Q&A on Company Directors & Officers
Latest Update: Jan 2026
Company Incorporation
Directors & Officers
Scenario-based Questions
This page presents frequently asked questions about establishing and operating a company in Singapore in a “scenario format” based on actual inquiries from our clients. Unlike typical FAQs, it features questions that include specific situations and contexts, along with practical advice in response. Find a scenario that closely matches your own situation and use it as a reference.
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We add new questions every week. If you have a specific question, feel free to contact us.
Scenario-based questions on Directors & Officers
Scenario 1 > Expanding into Singapore: Own Products (Core Product: Sunscreen) / E-commerce Sales + Overseas Wholesale for futureQ1: We plan to start lean, and for the initial phase our Japanese founder will oversee the business from Japan. For incorporation, how do companies in our situation typically handle local requirements (such as a local director), especially when headcount is small in the beginning? And if the founder plans to apply for an EP later, what sequence tends to work best to avoid getting stuck—incorporation, bank account, initial sales traction, and then visa?
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Use a local nominee director to meet Singapore’s resident director requirement while keeping the team lean. Recommended sequence: incorporate → open bank/PSP accounts → start e-commerce operations → apply for Employment Pass once the company shows traction. This avoids getting stuck waiting for visa approval before operations can begin.
Answer
For early-stage foreign founders managing the business from Japan, it’s common to use a local nominee director to meet Singapore’s requirement of at least one resident director. This enables incorporation and banking while keeping the team lean.
Practical approach:
- Incorporate the company with a local director or corporate service provider nominee
- Open bank and PSP accounts using the incorporated entity
- Start initial e-commerce operations to build traction
- Apply for an Employment Pass (EP) for the founder once the company is operational, with a clear business plan and financial projections
Key takeaway: Using a nominee director allows operations to start smoothly. The typical sequence is: incorporation → bank/PSP setup → initial sales → EP application to avoid delays.
-
Use a local nominee director to meet Singapore’s resident director requirement while keeping the team lean. Recommended sequence: incorporate → open bank/PSP accounts → start e-commerce operations → apply for Employment Pass once the company shows traction. This avoids getting stuck waiting for visa approval before operations can begin.
Answer
For early-stage foreign founders managing the business from Japan, it’s common to use a local nominee director to meet Singapore’s requirement of at least one resident director. This enables incorporation and banking while keeping the team lean.
Practical approach:
- Incorporate the company with a local director or corporate service provider nominee
- Open bank and PSP accounts using the incorporated entity
- Start initial e-commerce operations to build traction
- Apply for an Employment Pass (EP) for the founder once the company is operational, with a clear business plan and financial projections
Key takeaway: Using a nominee director allows operations to start smoothly. The typical sequence is: incorporation → bank/PSP setup → initial sales → EP application to avoid delays.
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