What Does a Singapore Company Business License Look Like? (Singapore Company Registration Documents)

Singapore's company registration process is simple and efficient. After registration is completed, a series of official documents will be generated as proof of the company's legal existence. These documents are not only the legal basis for company establishment but also important materials for opening bank accounts, signing contracts, and conducting business. Singapore company registration is now fully completed online, with no paper business licenses provided - all documents are in electronic format. Below is an explanation of the main documents obtained after company registration, helping everyone understand the content and purposes of these documents.

1. Singapore Company Registration Documents

Certificate of Incorporation
After company registration is completed, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) of Singapore will issue an electronic Certificate of Incorporation. This certificate contains the company's registration number (UEN, i.e., Unique Entity Number) and registration date, proving that the company has been legally registered in Singapore and has legitimate business qualifications. However, this certificate is not provided free of charge - the download fee is S$50. Since this document is rarely used in daily business operations, companies usually only pay to download it when specifically needed.

Business Profile
The Business Profile, commonly known as the "registration paper", is a company information document issued by ACRA that details the company name, registration number, registered address, shareholders, directors, company secretary, and other basic information. This document is considered an important document used in the company's daily operations, somewhat similar to a traditional "business license". Downloading the Business Profile requires a fee of S$5.50. In daily operations, partners generally require a Business Profile downloaded within the last three months to ensure the company information is current. If the document expires, it needs to be re-downloaded with payment. Additionally, anyone can pay through ACRA to download a company's Business Profile to check the company's basic information.

Constitution
The Constitution is an internal management document established when the company is set up, stipulating the company name, business scope, rights and obligations of shareholders and directors, etc. The Constitution is a fundamental legal document for company operations and is crucial in company management and decision-making. During company registration, companies can choose to use the standard constitution template provided by ACRA or draft their own constitution content according to company needs.

Shareholder Agreement and Share Certificates
The shareholder agreement clarifies the rights, responsibilities, and obligations among shareholders, while share certificates are formal proof of shares held by shareholders. After company registration is completed, the board of directors will issue share certificates to confirm shareholders' shareholdings. Shareholder agreements and share certificates are particularly important when share transfers, capital increases, and other matters occur in the company, serving as legal documents protecting shareholder rights.

Appointment Letters for Directors and Company Secretary
According to Singapore company law requirements, each company must appoint at least one director and one company secretary. After registration is completed, the company will issue appointment letters for directors and secretary to clarify their responsibilities and appointment dates. This document is a statutory compliance document ensuring the legality of company management.

2. How to Obtain Company Registration Documents

All documents can be downloaded through ACRA's BizFile+ system. The specific steps are as follows:

1. Login to BizFile+ System: Login to ACRA's BizFile+ system through the company account and select the documents to download.
2. Pay Fees: Downloading the Business Profile and other registration documents requires payment of corresponding fees (such as S$5.50 for Business Profile, S$50 for Certificate of Incorporation). After payment is completed, you can obtain electronic documents in PDF format.
3. Document Storage: It is recommended that companies properly store electronic versions of registration documents and back them up for future needs. These documents may be used multiple times in external business, contract signing, and internal compliance reviews.

3. Validity Period of Company Registration Documents

Singapore company registration documents themselves have no fixed validity period, but companies must submit Annual Returns to ACRA on time each year and update their Business Profile to ensure the accuracy and compliance of company information. If a company fails to submit Annual Returns on time, it may result in changes to the company's registration status or even license revocation. Therefore, timely submission of compliance documents and updating the Business Profile are basic requirements for maintaining normal company operations.