Corporate Service Providers Regulations 2025

on behalf of another person; or

for one or more companies as a secretary for each of those companies.

a registered qualified individual (excluding a deemed registered qualified individual) employed, engaged or appointed by a registered corporate service provider;

an authorised employee of a registered corporate service provider under the supervision of the registered corporate service provider (if the registered corporate service provider is also a registered qualified individual) or under the supervision of a registered qualified individual (excluding a deemed registered qualified individual) employed, engaged or appointed by the registered corporate service provider.

full name;

NRIC number, foreign identification number (FIN) or passport number, or a foreign equivalent.

where X is also a registered qualified individual, notify the Registrar if X proposes to carry out any corporate service by himself or herself;

notify the Registrar of the full name and particulars of each registered qualified individual employed, engaged or appointed by X to carry out, or to supervise the carrying out of, any corporate service; and

where X is carrying on business at an address other than its registered office address, notify the Registrar of the address at which X carries on business.

where the change is to information or particulars notified under paragraph (1)(a) or (b) — within 14 days after the date of change; or

where the change is to information notified under paragraph (1)(c) — as soon as possible after the date of change.

NRIC number, foreign identification number (FIN) or passport number, or a foreign equivalent;

any address to which correspondence may be forwarded to the registered qualified individual;

email address;

contact number.

regularly assess; and

if the Registrar requires, demonstrate to the Registrar,the effectiveness of X’s internal policies, procedures and controls mentioned in regulation 14.

X’s means of access to the electronic transaction system has been used to carry out any ACRA transaction with the ACRA Registrar —

which does not relate to a customer of X, or which is not authorised by that customer;

for any purpose prohibited by the ACRA Registrar; or

for any illegal purpose;

X’s means of access to the electronic transaction system has been used by any person other than a registered qualified individual (excluding a deemed registered qualified individual) employed, engaged or appointed by X, or an authorised employee of X under X’s supervision (if X is also a registered qualified individual) or under the supervision of a registered qualified individual (excluding a deemed registered qualified individual) employed, engaged or appointed by X;

any registered qualified individual (excluding a deemed registered qualified individual) employed, engaged or appointed by X has failed to carry out the duties and responsibilities set out in regulations 43 to 48 in respect of any ACRA transaction with the ACRA Registrar using the electronic transaction system; or

any authorised employee of X who carries out any ACRA transaction with the ACRA Registrar using the electronic transaction system under X’s supervision (if X is also a registered qualified individual) or under the supervision of a registered qualified individual (excluding a deemed registered qualified individual) employed, engaged or appointed by X, has failed to comply with —

the Registrar’s directions;

X’s internal policies, procedures and controls; and

the instructions of X or the registered qualified individual employed, engaged or appointed by X, or both,regarding access to, and use of, the electronic transaction system,X must, within 2 business days after becoming aware of the occurrence of any circumstance described in sub‑paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) or having reasonable grounds to believe that any such circumstance has occurred, report that circumstance to the Registrar.

an individual who is or has been entrusted with any prominent public function in Singapore;

an individual who is or has been entrusted with any prominent public function in a country or territory outside Singapore; or

an individual who is or has been entrusted with any prominent public function by an international organisation,and includes —

an individual who is an immediate family member of an individual mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a), (b) or (c); and

an individual who is a close associate of an individual mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a), (b) or (c).

includes the role held by a head of state, head of government, government minister, senior civil or public servant, senior judicial or military official, senior executive of a state‑owned corporation, senior political party official, or member of the legislature; but(b)does not include the role held by middle ranking or more junior officials.

includes the role held by a director, deputy director, member of the board, or member of the senior management, of the international organisation; but(b)does not include the role held by middle ranking or more junior officials.

A is a partner of B;

A is an employee or employer of B;

A is an officer of any corporation of which B is an officer;

A and B are both employees of the same individual;

A is accustomed or under an obligation, whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of B;

B is accustomed or under an obligation, whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of A; or

A is a person with whom B has an agreement or arrangement, whether oral or in writing and whether express or implied, to act together to engage the services of a registered corporate service provider.

before providing any corporate service to a customer; and

where the registered corporate service provider has reason —

to suspect money laundering, proliferation financing or terrorism financing; or

to doubt the veracity or adequacy of documents, data or information obtained from earlier CDD measures.

