Quick answer: A UEN number in Singapore is the Unique Entity Number. It is the standard ID for businesses, companies and other entities, issued free when you register. A business UEN has 9 characters, such as 8 digits and a letter. A local company UEN has 10 characters and starts with the year it was set up. You get it from ACRA on Bizfile, and you can check any UEN on Bizfile or data.gov.sg.
A UEN works like an NRIC for a firm. This guide explains what UEN means and how to read the format. It also covers who issues it, the fees and how to look one up.
What Is a UEN Number in Singapore? UEN Meaning
UEN stands for Unique Entity Number. It is the standard ID number a group uses with government offices in Singapore. Here, an “entity” means a group that is not one person. Examples are a firm, a club or a charity.
Each entity gets one UEN. You use it whenever you deal with a government office. People often search “UEN meaning” or “what is UEN”. The short answer is simple. It is your firm’s official number.
Think of it like this. A Singapore citizen has an NRIC. A Singapore business has a UEN.
The UEN started on 1 January 2009. It replaced the many different ID numbers that each agency used to give a firm.
UEN Number Format: How to Read a Singapore UEN
There are three UEN formats. The first characters tell you which kind of entity it is.
| Entity type | Format | Length | Example |
|---|
| Business, such as a sole proprietorship or partnership | 8 digits plus a check letter | 9 characters | 53123456A (sample) |
| Local company | Year of incorporation, 5 digits, then a check letter | 10 characters | 201812121R (sample) |
| Other entity, such as an LLP, society or foreign company branch | Year code, entity code, 4 digits, then a check letter | 10 characters | T09LL0001B (sample) |
For “other entities”, the first letter shows the century. T means 20xx, S means 19xx and R means 18xx. The next two digits are the year. So T09 means 2009.
The two letters after that are the entity code. For example, LL is a limited liability partnership (LLP), and LP is a limited partnership. PF is a public accounting firm, and MC is a management corporation for a condo.
Who Issues the UEN Number in Singapore?
The UEN is issued by “UEN issuance agencies”. These are the government offices that register each kind of entity.
| Type of entity | Who issues the UEN |
|---|
| Sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, local companies, foreign company branches | ACRA, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority |
| Societies and clubs | ROS, the Registry of Societies |
| Other groups | Agencies such as MOM, MOE and MUIS |
The full list also includes the People’s Association and others. You get the UEN from the office that registers your type of group. You do not apply for the number on its own.
How Businesses and Companies Get a UEN Number Through Bizfile
Most people get the UEN on ACRA’s Bizfile website. It comes as part of signing up, not as a separate step.
For a sole proprietorship or partnership
- Reserve a business name. Apply on Bizfile and pay S$15.
- Log in with Singpass. Foreigners without Singpass must use a corporate service provider (CSP). A CSP is a firm ACRA allows to file for others.
- Fill in the details. Add the address, the owners and their NRIC or FIN numbers.
- Pick a period and pay. It is S$100 for one year.
- Check your Bizfile inbox. The UEN comes with the notice of successful registration.
Only the person who reserved the name can register the business. Foreign founders who want to run the firm from here also need the right pass. Read about EntrePass for foreign founders before you register.
For a local company
- Reserve the company name. This also costs S$15.
- Add directors, shareholders and the company secretary.
- Upload a constitution or choose ACRA’s model one. The constitution is the company’s own rule book.
- Get other directors to endorse it. They must agree within 60 days, unless a CSP filed it.
- Pay S$300. You can also pick a “Special UEN” at this point.
- Read the outcome in your Bizfile inbox. The approval notice shows the UEN and a link to a free Business Profile.
Registering a Foreign Company Branch in Singapore? Get Its Papers Translated Into English First
Fees to Get a UEN Number
The UEN itself is free. You pay for the name and the registration. These are ACRA’s fees as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee |
|---|
| Reserve a business or company name | S$15 |
| Register a sole proprietorship or partnership | S$100 for one year |
| Three-year registration (only if CPF Board conditions are met) | S$160 |
| Renew a sole proprietorship or partnership | S$30 |
| Incorporate a local company | S$300 |
| Register a foreign company branch | S$300 |
| Special UEN, tier two | S$1,000 |
| Special UEN, tier one (for example, all the same digit, or any 8s) | S$3,000 |
How long it takes
Most cases are approved soon after payment. A harder case can take up to 15 working days. Does another agency need to approve your trade? Then it can take 14 to 60 days.
How Other Entities Get a UEN
Not every group signs up with ACRA. A society, such as a club, goes to the Registry of Societies. Its UEN comes from ROS when the society is set up.
Other groups get their UEN from the agency that oversees them. Ask that agency first. The rule is the same everywhere. Register with the right office, and the UEN comes with it.
