The short answer
- A company secretary must be appointed within six months of incorporation and must live in Singapore.
- A sole director cannot also be the company secretary.
- For private companies, directors must be satisfied the secretary has the knowledge and experience for the role.
- Changes in officers are filed with ACRA within 14 days.
The legal minimum
- Appointed within six months of incorporation
- Principal or only place of residence in Singapore
- Not the sole director
- The office cannot be left vacant for more than six months
What a good secretary does
| Area | Work |
|---|---|
| Registers | Members, directors, secretaries, auditors, registrable controllers, nominee directors |
| Meetings | Board and shareholder meetings, minutes, written resolutions |
| Filings | Annual return, changes of officers, share allotments and transfers, address changes |
| Calendar | AGM, annual return, and reminders to the finance team |
| Governance | Advising directors on procedure, conflicts and the constitution |
What to ask before you appoint one
- Is the provider registered with ACRA as a corporate service provider?
- Who is the named secretary, and who covers when they are away?
- How fast are resolutions turned around?
- Do they know your industry and your group structure?
- Will they keep your registers in a form you can access any time?
What the secretary is not
The secretary is an officer of the company, not its decision-maker. They do not run the business, approve payments or sign contracts unless the board authorises them to. They are also not a substitute for the directors' own duty to file on time: if the annual return is late, it is the directors who answer for it. A good secretary makes sure that never happens by telling the directors early what is due and what they need to approve.
When the secretary changes something
Most changes the secretary handles have their own deadline at ACRA, often 14 days from the change. Changes of directors, secretaries, registered office, share allotments and transfers all fall here. Keep the secretary informed the day a change is decided, not the day it is needed.
Questions people ask
Can the sole director also be the company secretary?
No. The secretary must also live in Singapore and be appointed within six months of incorporation.
How quickly must officer changes be filed?
Within 14 days, with ACRA.
Talk it through with an adviser
Tell us your structure and deadlines. We reply with what applies to you and a fixed-fee proposal.
Sources
General information only, last reviewed 11 November 2026. It is not advice for your situation. Laws and practice change, and the official sources linked above prevail. Speak to a qualified adviser before you act.