X’s customers;

the countries or territories which X’s customers are from or in;

the countries or territories in which X has operations; and

the products, corporate services and transactions undertaken by X.

documenting X’s risk assessments;

considering all the relevant risk factors before determining the overall level of risk and the appropriate type and extent of mitigation to be applied;

keeping X’s risk assessments up to date; and

providing X’s risk assessments to the Registrar upon request.

determine the extent of CDD measures to be performed in relation to a customer on a risk‑sensitive basis, based on the customer risk assessment described in paragraph (2), depending on the type of customer, business relationship, product, corporate service or transaction; and

be able to demonstrate to the Registrar that the extent of the measures is appropriate in view of the risks of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing.

full name, including any alias;

NRIC number, foreign identification number (FIN), birth certificate number or passport number (in the case of a customer who is an individual), or incorporation number or registration number (in the case of a customer that is a body corporate or unincorporate);

existing residential address or address of its place of business or registered office (as the case may be), and contact number;

the date of birth, incorporation or registration, as the case may be;

the nationality or place of incorporation or registration, as the case may be.

verify the identities of the customer and the customer’s agent (if any), as well as the persons mentioned in paragraph (3), (4), (5) or (6) (if applicable), using reliable and independent sources;

verify the authority of a customer’s agent (if any) to act on behalf of the customer; and

retain a copy of all documents used in establishing and verifying the matters mentioned in sub‑paragraphs (a) and (b).

identifying the natural persons (whether acting alone or together) who ultimately own all the assets or undertakings of the body corporate;

to the extent that there is doubt under sub‑paragraph (a) as to whether the natural persons who ultimately own all the assets or undertakings of the body corporate are the beneficial owners or where no natural persons ultimately own all the assets or undertakings of the body corporate, identifying the natural persons (if any) who have ultimate control or ultimate effective control over the body corporate; and

where no natural persons are identified under sub‑paragraph (a) or (b), identifying the natural persons having executive authority in the body corporate, or in equivalent or similar positions.

for an express trust — the settlor, the trustees, the protector (if any), the beneficiaries or class of beneficiaries, and any natural person having ultimate ownership of the assets or undertakings of the trust, or exercising ultimate control or ultimate effective control over the trust (including through a chain of control or ownership or both);

for any other type of legal arrangement — the persons in equivalent or similar positions, as those described in sub‑paragraph (a).

an entity listed on the Singapore Exchange;

an entity listed on a stock exchange outside Singapore that is subject to —

regulatory disclosure requirements; and

requirements relating to adequate transparency in respect of its beneficial owners, imposed through stock exchange rules, laws or other enforceable means;

a Singapore financial institution;

a financial institution incorporated or established outside Singapore that is subject to and supervised for compliance with requirements for the prevention of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing, consistent with the standards set by the FATF; or

an investment vehicle, the managers of which are —

Singapore financial institutions; or

financial institutions incorporated or established outside Singapore that are subject to and supervised for compliance with requirements for the prevention of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing, consistent with the standards set by the FATF,unless X has doubts about the veracity of the information obtained in carrying out CDD measures under this Part or suspects that the customer is carrying out or facilitating money laundering, proliferation financing or terrorism financing.

must obtain and record the information that is required to confirm that the customer is a Singapore government entity as asserted; and

need not inquire if there exists any beneficial owner in relation to the customer if X has obtained the required information mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a).

against any lists and information provided by the Registrar and any relevant law enforcement authority; and

against any other source of information relating to money laundering, proliferation financing or terrorism financing, as the Registrar may direct.

determine if the customer or any agent, connected party or beneficial owner of that customer is a designated person as defined in any regulations made under the United Nations Act 2001; and

assess whether the customer or any agent, connected party or beneficial owner of that customer is a terrorist or terrorist entity under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act 2002.

the deferral of completion of the verification is essential in order not to interrupt the normal conduct of business operations; and

the risks of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing can be effectively managed by X.

adopt internal risk management policies and procedures concerning the conditions under which such corporate services may be provided before verification; and

complete such verification as soon as is reasonably practicable.

X is satisfied that Y —

is subject to and supervised for compliance with requirements for the prevention of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing, and for the recording and reporting of transactions suspected of involving money laundering, proliferation financing or terrorism financing, consistent with the standards set by the FATF; and

has adequate measures in place to comply with those requirements;

X takes appropriate steps to identify, assess and understand the risks of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing in the countries or territories that Y operates in;

Y is not a third party which X has been specifically precluded by the Registrar from relying upon;

Y is able and willing to provide, without delay, upon X’s request, any documents, data or information obtained by Y with respect to the CDD measures performed in relation to X’s customer.

document the basis for its satisfaction that the requirements in paragraph (1)(a) and (b) have been met; and

immediately obtain from Y the CDD documents, data or information which Y had obtained.

