Registering a .sg or .com.sg domain isn’t as simple as picking a name and paying. Singapore’s domain namespace is governed by SGNIC (Singapore Network Information Centre), and there are eligibility rules, verification steps, and ongoing compliance requirements that every business owner needs to know.
This checklist covers everything you need to prepare before, during, and after registering a Singapore domain name for your business.
Before Registration: Eligibility Requirements
Choose the Right .SG Extension
SGNIC manages 6 main extensions under the .sg namespace. Each has different eligibility rules:
- .sg — Open to all persons. Foreign applicants must appoint a local administrative contact.
- .com.sg — For commercial entities registered with ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority), Enterprise Singapore, or a professional body in Singapore. Foreign companies need a local agent as administrative contact.
- .org.sg — For organisations registered with the Registry of Societies (ROS), town councils, community centres, places of worship, or embassies.
- .edu.sg — For educational institutions registered with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social and Family Development, or under the Private Education Act.
- .net.sg — For IMDA licensees and providers offering network-based services such as email hosting, DNS hosting, web hosting, and data centres.
- .gov.sg — For Singapore Government organisations only.
For most businesses, you’ll be choosing between .sg (open to everyone) and .com.sg (requires ACRA registration).
Prepare Your Documents
Depending on the extension, you’ll need:
- For .sg (individual): Valid Singapore postal address, NRIC or FIN number
- For .sg (organisation): ACRA UEN (Unique Entity Number) or equivalent registration number
- For .com.sg: Valid ACRA registration number (UEN). You must be registered or in the process of registering with ACRA.
- For foreign companies: Details of a Singapore-based local agent who will serve as the administrative contact, including their NRIC or ACRA number
Check Domain Availability
.sg domain registration is first-come, first-served. Before committing to a business name with ACRA, check if your preferred domain is available. There’s no guarantee that your company name will be available as a domain.
During Registration: Verification Process
SingPass / Corppass Verification (Mandatory)
Since 2023, SGNIC requires all new .sg domain names to undergo compulsory identity verification via the VerifiedID@SG portal. Here’s how it works:
- Register your domain through an SGNIC-accredited registrar
- SGNIC sends a verification email to the administrative contact within 24 hours
- The administrative contact must complete SingPass or Corppass verification within 21 calendar days
- If verification is not completed in 21 days, the domain registration may be suspended
Important: The person verifying must be the administrative contact listed on the domain, not the registrant. For businesses, this is usually someone with SingPass access — a director, company secretary, or authorised employee.
Registrant Information Must Be Accurate
SGNIC requires that the registrant information matches your actual business registration:
- Organisation name must match your ACRA-registered name
- UEN number must be valid and current
- Administrative contact must have a valid Singapore address
Inaccurate information can lead to domain suspension. If your company name changes (e.g., after rebranding), you must update the registrant details with your registrar.
After Registration: Ongoing Compliance
Keep Your Registrant Details Updated
If any of the following changes, update your domain records through your registrar:
- Company name change
- Administrative contact change (triggers a new VerifiedID@SG verification)
- Address or email change
- Company deregistration with ACRA
SGNIC can suspend or cancel domains with outdated or inaccurate registrant information.
Renew Before Expiry
Singapore domain names must be renewed before their expiry date. If you miss the renewal:
- Grace period: A short window after expiry where you can still renew at the standard price
- Redemption period: After the grace period, you may still recover the domain, but at a significantly higher fee
- Deletion: After redemption, the domain is released back to the public pool — anyone can register it
Set up auto-renewal with your registrar to avoid losing your domain. At Qoxy, we send renewal reminders well before expiry.
Protect Your Domain with WHOIS Privacy and DNSSEC
Two additional security measures to consider:
- WHOIS Privacy: Masks your personal details (name, address, phone, email) from public WHOIS lookups. Reduces spam and protects against social engineering.
- DNSSEC: Adds a layer of cryptographic authentication to your DNS records, preventing DNS spoofing and cache poisoning attacks. Particularly important for businesses handling customer data.
Both are included free with every domain registered through Qoxy.
Quick Compliance Checklist
- ☐ Confirm your SGNIC extension (.sg vs .com.sg vs others)
- ☐ Prepare ACRA UEN or NRIC/FIN for registration
- ☐ Check domain availability before finalising business name
- ☐ Register through an SGNIC-accredited registrar
- ☐ Complete SingPass/Corppass verification within 21 days
- ☐ Verify registrant details match ACRA records
- ☐ Enable WHOIS privacy protection
- ☐ Enable DNSSEC
- ☐ Set up auto-renewal
- ☐ Update registrant details when company info changes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between .sg and .com.sg?
The .sg extension is open to anyone — individuals and businesses, local or foreign (with a local admin contact). The .com.sg extension is specifically for commercial entities and requires a valid ACRA registration or registration with Enterprise Singapore. Most Singapore businesses choose .com.sg for its commercial credibility, but .sg works well for shorter, cleaner branding.
Can a foreign company register a .sg domain?
Yes. A foreign company can register a .sg domain by appointing a Singapore-based local agent as the administrative contact. For .com.sg domains, the foreign company must also appoint a local agent, and the administrative contact must complete SingPass verification. Some registrars offer local agent services for foreign businesses.
What happens if I don’t complete SingPass verification within 21 days?
If the administrative contact does not complete VerifiedID@SG verification within 21 calendar days of registration, SGNIC may suspend the domain. The domain will not resolve (your website and email will stop working) until verification is completed. Contact your registrar immediately if you need assistance with the verification process.
