How to Change Your ACRA Registered Address to a Virtual Office (Step-by-Step BizFile Guide)

Moving your Singapore company’s registered office to a virtual office address is one of the easiest ACRA filings to make on your own. The process takes roughly ten minutes on BizFile, carries no government fee, and can be completed by a director without involving a lawyer or corporate secretary. This guide covers every practical step from obtaining the required paperwork to updating banks and other agencies after the change.

Before You Start: What ACRA Requires of a Registered Office

Under the Companies Act, every Singapore company must maintain a registered office in Singapore where all communications and notices can be sent. The office must be open and accessible to the public for at least three hours during ordinary business hours on each business day.

A properly staffed virtual office meets this requirement. Choose an ACRA-registered Corporate Service Provider such as Value Virtual Office Address Pte Ltd which is registered as a CSP (FA20260255), so the address at 101 Cecil Street satisfies the legal standard. If you are unsure whether your business type qualifies, refer to our separate guide on whether a virtual office is legal in Singapore.

Step-by-Step: Changing Your Registered Address on BizFile

Step 1. Sign up with your virtual office provider
Select a plan and complete registration. With registered address plans starting from $88 a year, you receive a letter of consent (including the key document for the next step) within 24 hours.

Step 2. Obtain the letter of consent
ACRA does not require you to upload this letter of consent during filing, but you must hold one. It is the provider’s written permission for your company to use the premises as its registered office. ACRA may request it during an audit or inspection, so keep a copy with your statutory records.

Step 3. Log in to BizFile with Corppass
Go to bizfile.gov.sg and log in using Corppass or Singpass. You must be a director, company secretary, or authorised filing agent. Select the relevant company from your dashboard.

Step 4. File the change of registered office address
Under the Bizfile website, choose the transaction to update the registered office address. Enter the new address exactly as shown on the letter of consent, including the unit number. You may specify a future effective date if needed (for example, the day after your previous lease ends).

Step 5. Confirm and submit
Review the details and submit. There is no ACRA fee for this change. You will receive an acknowledgement, and the new address usually appears on the Bizfile website almost immediately.

The 14-Day Rule

Section 143 of the Companies Act requires companies to notify ACRA of any change in registered office address within 14 days of the change taking effect. Late filing attracts a penalty. If you have already left your previous premises, file as soon as the new address is confirmed. The same 14-day window applies to sole proprietorships and partnerships updating their principal place of business.

Who Else Needs to Know

BizFile updates ACRA only. After the change is confirmed, update your address with:

• Your bank (to avoid bank statements going to the old address)
• IRAS (check your myTax Portal profile, even though IRAS often pulls the registered address from ACRA)
• CPF Board if you have employees
• Other places include company stationary such as letterheads, invoices, website footer, Google Business Profile, and any licences that list a business address

Complete these updates within the first week. Mail may continue arriving at the old address for a short period; most landlords will hold it briefly, but do not rely on this.

Switching From Another Virtual Office Provider

You do not need to wait for your existing contract to expire. Sign up with a new provider, obtain the letter of consent, and file the change on BizFile on your chosen date. Most switches are completed within a week. See our related guides on why businesses move their address to the CBD and how to leave a virtual office provider before the contract ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a corporate secretary to file this?
No. Any director can file the change on BizFile. Many companies still ask their secretary to handle it as part of routine compliance.

Can I change the address for a sole proprietorship the same way?
Yes. Log in to BizFile, select the business, and update the principal place of business. The 14-day rule still applies.

Will my directors’ residential addresses still show on ACRA?
Changing the registered office does not affect officers’ addresses. To keep a director’s home address private, file an alternate address separately. Our guide on keeping your home address off ACRA records explains the process.

Ready to move? Sign up for a Cecil Street registered address from $88 a year and receive your letter of consent within 24 hours. View plans or WhatsApp us if you have any questions first.