While it is relatively easy to register a new business in Singapore, caution should be exercised when selecting a company name. It is advisable to conduct a name check to ensure that your chosen name can be approved for registration by the Singapore Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). The following restrictions apply to new company names in Singapore:
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Undesirable: Company names containing offensive or vulgar words will be rejected.
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Identical to an existing company name in Singapore: If your proposed company name is already in use by another registered company in Singapore, it will be rejected.
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Identical to a reserved company name: Some companies in Singapore reserve business names with ACRA before incorporating. These names are reserved for a period of 60 to 120 days. Therefore, it is essential to perform a thorough company name check to avoid conflicts.
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Prohibited by order of the Minister for Finance: The use of the word "Temasek" as a company name is prohibited. Currently, this is the only word specifically directed by the Minister not to be accepted for registration by the Registrar.
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Certain words: Such as "bank," "insurance," "university," and "education" do not fall under the criteria for Singapore company name restrictions. However, their usage is strictly regulated by government authorities, and permission is required before incorporating a new business using such words.