How to Appoint a Director in Singapore: The 14-Day Rule (2026)

How do I appoint a director in Singapore?

A director appointment has three core steps: (1) the person consents in writing to act as a director and confirms they are not disqualified; (2) the company approves the appointment in accordance with its constitution (usually by directors’ or members’ resolution); and (3) the company lodges the change with ACRA.

The person being appointed must be at least 18 years old, of full legal capacity, and not disqualified from acting as a director (for example, by an unspent disqualification order or undischarged bankruptcy).

What is the 14-day rule for director appointments?

The company must notify ACRA within 14 days of appointing a director. The appointment is lodged electronically through Bizfile+. Historically this was done on the paper Form 45 (Consent to Act as a Director); today the consent is captured and the change is filed online, but the 14-day notification window still applies.

• Obtain the director’s written consent to act and their statement that they are not disqualified.
• Pass the required resolution to appoint the director.
• Lodge the appointment via Bizfile+ within 14 days of the appointment date.
• Ensure the company still meets the local resident director requirement (see below).

Must a Singapore company always have a local director?

Yes. Under section 145 of the Companies Act 1967, every company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore — that is, a Singapore citizen, permanent resident, or the holder of an eligible pass with a local residential address. You cannot let this fall to zero, even temporarily, so plan appointments and resignations together.