The answer to this is: YES, you can definitely apply for a trademark in Singapore even if you do not have a registered company there. The Singapore Trademark law allows the application for Singapore Trademark Registration by both individuals and legal entities. That means even a sole proprietor, freelancer, or individual entrepreneur has the legal right to protect his brand by registering a trademark.
Singapore Trademark Registration is of the utmost importance for anyone willing to protect his brand identity. It gives you legal protection against any use of your brand name, logo, or any other distinctive marks identifying your goods or services. In case you file an application, you will avoid the possibility of a similar mark from being used by others, since it would lead to consumer confusion or erode your prestige.
The applicant is supposed to explain information on the trademark: a representation of the mark, the description of goods or services under which the mark is to be used, and the classes of goods or services under which the trademark is to be registered. Trademark search is included in the course of the application in order to make sure that your desired trademark is unique and not already in use by another party.
While you do not necessarily need to have a registered company, just know that the ability to prove the intent to use the mark in commerce is required. It simply means you should intend to market or sell goods or services under the trademark, which helps establish your legitimate interest in the trademark.
Once your application is filed with the IPOS, it will be sent for examination. If there are no objections, the trademark will then be published in the Trade Marks Journal for opposition. On receipt of no opposition, your trademark will be registered.
In other words, trademark registration is possible and no less strategically vital in the context of brand protection without a company in Singapore. Whether an individual entrepreneur or the owner of a small business, the Singapore Trademark Registration would grant you the legal basis necessary to secure your brand identity and improve your position on the market.