What is a Nominee Director in Singapore? (2026)
A nominee director is a locally resident director appointed to satisfy the section 145 residency requirement, often used by foreign-owned companies.
Why do companies use a nominee director?
Foreign-owned companies that do not yet have a local resident director commonly appoint a nominee director to satisfy the section 145 requirement while they set up operations or obtain a local pass holder. The nominee is a real, resident individual who is properly appointed and filed with ACRA.
Does a nominee director have real responsibilities?
Yes. A nominee director is a director in law and owes the same fiduciary and statutory duties as any other director — including duties to act in the company’s interests and to comply with the Companies Act. A nominee arrangement does not reduce those duties, and providers must still conduct due diligence on the customer. Confirm the current regulatory expectations for nominee director arrangements with ACRA, as they are set under the CSP framework.
Sources
This article is general information for Singapore corporate service providers, not legal or professional advice. Verify against the primary sources above and your own professional judgement.