TERMS AND CONDITIONS
OF REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE (RO) REGISTERED IN SINGAPORE
A ACTIVITIES
1. The RO must confine its activities strictly to market research, feasibility studies and liaison work on behalf of its parent company.
2. The RO must not:
· engage in any trading (including import & export) or business activities; whether carried out directly or on behalf of its parent company;
· lease warehousing facilities. Any shipment/transhipment or storage of goods must be handled by a local agent or distributor appointed by its parent company;
· lease its office to other establishments for a fee; or
· enter into business contract, issue invoice/receipt, open/receive letters of credit and contracts on behalf of its parent company or provide services for a fee.
3. The RO must be represented by staff from its own HQ or Singapore staff. IE Singapore has the discretion to determine whether the number of staff employed in the RO is reasonable.
4. IE Singapore must be notified one month prior to any change in the registered activities of the RO as well as any changes to the proposed/existing representatives as set out in the application/renewal for registration of Representative Office in Singapore.
B REGISTRATION AND DE-REGISTRATION
5. IE Singapore reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to reject applicants as well as to re-register, renew or de-register any RO within its purview.
6. An RO failing to comply with the stipulated Terms and Conditions may be de-registered.
7. A dormant RO may also be de-registered.
8. An RO is a temporary establishment registered to facilitate the promotion and liaison activities of its parent company in Singapore. All ROs are encouraged, within three years or when it is practicable, whichever is the earlier, to “upgrade” either by:
· registering a branch office; or
· incorporating a subsidiary company in Singapore.
In the event that a parent company wishes to operate a cost centre in Singapore after setting up a RO, the parent company is required to register the proposed business operations with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).
9. Please note that registration as a RO does not exempt the applicant, the representatives or staff of the RO from compliance with all laws in Singapore, written or otherwise, requiring the registration of various bodies or entities of any sort.
C ADMINISTRATION
10. All application forms must be completed and submitted with the requisite documents (Please refer to Application Procedures) to IE Singapore. IE Singapore has the prerogative to request for further information or clarification of information. Failure to furnish complete and accurate information may delay the registration or result in non-registration.
11. The RO must clearly state that it is a “Representative Office Registered in Singapore” on its name plaque, letterheads, name cards of its staff and other communication materials.
12. The name of the RO must correspond to that of its parent company. IE Singapore must be notified in writing one month prior to any change in its name. The notification of change in name of the RO must be accompanied by a copy of the parent company’s certificate of change in name (in English or official English translation).
13. The RO must notify IE Singapore within one month of its change of address, telephone and fax numbers.
14. The RO or the parent company must promptly inform IE Singapore within one month of its closure/upgrading of its operations.
15. The RO registered with IE Singapore will be published online at IE Singapore’s website. IE Singapore reserves the right to make available the contact details of the RO and principal activities of its parent company to the public.
16. The RO registered with IE Singapore shall not say or do anything that might lead any person to believe that RO is acting as the agent of IE Singapore or that the RO’s business activities are affiliated to IE Singapore in any way. The RO shall not use the name, “IE”, “IE Singapore”, IE Singapore’s website address and any logos owned by IE Singapore on any marketing materials, name cards and on any documents connected to the business of the RO.