Introduction to Singapore Company Registration Number (UEN) and How to Search

In Singapore, every registered company, business entity, or organization is assigned a Unique Entity Number, abbreviated as UEN (Unique Entity Number). UEN is a unified numbering system introduced by the Singapore government to identify businesses and organizations, simplifying communication and administrative matters between the government and enterprises.

What is UEN?

UEN is a number assigned by Singapore's **Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)** and other registration agencies, used for:

1. Unique Identification: Each company or organization has a unique UEN, whether it's a private limited liability company, non-profit organization, or branch of a foreign company registration.
2. Official Business Processing: UEN is the primary identifier for interacting with the Singapore government, such as filing taxes, applying for permits, submitting annual financial reports, etc.
3. Transparency and Search Convenience: The public can search for basic information about enterprises through UEN, ensuring the security and reliability of business transactions.

UEN Format

The UEN format varies depending on the type of enterprise, but typically contains the following elements:

• Year: UEN begins with the registration year, for example "2024".
• Identifier Code: Following the year is a unique entity type code.
• Number Sequence: The last part is a dedicated numeric or alphabetic sequence.

For example, a standard UEN might look like: 202312345W.

How to Search for UEN?

Anyone can search for UEN information through online platforms provided by the Singapore government. Here are the specific steps:

1. Visit the ACRA Official Website

• Open the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) official website: www.acra.gov.sg.
• Click on the "BizFile+" system to access the business registration information search page.

2. Through the UEN Search Tool

• Directly visit the Singapore UEN official website: www.uen.gov.sg.
• Enter the company's full name or partial name, or directly enter the UEN to search.

3. Obtain Search Results

After searching, you can view the following information:

• Company name
• Registration status (such as "Active" or "Struck Off")
• Registration date
• Company type (such as private limited company, public company, etc.)

4. Paid Search for Detailed Information

• If you need more detailed information (such as shareholder lists, financial data), you can pay a small fee through the BizFile+ platform to obtain it.

Importance of UEN

Having a UEN is not only the foundation for legal operations but also brings the following advantages to enterprises:

1. Simplifies Business with Government: UEN is the core identifier for tax filing, employee CPF account management, etc.
2. Increases Business Transparency: Through UEN, customers and partners can easily verify the legitimacy of a company.
3. Supports International Transactions: UEN can be used as a company certification identifier in international trade, enhancing trust.

Summary

Singapore's UEN is the digital identity of enterprises and an important tool for interacting with the government and market. Through the UEN search system, the public can conveniently obtain basic information about enterprises, ensuring transparent and secure transactions. For enterprises, properly maintaining and correctly using UEN is the first step in legal operations.