How to Appoint a Director in Singapore: The 14-Day Rule (2026)
Appointing a new director? You must notify ACRA within 14 days, get the director’s written consent, and keep at least one locally resident director.
How do I appoint a director in Singapore?
A director appointment has three core steps: (1) the person consents in writing to act as a director and confirms they are not disqualified; (2) the company approves the appointment in accordance with its constitution (usually by directors’ or members’ resolution); and (3) the company lodges the change with ACRA.
The person being appointed must be at least 18 years old, of full legal capacity, and not disqualified from acting as a director (for example, by an unspent disqualification order or undischarged bankruptcy).
What is the 14-day rule for director appointments?
The company must notify ACRA within 14 days of appointing a director. The appointment is lodged electronically through Bizfile+. Historically this was done on the paper Form 45 (Consent to Act as a Director); today the consent is captured and the change is filed online, but the 14-day notification window still applies.
- Obtain the director’s written consent to act and their statement that they are not disqualified.
- Pass the required resolution to appoint the director.
- Lodge the appointment via Bizfile+ within 14 days of the appointment date.
- Ensure the company still meets the local resident director requirement (see below).
Must a Singapore company always have a local director?
Yes. Under section 145 of the Companies Act 1967, every company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore — that is, a Singapore citizen, permanent resident, or the holder of an eligible pass with a local residential address. You cannot let this fall to zero, even temporarily, so plan appointments and resignations together.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to notify ACRA of a new director?
You must notify ACRA within 14 days of the appointment, filing online via Bizfile+.
What is Form 45?
Form 45 is the traditional Consent to Act as a Director — the new director’s written consent and confirmation that they are not disqualified. The consent is required today and captured as part of the online filing.
Can a foreigner be a director of a Singapore company?
Yes, but the company must still have at least one locally resident director under section 145. Foreign directors are common alongside a local or nominee director.
Sources
- Your first year with a Singapore company: the 8 dates the owner must track personally
- The 7 pitfalls Chinese founders hit most when registering a Singapore company
- EP, nominee director, registered address: what expanding into Singapore really costs
This article is general information for Singapore corporate service providers, not legal or professional advice. Verify against the primary sources above and your own professional judgement.