Register of Directors

A Register of Directors Singapore extract is an ACRA-generated record of the directors registered for a Singapore company. ACRA maintains this information electronically through Bizfile as the Electronic Register of Directors.

Raffles Corporate Services works with a panel of experienced Singapore law firms who offer cost-effective and efficient legal service and advice. This article is general information only and is not legal advice.

The register helps users verify who currently holds, or previously held, a directorship in the company. Therefore, banks, auditors, investors, regulators and transaction parties may review the extract during compliance or due-diligence checks. However, appearing in the register does not prove that a director owns shares in the company. Directorship and share ownership are separate legal relationships.

When the Register of Directors matters

A Register of Directors Singapore extract may be useful when:

• Opening or updating a corporate bank account.
• Confirming who may approve company decisions.
• Completing an audit or corporate-secretarial review.
• Conducting investment or acquisition due diligence.
• Verifying a director’s appointment or cessation date.
• Reviewing corporate governance arrangements.
• Investigating inconsistencies in company records.
• Supporting licence, grant or tender applications.

Additionally, the extract may help confirm whether ACRA has recorded a recently appointed or resigned director.

What an ACRA Register of Directors extract shows

The format and displayed fields may change. However, an ACRA director extract commonly includes:

Some personal information may not appear in full on publicly available records. Additionally, a director may register a contact address that ACRA displays instead of the residential address, subject to ACRA’s requirements.

Key requirements and process in Singapore

Minimum director requirement

Every Singapore company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore.

Additionally, a director must generally:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have legal capacity to make decisions.
• Not be disqualified from acting as a director.
• Satisfy the applicable local-residency requirement where acting as the resident director.
• Consent to the appointment.

Foreign identification number holders should also check whether their immigration or work-pass conditions permit them to accept the appointment.

Filing appointments and cessations

The company must update ACRA when:

• A director is appointed.
• A director resigns or is removed.
• A director becomes disqualified.
• A director’s recorded particulars change.
• A director changes their residential or contact address.

Generally, the company must file the relevant change through Bizfile within 14 days.

However, Singapore citizens and permanent residents generally report certain changes to their name, identification details or residential address directly to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. ACRA then receives the relevant government records, subject to the applicable process.

Typical supporting records

Companies should retain:

• The director’s signed consent to act.
• A board or shareholders’ resolution approving the appointment.
• The resignation letter, where applicable.
• A resolution recording the resignation or removal.
• Identity and address information.
• Work-pass or immigration confirmation, where relevant.
• Conflict-of-interest declarations.
• Updated bank mandate documents.

Therefore, the ACRA filing should form part of a broader appointment or cessation process.

How to download the Register of Directors from Bizfile

Active company officers or members can generally download the company’s electronic register through Bizfile.

Typical steps

1. Access the Bizfile portal.
2. Log in as a Business User using Corppass.
3. Select the relevant company.
4. Open the company-register download service.
5. Choose the Register of Directors.
6. Generate and save the available copy.

Eligible active officers and members generally receive free access to their company’s own registers. Meanwhile, other users may need to purchase an ACRA information product.

Bizfile menu labels can change. Therefore, refer to ACRA’s latest guide when navigating the portal.

Worked example

Tech Harbour Pte. Ltd. appoints Priya as an additional director on 1 August. Priya signs the required consent, and the company approves the appointment.

The company files the appointment through Bizfile on 5 August, within the applicable deadline. Consequently, the Register of Directors shows Priya as a registered director from the recorded appointment date.

The company should also update its internal records, bank mandate and conflict-of-interest documentation.

Register of Directors versus Register of Nominee Directors

The two registers have different functions.

A nominee director still appears in the Register of Directors because the person legally holds office as a director.

Additionally, unless an exemption applies, the company may need to maintain nominee information in its private Register of Nominee Directors and file the required information with ACRA’s central register.

Common pitfalls and practical tips

• Missing the 14-day filing period: File appointments, resignations and relevant changes promptly.
• Assuming a resignation letter updates ACRA: The company must complete the Bizfile notification.
• Leaving the company without a resident director: Maintain at least one director who satisfies the residency requirement.
• Confusing directors with shareholders: A director does not automatically own company shares.
• Using outdated extracts: Obtain a current document for banking or due diligence.
• Ignoring internal approvals: Keep signed consents, resolutions and resignation documents.
• Overlooking nominee-register obligations: Assess whether the director acts on another person’s instructions.
• Forgetting operational updates: Change bank mandates, authorised signatories and internal access rights.

Furthermore, directors remain subject to statutory and fiduciary duties while they hold office. An administrative title does not remove those responsibilities.

FAQs

Q1. Is the Register of Directors publicly available?

ACRA makes most company-register information publicly accessible. However, eligible company officers and members can generally download their own company’s register without charge, while other users may need to purchase the relevant product.

Q2. Does the register prove that a director owns the company?

No. The Register of Directors records directorships, not share ownership. The Register of Members records the company’s registered shareholders.

Q3. How soon must a new director be registered with ACRA?

The company generally needs to file the director’s appointment through Bizfile within 14 days of the change.

Q4. Can the sole director also act as company secretary?

A sole director cannot also act as the company secretary. However, a company with more than one director may appoint one of its directors as secretary if the individual satisfies the applicable requirements.

Q5. Does a nominee director appear in the Register of Directors?

Yes. A nominee director legally holds office and therefore appears as a director. Separate nominee-director disclosure and register requirements may also apply.