The Singapore Government
Government Departments
Enterprise Singapore
Enterprise Singapore is the government agency supporting enterprise development. They work with companies to build capabilities, innovate and internationalise and also support the growth of Singapore as a hub for global trading and startups. Also acts as the national standards and accreditation body.
ACRA
The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Association is the agency that regulates businesses in Singapore, and is the accounting standards authority. Through ACRA’s BizFile, you can perform various business transactions with the Singapore government, such as purchasing licenses, and registering businesses.
ICA
Among its duties, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority issues visas to foreigners who wish to stay in Singapore. You are likely to apply to the ICA for long stay passes. The ICA is essentially charged with keeping undesirable persons and cargo from entering Singapore. You are likely to visit it purely to submit applications, and collect visas.
EDB Singapore
Among the Singapore Economic Development Board's support systems for business in Singapore are financial support packages for new and growing businesses that produce innovative products and services, especially those that demonstrate ability to scale internationally, using Singapore as the hub of their operations.
The SingPass
The SingPass (Singapore Personal Access) is your unique identifier as a resident of Singapore to interact with Government services electronically. It acts as a password using your visa ID (FIN number, etc) as a public key. Importantly, you use the SingPass to set up a business, hence only holders of a SingPass can set up a business.
Residents of Singapore who are entitled to a SingPass are:
- Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents
- Valid Employment, EntrePass, S-Pass, Dependant Pass, Long Term Visit Pass holders
- Selected Work Permit holders
How To Get A SingPass
https://www.singpass.gov.sg/singpass/register/instructions
Once you have registered a SingPass you may interact with the Government websites that use the SingPass as a login password.