For a company incorporated in Singapore, why is A resident director mandatory?  

新加坡注册公司为何要求要有本地董事？

In Singapore, the requirement for a resident director stems from regulatory guidelines aimed at ensuring that companies have a local point of contact who is accessible to regulatory authorities and capable of overseeing the company's operations within the country. Here are the key reasons why a resident director is mandatory:

在新加坡，要求有本地董事的规定源于监管指导方针，旨在确保公司拥有一个能够与监管机构联系并能够监督公司在本国运营的本地联系点。以下是本地董事为何是必需的关键原因：

Compliance and Oversight: The resident director ensures that the company complies with Singapore laws and regulations. They are responsible for the company's adherence to local governance requirements.

合规和监督：本地董事确保公司遵守新加坡的法律法规。他们负责确保公司遵守本地治理要求。

Local Representation: Having a resident director provides a local presence for the company, facilitating communication with government agencies, banks, and other institutions in Singapore.

本地代表性：拥有本地董事为公司提供了在新加坡的本地存在，有助于与政府机构、银行和其他机构沟通。

Availability for Legal Proceedings: The resident director can represent the company in legal proceedings and is accountable for the company's actions in Singapore.

法律诉讼的代表：本地董事可以代表公司参与法律诉讼，并对公司在新加坡的行为负责。

Enhanced Governance: It enhances corporate governance by ensuring there is oversight and accountability over the company's activities conducted in Singapore.

增强治理：它通过确保对公司在新加坡的活动进行监督和问责，提升了公司的治理水平。

Facilitation of Operations: The authorized resident director can also help manage day-to-day operations and decision-making processes within Singapore, supporting the company's business activities effectively.

便利运营：经股东大会授权的本地董事亦可协助管理在新加坡的日常运营和决策过程，有效支持公司的业务活动。

Overall, the requirement for a resident director in Singapore is designed to uphold regulatory standards, facilitate business operations, and ensure that companies incorporated in Singapore operate responsibly within the legal framework of the country.

总体而言，在新加坡要求有本地董事的规定旨在维护监管标准，促进业务运营，并确保在新加坡注册的公司在该国法律框架内负责任地运营。

Other than the reasons above, there are also legal requirements. 

除上述原因外，更重要的立法规定

Legal Requirement 法律规定

The Singapore Companies Act stipulates that setting up a company in Singapore requires the appointment of at least one ordinary resident of Singapore who is over 18 years old as a director of the company, which is a prerequisite for registering a Singapore company.

根据新加坡《公司法》，在新加坡设立公司需要任命至少一名年满18岁的新加坡本地居民作为公司的董事，这是注册新加坡公司的先决条件。

A company director must be:

     ✅At least 18 years old

     ✅Of full legal capacity

  ✅A Singapore citizen, Singapore permanent resident, or EP holder

  ✅Not disqualified from acting as a director of a company (e.g. an undischarged bankrupt)

公司董事必须：

✅ 年满18岁

✅ 具备完全的法律能力

✅ 是新加坡公民、新加坡永久居民、或就业准证（EP）持有人

✅ 没有被取消资格担任公司董事（例如，未经清偿的破产者）

If EP holder stays less than 183 days in a calendar year, the company still needs hire another local resident.

EP持有人如果担任本地董事，需在新加坡每年居住时间不少于183天。否则，仍需聘用一名本地董事。

According to the latest rule passed by 2 July 2024, only the CSP can provide the nominee director services, a person who breaches this requirement is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.

根据新加坡2024年7月2日通过的最新法律规定，只有持有牌照的企业服务提供商CSP才可以提供本地董事服务，任何个人无牌违规担任公司本地董事，可被罚新币一万罚金。

If you need a resident director in Singapore, feel free to contactKirin Consultancy for more details. We provide a one-stop solution for company registration in Singapore, which includes nominee director and company secretary services.

如果您需要在新加坡的本地董事，请随时联系新加坡麒麟咨询以获取更多详情。我们为在新加坡注册公司提供一站式解决方案，包括提供本地董事和公司秘书服务。

Things need to be considered 风险提示

Legal Responsibilities 法律责任

For the operational compliance of a Singapore company, nominee directors are required to bear certain legal responsibilities.

If the company violates laws and regulations, the resident director will be fined by the government, and in serious cases, he or she can be sentenced to up to two years in prison. If there are multiple violations of laws and regulations within 5 years, you can no longer serve as a director of any Singapore company.

为了新加坡公司的运营合规，本地董事需要承担一定的法律责任。

如果公司违反法律法规，本地董事未尽到监管责任可能会被政府处以高额罚款，严重情况下可能面临最高两年的监禁。如果在5年内多次违反法律法规，该董事将不能再担任任何新加坡公司的董事。

It is precisely because of the above risks that many Singaporeans are reluctant to serve as nominee directors of Singapore companies, and it is not just a matter of money, so nominee directors are not easy to find. But don’t worry;Kirin Consultancy can help you solve this problem. In the meantime, Kirin would conduct a Due-Diligence, to visit the client’s actual operation place etc.

正是因为上述风险，许多新加坡人不愿意担任新加坡公司的本地董事，这不仅仅是金钱问题，因此本地董事并不容易找到。但不用担心，麒麟咨询可以帮助您解决这个问题。但同时，麒麟咨询也会每年对客户做尽职调查，例如拜访客户实际运营场所等。

Blacklist 黑名单

The people who are not eligible to be resident directors in Singapore are:

在新加坡，不能担任本地董事的人包括：

✅bankrupt people 破产者;

✅a person suspected of fraud or dishonesty in violation of the law 被怀疑存在违法欺诈或不诚实行为的人;

✅when the court issues an order that the person is unfit to be a director 法院裁定不适合担任董事的人;

✅Contravening three or more relevant acts under the Companies Act within 5 years 在五年内违反了三项或以上《公司法》下的相关法律行为;

✅or have been the subject of three or more offenses by the High Court 曾涉及三项或以上高等法院判定的罪行;

✅Involving companies that have been liquidated for reasons of national security and interests, etc 涉及因国家安全和利益等原因而被清算的公司等.

Thus, it is necessary to choose a nominee director with good credit and qualified background investigation.

Based in Singapore, Kirin Consultancy is a professional business consultant that offers one-stop solutions for company formation in many countries and regions, including Singapore. Contact us if you have any questions.

因此，选择具有良好信用和合格背景调查的本地董事非常必要。