How to Check a UEN Number
You may want to check a supplier or a new client. Here are the main ways.
- Bizfile search. Search by UEN on ACRA’s Bizfile. Basic details, such as status and address, are free to see.
- Business Profile. For fuller details, buy a Business Profile for S$5.50. It shows the UEN, name, registration date, and key people.
- data.gov.sg. The government’s open data site lists groups with a UEN. It covers other agencies too.
- uen.gov.sg. This government site was set up for public UEN searches across all issuing agencies.
When you search on Bizfile, pick the filter that includes previous UENs. That helps if a firm has changed its details.
Need Your Business Profile Accepted Overseas? We Help With Translation and Apostille Steps Together
UEN vs GST Registration Number vs ACRA Registration Number
These three numbers are often mixed up. Here is how they differ.
| Number | What it is | Same as the UEN? |
|---|
| ACRA registration number | The number ACRA gives a business or local company | Yes. Businesses and local companies kept their ACRA number as their UEN. |
| GST registration number | Shows a firm is registered with IRAS to charge GST | Not always. GST is a separate registration with IRAS. |
| Old agency numbers | IDs that agencies gave entities before 2009 | No. The UEN replaced them. |
Having a UEN does not mean a firm is registered for GST. Many small firms are not. To check, use the “Checking if a business is GST-registered” tool on the IRAS website.
Foreign Companies: Documents and Translation
A foreign company can set up a branch here. It must use a CSP to register. It also needs a local “authorised representative”. This is a person who meets local residence rules and can be held responsible.
ACRA asks for these papers.
- The certificate of incorporation, certified as a true copy by the official who holds the original.
- The latest accounts from the home country, if required.
- The constitution, certified by an official, a notary, a director by affidavit, or a registered qualified person.
ACRA sets a four-month timing rule for these certified copies. Check the dates with your CSP before you certify.
Any paper not in English needs a certified English translation. Was it translated abroad? Then an official, a notary, a sworn translator or a Singapore consular officer there can certify it. Was it translated here? Then ACRA says a person it approves must certify it. Papers from Japan, China or Korea? Plan English translations for ACRA filings before your CSP files.
Using Your Business Profile Overseas
Foreign banks and partners often ask for proof of your firm. The Business Profile is the usual paper.
Some countries want that paper stamped for use abroad. The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) now offers an e-Apostille for it. This is a digital stamp sent by email. It also covers Business Certificates and costs S$10.70. Want help with an apostille on your Business Profile and its translation? Do both at the same time.
Where You Will Use Your UEN
Once you have it, your UEN shows up in many places.
- Corppass. This login lets staff act for the firm online, and it is linked to your UEN.
- Government forms. Agencies use the UEN to know which firm they are dealing with.
- Invoices and letters. ACRA requires LLPs to show their UEN and name on invoices and official letters.
- Bank and supplier forms. Many of them ask for it too.
Firms that sell overseas often print the UEN on papers in two languages. A common problem we see is a Chinese invoice with a missing or wrong UEN. Getting bilingual invoices and business letters checked keeps the number the same on every page.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing up two numbers. Reserving a name gives you an eService number. The UEN only comes after approval.
- Letting the free link expire. The free Business Profile link lasts 60 days.
- Forgetting yearly filing. A company files an annual return each year. The fee is S$60.
- Certifying foreign papers at the wrong time. Check ACRA’s four-month rule first.
One more slip often slows down foreign branches. The constitution arrives in another language with no translation. Is yours in Spanish or Thai? Start translating a foreign company constitution early, since it is often the longest paper.
Foreign Constitution or Certificate Not in English? Send It Before Your Corporate Service Provider Files
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a Special UEN for a business I already registered?
Usually not. You can only choose a Special UEN when you register a new entity. One exception is when a firm converts into an LLP. Special UENs also cannot be refunded or swapped.
Can I choose every digit of a Special UEN?
No. ACRA’s system sets the start and end of the number. You only choose the middle digits from a list of numbers that are still free.
Who can download the free Business Profile after registering?
Only the person, CSP or group secretary who filed it. The free copy reaches the Bizfile inbox within 15 minutes of a successful filing.
Can I register a business from a home address?
Yes, but you need approval first. Home-based businesses must get approval from HDB or URA under the Home Office Scheme. A P.O. Box cannot be used as the business address.
Conclusion
A UEN number is your firm’s official ID in Singapore. Most businesses get it free from ACRA when they register on Bizfile. Other groups get it from the agency that registers them, such as ROS.
Foreign companies should prepare certified copies and English translations early. Are your papers in another language? A Singapore translation service for company records can prepare them for ACRA and overseas use.
