Referral Authority Chart

You can refer to the Referral Authority Chart below, which identifies the approving authority for a specific business type.

Cases Requiring Referrals

Referral Authority

If company name or service is related to architectural services

Board of Architects (BOA)

If company name or activities are related to real estate.

Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)

If company name or activities are related to commodities futures trading, brokerage, clearing etc.

International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore)

If the proposed activities involve community services for the elderly, families, youths, disabled or children

Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS)

If the proposed business name contains terms such as “Military” or “Defense”

Ministry of Defense – Defense Technology and Resource Office

Organization rendering educational or training services of academic nature. Names of such establishments contain terms such as ‘college’, ‘national’, ‘Singapore’, ‘university’ etc.

Ministry of Education – Private Schools Section

If the proposed name contains the acronym ASEAN

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

If the proposed company is to be engaged in financial services and with a name containing terms related to financial services such as ‘Bank’ ‘Futures Exchange’, ‘Clearing House’ or ‘Securities Exchange’ or other similar terms

Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

If the name and activities contain or involve “Islam” and “Muslim”

MajlisUgama Islam of Singapore (MUIS)

If the business activities are related to arms, explosive chemicals and ammunition

Singapore Police Force – Licensing Division

If the proposed name or tourism-related activities involve the term “Merlion”

Singapore Tourism Board (STB)

If the proposed name or activities are related to law or legal services

The Law Society of Singapore

Certain business activities require prior approval from the relevant authorities before registration with ACRA:

Cases Requiring Referrals

Referral Authority

If the proposed name and activities contain accounting services

Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)

If the proposed name and activities contain the term “Co-op” or “Co-operative”

Registry of Co-operative Societies

If the proposed name and activities contain the terms ‘Medical’ or ‘Clinic’

Ministry of Health (MOH)

Did this answer your question?