Singapore Business Licenses

In Singapore, there are three (3) main types of licenses. These are:

Compulsory Licenses

Certain businesses need to obtain licenses before they can commence operations. For example, childcare centres require a Child Care Centre licence.

Occupational Licenses

Certain professions need to obtain specific licenses from their respective professional organizations. These include doctors, lawyers, architects and accountants.

Business Activity Based Licenses

Some types of business activities require specific licenses or permits. For example, in order to sell liquor, you will need a liquor license.

Note: The timeframe for license application can vary from a few days to a matter of weeks. Some types of business licenses require approval from more than one authority, and might require site visits. In gist, license application should be considered when deciding the opening date of your business.

License Application Service

At SCI, we have extensive experience in assisting our clients with their business licensing needs from various government bodies. We have successfully secured various types of licenses, including but not limited to:

Arts and Entertainment

This includes:

Public Entertainment (PE) Licence – for running an establishment like a club or bar.
Copyright Licence to Play Copyrighted Music, Videos & Films.

Food and Beverage

This includes:

Food Shop/Food Stall License
Liquor Licence – to sell alcohol in your establishment (N.B. you will need this license for a club if you are serving alcohol there).

Private Education

Mandatory registration if providing education to 10 or more people.

Child Care/Early Education

You need to register if you are planning to run a:

Kindergarten; or
child care centre.

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services

Architects, accountants, engineers, lawyers and veterinarians need to get their occupational licences before they can practice.

Telecommunication

This includes:

Services-Based Operator (Class) Licence;
Services-Based Operator (Individual) Licence.

Infocomm

This includes:

Telecommunications Dealers’ (Class) Licence – to sell approved equipment.
Second-hand Goods Dealers Licence – to deal with second-hand phones.

Manufacturing

This includes:

Essential Registration For All Manufacturers – factory, lifting equipment or pressure vessel; and
Other Licenses That Might be Needed – You will also need other licences/permits depending on type of factory premises, products, materials/apparatus, manufacturing-related activities e.g. pollution, waste discharge etc.

Healthcare

This includes:

Compulsory Licence For All Healthcare Institutions must be obtained before you can operate.
Other Licenses That Might be Needed – Depends on whether you have operating clinics, pharmacies, importing medicines, etc.

Trading (including export and import of goods)

This includes:

Before you start trading, you must activate your Customs Account.
Other Licenses That Might be Needed – Depends on whether you intend to import goods from overseas, export goods from Singapore, tranship goods through Singapore, trade controlled goods, e.g. animals, food products, trade strategic goods e.g. chemical and biological weapons.

Need help securing your Singapore Business License?

Secure your business license with Singapore Company Incorporation, the leading corporate services provider in Singapore. Our specialists will attend to every step of your application thoroughly.

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