blog,Company Incorporation

How To Verify Certificate Of Incorporation (2025)

Dharini Jegadeesan

4 mins read

Published:

17 July 2025

Updated:

2 December 2025

Want your paperwork to be legit?

Before signing any deal in Singapore, ensure you know how to verify certificate of incorporation properly.

Anyone can send you a fancy-looking PDF and call it a “certificate.” But how do you know it’s legit?

Whether you’re about to invest, sign a contract, or onboard a new vendor, verifying the certificate of incorporation is not optional. It protects you from doing business with dormant entities, cloned companies, or worse, complete fakes.

This guide will show you exactly how to verify this certificate quickly, easily, and reliably.

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How to verify certificate of incorporation in Singapore

How to verify certificate of incorporation in four steps — Steps to verify a certificate of incorporation

Check out the following steps to verify a certificate of incorporation:

Step 1: Ask for the right certificate

If a company sends you a file called “Certificate of Incorporation,” pause for a second. What you actually need is the official “Certificate Confirming Incorporation of Company” issued by ACRA (Singapore’s business regulator).

This is not the same as a Business Profile (which is just a public record). The certificate is a legal document that confirms the company is formally registered.

Cost: SGD 50

Note: Only authorised parties (like company directors, secretaries, or registered filing agents) can purchase it on Bizfile.

Step 2: Check the file format

Every valid ACRA certificate (issued after 4 March 2023) comes in two parts:

PDF file – This will have a QR code and a clickable verification link
OA file (OpenAttestation) – This is the digital version used for authentication

If you get just a PDF with no QR code or no second file attached? That’s your first red flag.

Don’t skip this check, as fake or outdated PDFs are surprisingly common.

Step 3: Do a quick, reliable verification

Here’s how you can instantly tell if a certificate is authentic:

Scan the QR code on the PDF
Click the verification link embedded in the file
Upload the OA file to ACRA’s trustBar portal

All three methods will confirm whether the document was really issued by ACRA.

No QR code? Broken link? OA file missing? Walk away or get professional help before continuing.

Step 4: What to do if something doesn’t add up

Let’s say the certificate doesn’t pass the QR code or trustBar check, or you spot inconsistencies in the certificate. In such a scenario, here’s what you can do:

Double-check the company’s UEN and status on Bizfile. If the company doesn’t show up or is marked as “struck off,” that’s a serious red flag.
Ask when the certificate was issued. If it’s from before 4 March 2023, it won’t work with trustBar. You’ll need to verify it using ACRA’s older authentication tool.
Want a step-by-step breakdown on running your own check? Read our guide to ACRA Company Search and learn how to check company details by UEN or name.
Still not sure? Talk to a corporate service provider like Sleek. We know what a real (and fake) certificate looks like, and we’ll help you avoid costly mistakes.

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Bonus: What type of certificate should you expect?

There are two certificates that are often confused:

Certificate	What it proves	Cost	Who can buy it
Certificate Confirming Incorporation of Company	The company is officially registered with ACRA	$50	Authorised parties only
Certificate of Good Standing	The company is currently active/live	$11	Public (subject to availability)

Tip: If you’re confirming legal registration, the “Certificate Confirming Incorporation of Company” is the one you need. The “Certificate of Good Standing” is useful if you want to confirm they haven’t been struck off.

How Sleek can help veerify a certificate of incorporation in Singapore

Learning how to verify a certificate of incorporation enables you to avoid wasted time, money, and unnecessary risk. Whether you’re exploring a new partnership, hiring a vendor, or preparing to invest, it pays to be sure the company you’re dealing with is properly registered and active.

At Sleek, we make that process simple and reliable.

As one of Singapore’s leading incorporation service providers, we know exactly what a legitimate, compliant company should look like on paper and in practice. That gives us a unique edge when it comes to checking if another business is the real deal.

Here’s how we can support you:

Confirm the incorporation status of a company using ACRA’s portal
Cross-check UENs, business activity, filings, and other compliance details
Spot red flags or inconsistencies that may not be obvious at first glance

If you need help understanding the incorporation process, reach out to us.

We keep it simple so you can make smart decisions fast.

Ready to verify a cert or get started with incorporation?

FAQs on how to verify a certificate of incorporation

How can I verify a certificate of incorporation singapore quickly?

You can verify a certificate by scanning the QR code or using the access code included in the PDF and checking it against ACRA’s trustBar service, which confirms if it’s an official ACRA document. For more company details, use the Bizfile portal to confirm the UEN, incorporation date, status, and key filings.

Can anyone check another business’ incorporation details?

Yes, anyone can use Bizfile to view basic information like a company’s name, UEN, incorporation date, and address. However, to access paid documents (e.g., Business Profile, certificate copy), you must be an authorized person or a corporate service provider

I’m a foreign investor. Can Sleek help me verify and set up a company?

Yes. We help foreign entrepreneurs set up businesses in Singapore. We’ll verify the status of any existing entity or help you seamlessly incorporate a new one, making sure you meet all regulatory requirements.