Starting a company in Singapore is one of the most straightforward processes in the world — but there is one requirement that trips up many first-time founders: you need a registered office address before you can complete your ACRA filing.
If you are working from home, operating from overseas, or simply not ready to commit to expensive office space, a virtual office address is the simplest, most affordable way to meet this requirement. Here is exactly how it works.
Every company incorporated in Singapore must have a registered office address. This is the official address submitted to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) where:
A few important rules apply. The address must be a physical location in Singapore — P.O. boxes are not accepted. It must also be accessible to the public for at least three hours during normal business hours on each working day.
A virtual office address from a registered Corporate Service Provider (CSP) satisfies all of these requirements. The CSP operates a physical office unit at the address, receives your mail on your behalf, and makes the address available during business hours.
Not all virtual office providers are the same. Before you sign up, confirm that the provider:
VCO Office is a registered CSP (Registration Number: FA20170051), operating from a physical unit at Paya Lebar Square — beside Paya Lebar MRT, on the East-West and Circle Lines.
Once you have chosen a provider, sign up for a plan that suits your needs. For most local companies, a basic self-collection plan is sufficient to meet ACRA requirements. Plans that include mail forwarding or scanning add convenience if you prefer not to visit the office in person.
After subscribing online, your provider will issue a service agreement or confirmation letter confirming your registered office address. Some providers activate the address immediately; others complete a compliance check first, which typically takes one to two working days.
Keep this agreement. You may need to provide it to your corporate secretary, filing agent, or bank during the incorporation process.
Foreign nationals and overseas companies are required to use a registered filing agent when incorporating in Singapore. Local residents can file directly through ACRA BizFile+ using SingPass.
Your company secretary or filing agent will prepare the incorporation documents and submit them to ACRA on your behalf. Provide them with your virtual office address details at this stage.
Whether you are filing yourself or through an agent, the incorporation process takes place on the ACRA BizFile+ portal (bizfile.gov.sg).
Here is what to expect:
Reserve your company name. Check that your preferred business name is available. ACRA will review and approve the name, usually within a few hours to one working day.
Complete the company profile. You will be asked to fill in the registered office address, the nature of business (SSIC code), the financial year end, and the share structure.
Enter your registered office address. This is where you use your virtual office address. Enter the full address exactly as provided by your virtual office provider, including the unit number and postal code.
Appoint company officers. Every private limited company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore (a Singapore citizen, permanent resident, or holder of an eligible Employment Pass). You will also need a company secretary appointed within six months of incorporation.
Upload supporting documents. Depending on your business type and the nationality of your directors, ACRA may require identity documents and consent-to-act forms from officers.
Pay the registration fee. Fees range from S$315 for a private limited company. Payment is made online via BizFile+.
Once submitted, ACRA typically approves straightforward applications within one to three working days.
If you switch virtual office providers at any point, you must update your registered office address with ACRA. This is a simple process:
The change takes effect immediately once approved. Make sure your new address is active and compliant before submitting the change.
Once your company is registered, your virtual office address will appear on the ACRA public register. This is the address that government agencies, banks, and business partners will use for official correspondence.
A few practical things to arrange after incorporation:
Set up mail notifications. Your virtual office provider should alert you via email or WhatsApp whenever new mail arrives. Decide at this point whether you will collect mail in person, have it forwarded to another address, or receive scanned digital copies.
Open a corporate bank account. Singapore banks generally accept virtual office addresses for account opening, provided the address is ACRA-registered and the company meets standard due diligence requirements. Some banks may request your service agreement as supporting documentation.
Register for GST if required. If your annual turnover is expected to exceed S$1 million, you are required to register for Goods and Services Tax (GST) with IRAS. Your registered office address is used for GST correspondence.
Can I use a virtual office address for a sole proprietorship or partnership?
Yes. Sole proprietors and partnerships must provide a business address when registering with ACRA. Virtual office addresses are accepted, provided the provider meets ACRA requirements. P.O. boxes are not permitted.
Can I use a virtual office address as my operating address?
A virtual office address can serve as your registered address and contact address for ACRA purposes. It is not suitable as an operating address where staff physically work, or as a residential address for work pass holders. Some regulated industries — such as employment agencies and financial institutions — may also require a separate physical operating address.
Can I use the address to open a business bank account?
Most Singapore banks accept ACRA-registered virtual office addresses. Requirements vary by bank. Having a clean ACRA profile, a service agreement from your virtual office provider, and complete director documentation typically satisfies standard requirements.
How do I receive government letters if I am overseas?
A virtual office with mail scanning or forwarding solves this. With a mail scanning plan, all incoming mail is converted to searchable PDF and sent to your email the same day it arrives. With a forwarding plan, physical mail is dispatched weekly to a local or overseas address.
Setting up a company in Singapore with a virtual office address is a well-established, fully compliant route — chosen by thousands of startups, freelancers, and overseas businesses every year. The key steps are:
VCO Office plans start from S$48 per year with no GST, no setup fee, and a price-lock guarantee on renewal. The address is a physical office unit at Paya Lebar Square, accepted by ACRA for company registration and correspondence.
VCO Office is a registered Corporate Service Provider in Singapore (CSP Registration Number: FA20170051). This article is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice.