identify and verify the identities of the customer, the customer’s agents and all the beneficial owners of the customer; and

screen the customer, the customer’s agents and all the beneficial owners of the customer against any lists and information and any source of information mentioned in regulation 22(1)(a) and (b), respectively.

if the customer is from or in a relevant country or territory;

where X suspects that money laundering, proliferation financing or terrorism financing is being committed or facilitated.

the details of the risk assessment performed on that customer, including when it was done; and

the nature of the simplified CDD measures.

in respect of all complex or unusually large transactions, or unusual patterns of transactions that have no apparent or visible economic or lawful purpose;

when X proposes to provide or has provided corporate services to, or has established a business relationship with, any person from or in a relevant country or territory;

in respect of any other categories of customers or any other transactions which X determines may present a high risk of money laundering, proliferation financing or terrorism financing;

in respect of a business relationship or transaction with a customer, where the customer is from or in a relevant country or territory;

in respect of a customer if X is not able to establish whether the customer has any —

ongoing, apparent or visible operation or business activity; or

economic or business purpose for its corporate structure or arrangement; and

subject to regulation 27, when X proposes to provide a corporate service to a politically‑exposed person.

inquiring into the background and purpose of any corporate service that X is employed, engaged or appointed to carry out;

obtaining approval from the senior management of X to provide or to continue to provide corporate services to a customer;

establishing by appropriate and reasonable means the source of wealth and source of funds which are involved in the proposed business relationship; and

keeping a written record of X’s findings in respect of the CDD measures and the measures in sub‑paragraphs (a), (b) and (c).

a politically‑exposed person mentioned in regulation 17(1)(a), or an immediate family member or a close associate of that person;

a politically‑exposed person mentioned in regulation 17(1)(c), or an immediate family member or a close associate of that person;

a politically‑exposed person who has stepped down from the person’s prominent public function, taking into consideration the level of influence the person may continue to exercise after stepping down from that prominent public function, or an immediate family member or a close associate of that person.

at least one proposed director (other than a nominee director);

at least one proposed member who holds not less than 50% of the voting rights of the proposed company; or

an authorised representative of a proposed member described in sub‑paragraph (b), if —

the proposed member is a legal person; and

the authorised representative is an individual,for the purpose of verifying —

the identities of the proposed director, proposed member or authorised representative; and

that the proposed director, proposed member or authorised representative has been validly authorised to receive the corporate service to be provided or represent the company concerned.

must take all reasonable measures to ensure that the proposed director has consented to act as a director;

must ensure that Form 45 in the Second Schedule to the Companies Regulations (Rg 1) has been signed by the proposed director and retain a copy of the same; and

must not sign Form 45 on behalf of the proposed director.

in respect of all complex or unusually large transactions, or unusual patterns of transactions that have no apparent or visible economic or lawful purpose;

when X has established a business relationship with any person from or in a relevant country or territory;

in respect of any other categories of customers or any other transactions which X determines may present a high risk of money laundering, proliferation financing or terrorism financing;

in respect of a business relationship or transaction with a customer, where the customer is from or in a relevant country or territory;

in respect of a customer if X is not able to establish whether the customer has any —

ongoing, apparent or visible operation or business activity; or

economic or business purpose for its corporate structure or arrangement; and

when X has established a business relationship with a politically‑exposed person.

CDD measures (including simplified and enhanced CDD measures) and ongoing monitoring (including enhanced ongoing monitoring);

reporting;

record‑keeping;

risk assessment and management;

audit of the internal policies, procedures and controls;

the monitoring and management of compliance with, and the internal communication of, the internal policies, procedures and controls;

hiring and training of employees;

customer screening.

which provide for the identification and scrutiny of —

complex or unusually large transactions;

unusual patterns of transactions which have no apparent economic or visible lawful purpose; and

any other activity which X regards as particularly likely by its nature to be related to money laundering, proliferation financing or terrorism financing;

which specify the taking of additional measures, where appropriate, to mitigate the risk of —

the development of new products and new business practices, including new delivery mechanisms, for money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing; and

the use of new or developing technologies, for both new and pre‑existing products, for money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing; and

to determine whether any customer or any agent or beneficial owner of a customer is a politically‑exposed person.

any risk of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing;

the size of X’s business.

policies and procedures for the sharing of information within the group for the purposes of customer due diligence and risk management of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing; and

adequate safeguards on the confidentiality and use of the information mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a) that is shared.

X has a branch or subsidiary in a country or territory outside Singapore; and

that country or territory is known to have inadequate measures in relation to the detection and prevention of money laundering, proliferation financing or terrorism financing —

as determined by X;

as notified to X by the Registrar or any relevant authority in that country or territory; or

as identified by the FATF,X must, to the extent that the laws of that country or territory permit, ensure that the group‑wide programmes mentioned in paragraph (1) are strictly observed by the management of that branch or subsidiary.

