What is a Nominee Director in Singapore? (2026)
A nominee director is a locally resident director appointed to satisfy the section 145 residency requirement, often used by foreign-owned companies.
Why do companies use a nominee director?
Foreign-owned companies that do not yet have a local resident director commonly appoint a nominee director to satisfy the section 145 requirement while they set up operations or obtain a local pass holder. The nominee is a real, resident individual who is properly appointed and filed with ACRA.
Does a nominee director have real responsibilities?
Yes. A nominee director is a director in law and owes the same fiduciary and statutory duties as any other director — including duties to act in the company’s interests and to comply with the Companies Act. A nominee arrangement does not reduce those duties, and providers must still conduct due diligence on the customer. Confirm the current regulatory expectations for nominee director arrangements with ACRA, as they are set under the CSP framework.
Frequently asked questions
Does a nominee director have fewer responsibilities than a normal director?
No. A nominee director owes the same fiduciary and statutory duties as any other director — the arrangement does not reduce those duties.
Why would a company appoint a nominee director?
Foreign-owned companies that do not yet have a local resident director commonly appoint one to satisfy the section 145 residency requirement while they set up operations or obtain a local pass holder.
What legal requirement does a nominee director satisfy?
Section 145 of the Companies Act, which requires every company to have at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore.
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.