Business verification in Singapore
VBC certifies businesses registered in Singapore. Verification starts from the official record: in Singapore the company register is maintained by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), and the entity is identified by its Unique Entity Number (UEN).
Singapore's Unique Entity Number is a single identifier used across every government agency, and ACRA's business profile is a comprehensive, dated extract. That makes verification unusually clean compared with jurisdictions where identity is spread across several records.
Where a business is registered for tax, the GST registration number where applicable is reviewed alongside the registration record, since it provides an independent corroborating identifier.
Why Singaporean businesses certify
Singapore functions as a regional headquarters and holding jurisdiction, so many entities registered there trade well beyond it. Because ACRA's business profile is comprehensive and dated, verification is unusually clean and quick.
What VBC verifies for a Singaporean business
Depending on the certification level, the review may cover legal identity and registration records, the registered business address, working contact details, website ownership and digital presence, supporting documentation and evidence of current business activity.
Documents a Singaporean business commonly supplies at Enhanced level:
- ACRA business profile extract
- Certificate of incorporation
- Constitution of the company
- Tenancy agreement or registered office confirmation
Levels, fees and process
Three levels apply everywhere VBC operates — Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250, Trusted at $500 — and the eight-stage process is the same in every country. Only the paperwork differs, because each national registry issues its own records. See what each fee covers and the eight stages in detail.
Public verification
Every VBC certificate issued to a Singaporean business carries a unique certificate ID and appears on the public register. Customers, suppliers and partners can check its current status themselves, without an account and without contacting the business first.
Verify a certificate or browse the directory.
Questions from Singaporean businesses
Can a business registered in Singapore get VBC certified?
Yes. VBC certifies businesses registered in Singapore. Verification is based on records from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), together with the address, contact and digital-presence evidence required at the certification level chosen.
What documents does a Singaporean business need for VBC certification?
At Enhanced level a Singaporean business normally supplies: aCRA business profile extract; certificate of incorporation; constitution of the company; tenancy agreement or registered office confirmation. The GST registration number where applicable is normally reviewed alongside it. Exact requirements depend on the level and are confirmed during review.
What is the Unique Entity Number (UEN) used for in verification?
The Unique Entity Number (UEN) identifies the legal entity on the register maintained by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). VBC uses it to confirm that the business named on the certificate is the same entity that appears on the official record.
How is a VBC certificate for a Singaporean business verified?
Anyone can check it at https://vbcertified.online/verify using the certificate ID, or by scanning the QR code on the certificate. The record shows the current status, which may be valid, expired, suspended or revoked. No account is needed and the business does not have to be contacted first.
Is VBC certification a business licence in Singapore?
No. VBC is a private verification and certification service, not a government licence, regulatory approval or ISO certification. A business in Singapore remains responsible for every licence, registration and regulatory obligation that applies to it.
How much does VBC certification cost for a Singaporean business?
The same three levels apply everywhere: Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250 and Trusted at $500. Each level is a superset of the one below it and the level appears on the certificate.