What Is a Nominee Director, and Do You Need One?
If you’re a foreigner setting up a Singapore company,
you’ve probably heard the term nominee director —
but what does it actually mean?
Here’s the simple breakdown.
1️⃣ What Is a Nominee Director?
✅ A local resident appointed to meet Singapore’s legal requirement
✅ Not involved in daily operations
✅ Helps the company satisfy the rule:
at least one director must be a Singapore resident
2️⃣ When Do You Need One?
✅ When all shareholders and directors are foreigners
✅ When you need to incorporate quickly but don’t have local hires yet
✅ For market entry without a physical Singapore presence
💡 Note: This is a legal role — you can’t just list a friend or family member casually.
3️⃣ What Does a Nominee Director Do?
✅ Satisfies ACRA’s local director requirement
✅ May review key decisions to limit personal liability
✅ Doesn’t usually manage daily operations (unless agreed)
They’re often engaged through service providers like Paperwork.sg.
4️⃣ What Are the Risks?
✅ Nominee directors face legal responsibilities and personal exposure
✅ Clients must provide proper indemnity and transparency
✅ Both sides should have a clear, written agreement
This isn’t a figurehead — it’s a regulated role.
5️⃣ Why Work With Paperwork.sg?
We:
✅ Provide professional nominee director services
✅ Draft clear agreements to protect both parties
✅ Help foreign founders enter Singapore smoothly