X has a branch or subsidiary in a country or territory outside Singapore; and

that country or territory has laws where the minimum requirements in relation to the detection and prevention of money laundering, proliferation financing or terrorism financing are less stringent than those in Singapore,X must ensure that the branch or subsidiary implements, to the extent that the laws of that country or territory permit, the requirements for the prevention of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing that are applicable in Singapore.

independent; and

able to regularly assess the effectiveness of X’s internal policies, procedures and controls, and X’s compliance with these Regulations.

develop compliance management arrangements to continually review and update X’s internal policies, procedures and controls for the prevention of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing; and

appoint an employee or officer in a management position as X’s compliance officer in relation to the prevention of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing.

implement screening procedures for the hiring of fit and proper persons as employees; and

ensure that X’s employees, whether in Singapore or elsewhere, are trained on —

the laws for the prevention of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing, including this Part, the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992, the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act 2002 and other legislation concerning the prevention of money laundering, proliferation financing or terrorism financing that the Registrar may specify;

prevailing methods of, and trends in, money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing; and

X’s internal policies, procedures and controls for the prevention of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing, including the roles and responsibilities of employees, registered qualified individuals and officers of X in relation to these internal policies, procedures and controls.

written directions with respect to the standards to be maintained by X in the conduct of X’s business to give effect to the provisions of this Part;

where X is contravening, is likely to contravene or has contravened any provision of this Part, written directions to require X —

to comply with that provision or to cease contravention of that provision;

to take any action necessary to enable X to conduct X’s business in accordance with sound principles for the prevention of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing; and

to make good any default committed by X; and

written directions for any other purpose specified in this Part.

the development of new products and new business practices, including new delivery mechanisms; and

the use of new or developing technologies for both new and existing products.

new products and new business practices, including new delivery mechanisms, that favour anonymity; and

new or developing technologies for both new and pre‑existing products that favour anonymity.

provide the Registrar with the identity, together with any particulars that the Registrar may determine, of each authorised employee appointed by the registered qualified individual to carry out any ACRA transaction with the ACRA Registrar using the electronic transaction system under the supervision of the registered qualified individual; and

notify the Registrar of any change, or of any change in any particulars, of an authorised employee mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a).

is not a fit and proper person; or

is not an employee of the registered corporate service provider.

the registered qualified individual has reasonable cause to believe that the individual has ceased to be a fit and proper person; or

the individual has ceased to be employed by the registered corporate service provider.

any document used for, or in connection with, any ACRA transaction with the ACRA Registrar carried out by the registered qualified individual or an authorised employee appointed by the registered qualified individual using the electronic transaction system is incomplete or not in the proper form;

any information in any document used for, or in connection with, any ACRA transaction with the ACRA Registrar using the electronic transaction system by the registered qualified individual or an authorised employee appointed by the registered qualified individual is inaccurate;

an ACRA transaction with the ACRA Registrar using the electronic transaction system by the registered qualified individual or an authorised employee appointed by the registered qualified individual has been carried out which —

does not relate to a customer of the registered qualified individual (if the registered qualified individual is also a registered corporate service provider), or the principal registered corporate service provider; or

is not authorised by that customer;

the registered qualified individual’s means of access to the electronic transaction system has been used by the registered qualified individual or an authorised employee appointed by the registered qualified individual to access the electronic transaction system —

for any purpose prohibited by the ACRA Registrar; or

for any illegal purpose; or

an authorised employee of the registered qualified individual has carried out any ACRA transaction with the ACRA Registrar using the electronic transaction system when the authorised employee —

was not at the time a fit and proper person; or

has ceased to be employed by the registered qualified individual (if the registered qualified individual is also a registered corporate service provider), or by the principal registered corporate service provider.

permit the Registrar or an officer authorised by the Registrar to, at any time during the hours of business of the registered corporate service provider, enter and inspect the premises at which the registered corporate service provider is carrying on business, and any document on those premises which the Registrar or officer reasonably requires to inspect, for the purpose of ascertaining whether any provision in Part 3, 4 or 5 is being or has been contravened;

produce any document, and provide any information or explanation, that the Registrar or an officer authorised by the Registrar reasonably requires to determine whether any provision in Part 3, 4 or 5 is being or has been contravened; and

permit the Registrar or an officer authorised by the Registrar to retain and make copies of any document produced.

a registration that is cancelled or suspended under section 18, 19, 20 or 21; or

a withdrawal of any application or appeal.