Key points
A representative office is temporary and intended for market research rather than income generation. A subsidiary is a separate Singapore company. A branch extends the overseas company, leaving the parent responsible for its liabilities. Re-domiciliation moves the company's legal registration to Singapore instead of merely adding an operating presence.
Planning your next steps
Foreign businesses must engage a corporate service provider for Singapore registration. The appropriate route depends on whether the objective is testing the market, conducting full operations through a separate entity or moving the legal home. ACRA also points to LP and LLP alternatives. Review the route-specific conditions before committing to a structure, particularly where existing contracts and parent-company liabilities matter.
Official source
A concise, independent Apex Gateway guide based on the official English source, not a reproduction of the complete document. Consult the original for full conditions, exceptions and subsequent updates.
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