For Singapore SMEs eyeing their first overseas customers, the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant administered by Enterprise Singapore remains the most accessible piece of internationalisation funding on the market. It defrays up to 70% of the third-party costs of breaking into a new overseas market — and from 1 April 2026, the enhanced 70% support tier announced in Budget 2026 is locked in for SMEs that meet the eligibility criteria.
Despite years of refinement, the MRA continues to confuse first-time applicants. Companies routinely submit applications too late, lump multiple markets into one application, or skip the consultant due-diligence step that determines whether a claim will be paid out at the end.
This 2026 guide explains who qualifies, what activities are supported, the funding caps, and the application sequence that maximises the probability of approval.
Who Is Eligible for the MRA Grant in 2026?
Per Enterprise Singapore’s eligibility criteria, an applicant must be:
- Business entity registered and operating in Singapore.
- At least 30% local shareholding held by Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents.
- Group annual sales turnover not more than S$100 million, or group employment size of not more than 200.
- Less than S$100,000 in overseas sales in each of the last three preceding years in the target market for the activity.
The “less than S$100,000 of overseas sales” test is applied per market per year, so a company that already has US$2 million of sales to Australia can still apply for an MRA project targeting Indonesia.
For a wider look at how MRA fits alongside Singapore’s other grant schemes, see our companion guides on the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) and on stacking Singapore government grants.
The Three Pillars of MRA-Supported Activities
MRA support is structured around three pillars, each with its own activities and cap. From 1 April 2026, the support level for SMEs is enhanced to 70% per pillar:
Pillar 1: Overseas Market Promotion
Supports activities to identify and engage potential customers in the target market. Common eligible expenses:
- Costs of participating in approved overseas trade fairs (booth rental, fittings, freight)
- In-market business missions and physical road shows
- Costs of an in-market business matching consultant
- Marketing materials specifically created for the target market (brochures, translation, video production)
Pillar 2: Overseas Business Development
Supports the costs of identifying suitable in-market partners, distributors, agents, or licensees, including:
- Engagement of an in-market business development consultant
- Customer prospecting research
- Partner due-diligence reports
- Negotiation and contract review (where the consultant is providing such services as part of a partner-search engagement)
Pillar 3: Overseas Market Set-Up
Supports the establishment of an in-market presence — typically a representative office, branch, or subsidiary. Eligible costs include:
- Incorporation and registration fees in the overseas market
- Tax and legal advisory directly relating to the set-up
- Visa, work-pass, and immigration costs for Singapore staff being deployed
- Initial office set-up costs
Funding for overseas market set-up under Pillar 3 is capped at S$30,000 per market.
Funding Caps and Examples
| Pillar | Support Level (from 1 Apr 2026) | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Overseas Market Promotion | Up to 70% for SMEs | Activity-specific (varies) |
| 2. Overseas Business Development | Up to 70% for SMEs | Activity-specific (varies) |
| 3. Overseas Market Set-Up | Up to 70% for SMEs | S$30,000 per market |
| Lifetime cap per company | S$100,000 (across all markets) | |
Worked example. A Singapore F&B SME engages a Vietnam-based business development consultant for S$30,000 to find a distributor. At 70% support, MRA reimburses S$21,000, leaving the SME with S$9,000 of net cost.
Critical Application Rules
The MRA’s eligibility rules are strict. Watch out for these:
- One activity, one market per application. Singapore Trade Fair Programme applications targeting two markets in one trip require two separate MRA applications.
- No retrospective applications. The project must not have started, no payment to the consultant or vendor may have been made, and no contract may have been signed before the application is submitted.
- Apply within the six-month forward window. Applications can only be submitted up to six months before the proposed project start date.
- Each project ≤ 12 months. Projects exceeding 12 months are not supported under a single MRA application.
- No group applications. Two or more companies cannot share a single MRA application; each must apply on its own.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1 — Self-assess eligibility. Confirm the 30% local shareholding, group turnover/headcount, and the <S$100,000 in-market sales in each of the last three years.
Step 2 — Define the activity and market. Each MRA application must specify exactly one activity in exactly one overseas market. Pick the market where the commercial case is strongest.
Step 3 — Engage a vendor or consultant. Get at least one quote (two are recommended for amounts above S$10,000). Ensure the consultant has the in-market track record to deliver the deliverables.
Step 4 — Prepare supporting documentation. Typical documents:
- ACRA Bizfile profile
- Latest audited or management financial statements
- Proposed scope of work and timeline
- Vendor / consultant quote(s) and corporate profile
- Internationalisation plan describing the business case for the chosen market
Step 5 — Submit the application via the Business Grants Portal. Applications are made through the Business Grants Portal (BGP) — note: applicants log in via Singpass or Corppass.
Step 6 — Letter of Offer and project execution. If approved, Enterprise Singapore issues a Letter of Offer specifying the supportable scope and amount. The applicant must accept the Letter of Offer before any costs are incurred.
Step 7 — Submit the claim within four months of project completion. Reimbursement is paid only on submission of valid invoices, proof of payment, and a project completion report.
Common Reasons MRA Applications Are Rejected
Across MRA applications we have supported, these reasons recur:
- Project already started. Even an exploratory site visit can constitute a project start, disqualifying the application retrospectively.
- Vendor lacks in-market expertise. Singapore-based consultants without genuine in-market presence frequently fail the supportability test.
- Internationalisation plan is generic. Plans copy-pasted from a template without market-specific analysis are flagged.
- Lifetime cap exceeded. Companies that have already drawn S$100,000 in MRA support across previous markets cannot apply for further support.
- 30% local shareholding lost. A capital injection from a foreign investor that drops local shareholding below 30% disqualifies the company mid-project — affecting the claim, not just future applications.
MRA, EDG and PSG — Which Should You Apply For?
The three flagship Enterprise Singapore grants serve different purposes:
- MRA — narrow, fast, internationalisation-only. Ideal first grant for SMEs going overseas.
- EDG (Enterprise Development Grant) — broader projects, larger budgets, more documentation. Suited for transformation projects with a clear ROI.
- PSG (Productivity Solutions Grant) — reimbursement against pre-approved digital solutions. Suited for off-the-shelf software adoption.
For most first-time exporters, MRA is the right starting point. For tax-treatment of grants received, see IRAS guidance on government grants.
Documentation Tips From Successful Applications
The applications that get approved fastest tend to share these traits:
- A one-page market-entry rationale that quantifies the addressable market and explains why this market and why now
- A vendor quote that specifies clear deliverables, milestones, and amounts (avoid open-ended retainers)
- A project plan with dates and deliverables that match the quote
- Recent management accounts that demonstrate the company can fund the unsupported portion of the project
- Realistic claim projections that align with the activity (e.g. trade-fair claims should align with the dates of the actual fair)
How Raffles Corporate Services Can Help
We routinely help Singapore SMEs prepare and submit MRA applications, source qualified in-market consultants, and manage the claim process at the end of the project. We also help clients sequence MRA alongside EDG, PSG, and the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit so the same project gets supported under multiple schemes where eligible.
If you’re considering taking your business overseas in 2026, talk to Raffles Corporate Services early — applications submitted before contracts are signed are the only ones that succeed.
— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services