public accounting corporation (PAC) Partner under section 18A(3)(e) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for a accounting LLP (ALLP)
Apply directly using Corppass	You can apply directly through Bizfile on behalf of an existing entity if you hold any of these roles: Owner of a sole proprietorship or partnership Director of a local company Partner of an LLP General partner or general partner as a nominee or trustee of an LP Partner under section 18(3)(c) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for a PAF Director under section 17(3)(d) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for a PAC Partner under section 18A(3)(e) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for an ALLP
Engage a CSP to submit the application on your behalf	Anyone can engage a CSP. However, foreigners must engage a CSP to register a business. Learn more about rules for foreigners.

Options

Notes

Apply directly using Singpass

If you are applying for a business name to register a new business entity, you can apply directly if you intend to hold any of these positions:

Owner of a sole proprietorship or partnership
Director of a local company
Partner of a limited liability partnership (LLP)
General partner or general partner as a nominee or trustee of a limited partnership (LP)
Partner under section 18(3)(c) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for a public accounting firm (PAF)
Director under section 17(3)(d) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for a public accounting corporation (PAC)
Partner under section 18A(3)(e) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for a accounting LLP (ALLP)

Apply directly using Corppass

You can apply directly through Bizfile on behalf of an existing entity if you hold any of these roles:

Owner of a sole proprietorship or partnership
Director of a local company
Partner of an LLP
General partner or general partner as a nominee or trustee of an LP
Partner under section 18(3)(c) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for a PAF
Director under section 17(3)(d) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for a PAC
Partner under section 18A(3)(e) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for an ALLP

Engage a CSP to submit the application on your behalf

Anyone can engage a CSP.

However, foreigners must engage a CSP to register a business. Learn more about rules for foreigners.

Note: During the name application, you need to specify your business activity by selecting the most relevant Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) code.

What you need to prepare

Required documents and information

You need to prepare	Details
Business information	Preferred business name Business structure (entity type) that you want to register. Primary business activity. You can find a Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) code that is most relevant to your business activity beforehand or pick one during the application. Secondary business activities, if applicable.
Other documents (if needed)	Letter of consent from the director or owner of the business with an identical name to your proposed name. Supporting information or documents when your business name needs justification (such as "ASEAN"). Note: Name review requests are subject to ACRA's approval.
Contact details	Valid email address for updates

You need to prepare

Details

Business information

Preferred business name
Business structure (entity type) that you want to register.
Primary business activity. You can find a Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) code that is most relevant to your business activity beforehand or pick one during the application.
Secondary business activities, if applicable.

What you need to know	Details
Fee	$15 Note: The fee is non-refundable if the application is rejected or if you decide to withdraw the name application.
Payment method	Debit or credit card (VISA, Mastercard) Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal
Processing time	Most registrations are approved soon after payment. Complex registrations requiring additional review may take longer: ACRA's review of your proposed name: Up to three working days Applications sent to referral authorities: Up to 15 working days We will inform you if more time is needed.

Step 1: Log in to Bizfile and open the "Apply for new business entity name" eService

Follow these steps to navigate to the Apply for new business entity name eService.

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

1. Go to the Bizfile homepage and click "Login".

Step 2: Enter your name application details

Required details include your application type, entity type and proposed name.

Choose your entity type and company type (if applicable) carefully, as you cannot change these during registration. Different entity and company types have specific requirements. For example, an exempt private company:

Cannot have more than 20 shareholders
Cannot have corporate shareholders unless the corporate shareholder is an LLP

If you need to change your entity or company type after you apply, you must reapply for a new business entity name.

1. On the "Apply for new business entity name" page, click "Start".

Step 3: Submitting a name review request, if needed

If your proposed name is unavailable, you can choose another name or submit a name review request.

Enter another name or submit a name review

1. To choose another name, enter another name under "Proposed business entity name" and click "Check availability". To submit a name review request, click "Submit name review".

Step 4: Complete your business details

Specify your primary business activity using SSIC codes and provide a valid email address.

1. Under the "Business activity" section, enter your SSIC code or search using industry keywords. Select your primary business activity from the dropdown list under "SSIC and industry name".

Step 5: Final review and payment

Review your application carefully and make your payment online. After successful payment, note down your "Transaction ID" as you will need this to file subsequent transactions.

1. Check that you have entered all information correctly.

After you apply

Name application outcome

Application outcome	Details
Approved immediately	What to expect: You will receive a Bizfile notification that: Confirms the approval States the expiry date for the reserved name States your transaction number What you need to do: Use your name application's transaction ID to complete these transactions within 120 days: Register a new business entity Convert an existing sole proprietorship, partnership or local company to a limited liability partnership (LLP) Convert an existing public accounting firm or public accounting corporation to an accounting LLP Apply for public accounting entity status Revoke public accounting entity status (to update the suffix of the entity) Change an existing business entity name Convert a local company type to another type (for example, from a private company to public company) Amalgamate local companies After 120 days, the name will be released for others to use.
Requires further review	The process may take up to 15 working days: ACRA's review of your proposed name: Up to three working days Applications sent to referral authorities: Up to 15 working days We will inform you if more time is needed. You will receive a notification of the outcome in your Bizfile inbox.

Application outcome

Details

Approved immediately

What to expect:

You will receive a Bizfile notification that:

Confirms the approval
States the expiry date for the reserved name
States your transaction number

What you need to do:

Use your name application's transaction ID to complete these transactions within 120 days:

Register a new business entity
Convert an existing sole proprietorship, partnership or local company to a limited liability partnership (LLP)
Convert an existing public accounting firm or public accounting corporation to an accounting LLP
Apply for public accounting entity status
Revoke public accounting entity status (to update the suffix of the entity)
Change an existing business entity name
Convert a local company type to another type (for example, from a private company to public company)
Amalgamate local companies

After 120 days, the name will be released for others to use.

Requires further review

The process may take up to 15 working days:

ACRA's review of your proposed name: Up to three working days
Applications sent to referral authorities: Up to 15 working days

We will inform you if more time is needed.

You will receive a notification of the outcome in your Bizfile inbox.

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