What are the requirements for changing a Singapore company’s name?
Just like when establishing a company, when changing the company’s name, it is necessary to choose a suitable name again. Changing a company’s name requires approval from the shareholders and also needs approval from relevant government authorities.
According to Singapore’s Companies Act, the company name must not be obscene in nature, identical to names of other registered companies, reserved by ACRA, or prohibited by Singapore law.
Singapore company names must be in English; currently, registering names in Chinese is not supported. It’s important to ensure that the company name adheres to the relevant regulations; otherwise, the name application might be rejected during the verification process, leading to delays in processing the company name change.
How to initiate a company name change in Singapore？
After finalizing the new company name, you’ll need to initiate the process for changing the company name with ACRA. This requires a special resolution passed during a shareholders’ meeting.
First, draft a written resolution to approve the company name change, specifying the date of the shareholders’ meeting. Notify all shareholders of the meeting’s date and location.
For private companies, you must provide written notice of the meeting at least 14 days in advance. If shareholders holding more than 95% of the voting rights consent, the meeting can be convened in a shorter timeframe.
During the meeting, the proposal to change the company name is considered approved only if more than three-quarters of the shareholders with voting rights consent.
Once the final resolution is passed, you must submit a copy of the resolution to ACRA within 14 days from the date of its approval. This can be done online through the BizFile+ website.
What do I need to prepare for changing a company name in Singapore？
- Original and duplicate copies of the Singapore company’s business license.
- Approval notification for the change of the company name in Singapore.
- Singapore company’s constitution.
- Photocopies of the Singapore company’s legal representative’s identification.
- Original constitution of the Singapore company.
- Registration form for changing the company name in Singapore.
The steps for processing a name change in Singapore
- Prepare the new company name and conduct a name search.
- Gather the required documents for the Singapore company name change.
- Sign the Singapore company change authorization agreement.
- Complete the Singapore company name change registration form.
- Submit the documents and wait for approval.
- After approval, have the new seal/stamp made.
- Purchase a new business license.
How long does it take to process a company name change in Singapore？
In general, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) of Singapore typically issues a new company registration certificate within two weeks of receiving the documents for a company name change. This process may take longer than the initial registration due to checks on name availability and reasons for the change.
The documents obtained after a company name change in Singapore
After submitting the documents for changing the company name or registration to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore, you will receive a new Certificate of Incorporation. The English company name on the certificate will be printed in uppercase letters.
The documents returned to you after the name change include: a Certificate of Name Change, records of the shareholders’ meeting or written resolutions regarding the company name change, and one new company seal.
