A company can change its company secretary at any time. The change itself is a filing with ACRA. The work is in the handover: registers, minutes, resolutions and the filing history. We take over from your current provider, check the records, and carry on with the compliance calendar.
Last reviewed 17 October 2026. Source: ACRA.
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| ACRA update | Changes to the electronic register of secretaries are due within 14 days of the change |
| ACRA fee | Free to update the registers on Bizfile |
| Who can be secretary | A real person, a citizen or PR or someone meeting the local residency rules; a sole director cannot also be the secretary |
| Where the registers live | Electronic registers on Bizfile, plus the company’s own registers (members, controllers, nominees, charges) at the registered office or provider’s office |
When companies switch
- The old provider is slow, expensive or has stopped answering.
- The company is growing, and wants secretarial, accounting and tax in one place.
- A change in ownership brings new advisers.
- The existing secretary resigns, leaves Singapore or is no longer eligible.
How the handover works
- Appoint us by director’s resolution, and confirm our consent.
- Request records from the old provider and from the company: constitution, registers, minutes, resolutions, share certificates and filing history.
- Check them against ACRA’s records: directors, shareholders, share capital, registered office, financial year end.
- File the change of secretary on Bizfile within the 14 days.
- Fill gaps: missing registers, resolutions or filings are rebuilt and listed for the directors to approve.
- Set the calendar for the AGM, annual return and other deadlines, see company secretarial services.
If the previous provider does not respond
We work from ACRA’s records and from what the company holds, and rebuild the registers where documents are missing. It is slower, but the company is not stuck. Anything we cannot confirm is listed for the directors to confirm.
Example (illustration only)
ABC Pte Ltd’s secretary has not replied for months, and the annual return is approaching. We obtain the company’s ACRA records through Bizfile, compare them with the registers the directors hold, rebuild the missing minutes and file the change of secretary within 14 days.
What changes for you
Nothing in the company’s legal position. The company keeps the same directors, shareholders and UEN; only the person or firm acting as secretary changes. You do not have to wind up anything with the old provider apart from settling their fees and collecting the company’s records.
Questions we get asked
How long does it take? The ACRA filing is due within 14 days of the change. The handover takes as long as the old provider’s records take to arrive; we confirm when we see what exists.
What if our records are incomplete? We rebuild them and list the gaps.
Do we need to inform the old secretary? The change is made by the company. Speak to us before you give notice so the handover is planned.
Can you also take over bookkeeping and tax? Yes. See monthly bookkeeping and corporate tax.
Sources
- ACRA: Company registers, requirements and deadlines
- Secretary eligibility as set out on our Company Secretarial Services page (ACRA)
General information, not professional advice for your specific situation.
Changing your company secretary?
Send us whatever you have, including “not sure”, and we will list what is needed from the old provider. Ask us to take over your company secretarial work.