Business
Singapore — Business: Sole Proprietorship
A Singapore sole proprietorship or partnership requires at least one owner/partner to be a local resident (Singapore Citizen, Permanent Resident, or work pass holder — EntrePass, Employment Pass, or similar). However, sole proprietorships and partnerships are generally not suitable for foreign founders, since neither structure is typically the vehicle through which an Employment Pass or EntrePass can be obtained — foreign entrepreneurs usually need a Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd) instead to sponsor their own work pass application.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceACRA — Requirements for local residencyLast reviewed: 2026-07-20
Key facts
- At least one owner/partner must be a local resident (Citizen, PR, or work pass holder) — this satisfies the local residency requirement.
- Sole proprietorships/partnerships are generally unsuitable for foreign founders since neither structure supports obtaining an Employment Pass or EntrePass.
- Foreign founders typically need a Pte Ltd structure instead, which can sponsor their own work pass application.
- EntrePass is specifically designed for foreign entrepreneurs meeting innovation/investment criteria set by MOM.
Required documents
- Local resident owner/partner proof (Citizen, PR, or work pass)
Common mistakes
- A foreign founder choosing a sole proprietorship expecting it to support their own Employment Pass or EntrePass application — a Pte Ltd company is generally required instead.