Scenario: Singapore or Vietnam for the next entity — and you need it fast. Singapore is the fastest incorporation in the region; Vietnam’s licensing takes longer but buys you something Singapore can’t. The comparison isn’t close on speed — it’s interesting on substance.
Singapore: 1–3 business days (the region’s speed champion)
Singapore’s ACRA incorporation is famously fast: name reservation plus registration totals S$315 in government fees, and standard applications are approved within 1–3 business days — often the same day. Foreigners can own 100% with no local partner, but two requirements shape the timeline: at least one Singapore-resident director from day one (usually via a licensed corporate service provider’s nominee arrangement), and filing through an ACRA-registered agent since foreigners have no SingPass. End-to-end for a foreign founder — KYC, documents, signing, incorporation — typically runs one to two weeks. Regulated industries referred for extra review can take 14–60 days. The caveat: fast incorporation doesn’t mean fast operation — the corporate bank account is the usual bottleneck.
Vietnam: the IRC/ERC timeline
Vietnam’s foreign-invested setup — IRC first, then ERC, under Law 143/2025/QH15 (in force 01/3/2026) — takes a matter of weeks for open sectors, longer for conditional ones. Structurally, Singapore sells speed and simplicity (the state trusts you and checks later), while Vietnam sells project approval (the state evaluates the investment before the company fully exists). Neither is “better” — they’re different products: Singapore optimizes for frictionless entity creation; Vietnam optimizes for vetted industrial investment.
Why groups use both (the real comparison)
The sophisticated answer isn’t Singapore or Vietnam — it’s the division of labor from EXP-2853: incorporate the holding/commercial entity in Singapore in days, license the operating factory in Vietnam in weeks. The Singapore entity’s speed gets you a contracting, banking and fundraising vehicle immediately; the Vietnam licensing process runs in parallel and delivers the operating asset. Model the two timelines as parallel tracks, not alternatives — the group is operationally complete when the slower track (Vietnam licensing, then the bank account) finishes. Choosing only on incorporation speed misses the point: the question is how fast each entity becomes useful, not how fast it exists on paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is Singapore incorporation?
ACRA approves standard applications within 1–3 business days (often same-day); S$315 in government fees; 100% foreign ownership allowed. Foreign founders need a Singapore-resident director (usually via a licensed nominee) and must file through an ACRA-registered agent — end-to-end typically one to two weeks. Regulated industries can take 14–60 days.
How does Vietnam’s timeline compare?
IRC first, then ERC, under Law 143/2025/QH15 (in force 01/3/2026) — a matter of weeks for open sectors, longer for conditional ones. Singapore sells speed and simplicity (trust now, check later); Vietnam sells project approval (evaluate the investment first). Different products, not better/worse.
Do groups have to choose between them?
Incorporate the holding/commercial entity in Singapore in days, license the operating factory in Vietnam in weeks — run them as parallel tracks. The group is complete when the slower track finishes. The question is how fast each entity becomes useful, not how fast it exists on paper.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council
