- Singapore has no LLC; the equivalent is a private limited company (Pte Ltd)
- A Pte Ltd is taxed at Singapore's 17% corporate rate, not as pass-through
- Foreigners can own 100% of a Pte Ltd but need one resident director
- A US LLC's pass-through tax treatment does not carry over to Singapore
If you are looking for the LLC Singapore equivalent, here is the short version: Singapore does not have an LLC, and the structure you actually want is the private limited company, or Pte Ltd. American and other overseas founders ask about the LLC constantly because it is the structure they know best, so the confusion is common and nothing to be embarrassed about. This guide answers the question directly, then shows you how to register a Pte Ltd in Singapore and how the two structures differ on the four things you care about: liability, tax, ownership and ongoing compliance.
Can I set up an LLC in Singapore?
Is there an LLC in Singapore? No. Singapore company law has no limited liability company, so you cannot register one, however the paperwork is worded. Many founders arrive having searched what an LLC is and how it work, expecting the same option here, and instead meet a different name for a very similar idea.
The reassuring part is that the protection you associate with an LLC already exists in Singapore under another entity. That entity is the private limited company, and for most people it does everything they wanted the LLC to do.
What does Singapore have instead of an LLC?
The closest LLC Singapore equivalent is the private limited company (Pte Ltd). It is a separate legal entity that can sign contracts, own assets and be taxed in its own right, which is exactly what most people want from an LLC. The main Singapore LLC alternatives are the Pte Ltd and, for partnership-led businesses, the limited liability partnership (LLP).
Sleek’s own top-ranking guide even uses the LLC wording to meet searchers where they are, so if you want the full walkthrough, see how to set up the Singapore equivalent of an LLC. This article stays on the terminology and the choice, so that “is there an LLC in Singapore” stops being the thing that blocks you.
How do a US LLC, a Pte Ltd and an LLP compare?
The table below sets out the LLC vs Pte Ltd comparison, with the Singapore LLP added as a third column so you can weigh the Singapore LLC alternatives side by side.
| What you care about | US LLC | Singapore Pte Ltd Singapore | e LLP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited liability | Yes: members’ liability limited | Yes: shareholders’ liability limited to their shares | Yes, but a partner stays liable for their own wrongful acts |
| Taxation | Pass-through by default (taxed in members’ hands) | Flat 17% corporate rate; start-up exemptions may apply | Pass-through: partners taxed at personal income tax rates |
| Ownership | Members; can be 100% foreign-owned | 1–50 shareholders; 100% foreign ownership allowed | At least 2 partners |
| Local director/manager | No director requirement | At least 1 director ordinarily resident in Singapore | At least 1 manager ordinarily resident in Singapore |
| Ongoing filing | Varies by US state | Annual Return (ACRA) + Form C-S/C (IRAS) | Annual declaration of solvency |
If your business is partnership-led, read Pte Ltd vs LLP; if you are weighing the simplest possible setup, read sole proprietorship vs Pte Ltd.
How does limited liability actually protect you in Singapore?
In a Pte Ltd, your personal assets are separate from the company’s debts, so your risk is limited to what you put into your shares. This is the same shield US founders value in an LLC, delivered through a different structure. A US LLC and a Pte Ltd both ring-fence the owners, so the practical LLC vs Pte Ltd difference is not liability at all; it is tax and compliance.
How is a Singapore company taxed?
A Singapore Pte Ltd pays a flat corporate income tax rate of 17% (IRAS, as at August 2026). Newly incorporated companies may also qualify for start-up tax exemptions that lower the effective rate on early profits, though you should confirm the current exemption bands with IRAS before relying on them. Unlike a default US LLC, a Pte Ltd is taxed as a company in its own right rather than passed through to your personal return.
Does a US LLC’s pass-through tax treatment carry over?
No. Pass-through treatment is a feature of the US tax code, and it does not transfer to Singapore. Once you operate through a Pte Ltd, that company is taxed in Singapore on its own profits.
How your US and Singapore positions interact is a genuinely cross-border question. Take professional tax advice on it rather than assuming the two systems line up, because the wrong assumption here is expensive to unwind.
Do you need a Singapore citizen as a director or shareholder?
You do not need a Singapore citizen as a shareholder, and foreigners can own 100% of a Pte Ltd. Singapore law does require at least one director who is ordinarily resident here: a citizen, permanent resident or eligible pass holder. So the practical LLC Singapore requirements come down to ownership, which is open to foreigners, and that single resident director. For the wider picture, see starting a company in Singapore.
I already have a US LLC — should I open a subsidiary, a branch, or a new Pte Ltd?
If you are a US LLC expanding to Singapore, you have three main routes: a subsidiary (a Singapore Pte Ltd owned by your LLC), a branch of your existing business, or a brand-new Pte Ltd owned by you as an individual. Most founders choose a subsidiary, because it keeps Singapore liabilities inside a separate local company.
A US LLC expanding to Singapore as a branch, by contrast, extends the parent’s liability into the local operation, so weigh that carefully and read subsidiary versus branch office before you decide.
How do overseas founders meet the local director requirement?
The resident-director rule is the one practical blocker for most overseas founders, and there are two ways round it. You can relocate someone who then becomes resident, or you can appoint a nominee director service to satisfy the requirement while you keep full control of the business. This is the last of the core LLC Singapore requirements to solve, which is why incorporation for foreign founders usually bundles a nominee director in from day one.
How Sleek helps
Sleek registers your Pte Ltd, appoints your company secretary and, where you need one, provides the resident nominee director, all handled online. You get the entity that does in Singapore what an LLC does in the US, set up correctly from the start. If you are still weighing the LLC vs Pte Ltd choice or any of the Singapore LLC alternatives, an expert can talk it through with you.
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FAQs on llc singapore equivalent
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Singapore company?
Yes. Singapore places no restrictions on foreign shareholding, so a foreigner can own 100% of a Pte Ltd. The only local requirement is that the company has at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore.
Can my US LLC own a Singapore company?
Yes. A company can be a shareholder in a Singapore Pte Ltd, so your US LLC can hold the shares of a Singapore subsidiary. This is a common structure for US businesses expanding into Singapore while keeping the local entity separate.
Can I convert my sole proprietorship into a Pte Ltd later?
Yes. Many owners move from a sole proprietorship to a Pte Ltd to gain limited liability and access company tax exemptions. The switch is handled as an incorporation-by-transfer so the new company takes over the business in a compliant way.
How long does it take to register a Pte Ltd?
Once identity verification is complete and the documents are signed, ACRA registration is usually finished within a few business days. Straightforward applications with no name or compliance issues tend to be approved fastest.
Do I need to be in Singapore to incorporate?
No. The whole incorporation process, including identity checks, can be completed remotely. You upload your passport and proof of address and complete a short online verification, without flying in.
Does setting up a Singapore Pte Ltd give me a visa to move there?
No. Incorporating a company and getting a work visa are separate steps. If you want to relocate and run the company yourself, you would apply for an Employment Pass, which the Ministry of Manpower assesses on salary and qualifications.
