How to Verify a Firm’s Registration Status in Singapore

Before you appoint a contractor, engage a BCA advisory consultant, award a subcontract, or enter into a business partnership, it is wise to confirm that the firm is properly registered. In Singapore, this check is usually straightforward, but you need to know where to look and which details matter.

This guide explains how to verify a firm's registration status in a practical BCA context. It is written for business owners, contractors, developers, procurement teams, and anyone who wants to know how to verify whether a company is properly registered before proceeding.

In most cases, you should start with ACRA, then check the BCA Directory if the firm claims to be a contractor, licensed builder, facilities management firm, supplier, or BCA-related service provider.

To verify a firm’s registration status in Singapore, first search the firm’s company name or unique entity number on ACRA’s Bizfile portal. ACRA’s Bizfile allows users to conduct an entity search using a business name or a unique entity number UEN to find and buy a Business Profile.

A Business Profile provides basic business information, such as the UEN, entity name, business activities, and date of incorporation or registration.

If the firm is in the built environment sector, you should also search the BCA Directory. The BCA Directory is an online directory of registered contractors, licensed builders, facilities management companies, and construction-related suppliers.

This two-step check helps you confirm whether the company exists as a business and whether it has the relevant BCA listing for the work it claims to perform.

A firm may have a professional website, a polished proposal, a company brochure, or a sales representative. However, that does not automatically mean the firm has the correct company registration, BCA registration, workhead, grade, or licence.

For contractors, this matters because BCA registration can affect a firmis eligibility for public-sector construction projects, construction-related tendering, or hiring foreign construction workers. BCA’s Contractors Registration System page states that firms register with CRS to tender for public sector construction projects or hire foreign construction workers.

For clients, developers, main contractors, and procurement teams, verifying a company helps reduce risk. You want to confirm that the firm is a genuine registered company, that its business entity details are consistent, and that its BCA listing matches the scope of work.

This is part of basic due diligence. It protects your business, your project, and your decision-making process.

Before you begin the search, ask the firm to provide you with its official details.

You should request:

• Full company name

• UEN

• Registered business address

• BCA workhead, if applicable

• BCA grade, if applicable

• Licensed builder details, if applicable

• Name of the person handling your enquiry

• Quotation, proposal, or service agreement

The unique entity number is especially important. A unique entity number (UEN) helps accurately identify a company in Singapore, especially when different businesses share similar names.

Sometimes, a contractor may use a brand name that differs from its registered entity name. This is not always wrong. However, if you are signing a contract or making a payment, you need to know the legal entity behind the business.

For example, the website may show one brand, while the quotation may come from another Singapore company. In this situation, ask the firm to explain the relationship clearly before proceeding.

Step 2 is to check the firm’s business registration through Bizfile.

ACRA stands for the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. The accounting and corporate regulatory body is responsible for business registration, filing, and the collection of business-related information in Singapore. ACRA describes Bizfile as its digital service portal for business registration, filing, and information.

To check if a company is registered in Singapore, go to Bizfile and use the entity search function. You can search by business name or UEN. If the name is not exact, try a broader search using part of the name.

When reviewing the search results, check:

• Whether the company name matches the quotation

• Whether the UEN matches the number given to you

• Whether the business entity type is correct

• Whether the company status appears active

• Whether the registered business address matches other documents

• Whether the company information looks consistent

• Whether the business activity is relevant to the claimed service

This is the basic way to check if a firm exists as a registered business.

For a more detailed check, you can purchase or obtain an ACRA business profile. The Business Profile provides basic entity information, including UEN, entity name, business activities, and date of incorporation or registration.

This is useful when verifying a company before a larger project, subcontract, BCA application, or formal business partnership.

A business profile can help you confirm:

• Registered name

• UEN

• Entity type

• Registration date

• Registered business address

• Business activity

• Status of the entity

For higher-value transactions, you may also want to ask for supporting documents, such as project references, audited accounts, or financial statements, depending on the situation. Not every engagement requires this level of review, but for larger contracts, it can be a sensible part of the due diligence process.

If the firm is reluctant to share basic official details, take it as a signal to slow down.

After checking ACRA, the next step is to verify whether the firm appears in the BCA Directory.

This is important because registration with ACRA in Singapore does not automatically mean the firm is registered with BCA. A company can be registered with ACRA but still not hold the relevant BCA workhead, grade, builder licence, or supplier listing.

Through the BCA e-Directory, users can search for CRS-registered firms across workheads and grades, Facilities Management firms, Suppliers Registry firms, and licensed builders under the Builders Licensing Scheme.

When checking the BCA Directory, look for:

• Company name

• UEN

• Workhead

• Grade

• Expiry date

• Registered address

• Type of registration

• Whether the scope matches the project

For example, if a contractor claims to handle general building works, check whether its workhead supports that type of work. If a firm claims to support public-sector tendering, verify whether its CRS registration is applicable.

This is especially important for contractors who want to participate in public-sector construction projects or companies that need to hire foreign construction workers under BCA-related requirements.

Many people confuse ACRA registration with BCA registration.

ACRA registration confirms that a company in Singapore exists as a legal business entity. It helps you check whether the firm is a registered company in Singapore.

BCA registration, on the other hand, pertains to construction and built-environment activities. It helps identify firms that are registered under the relevant BCA categories, workheads, grades, or licences.

Here is a simple comparison:

A practical rule: check ACRA first, then BCA if the firm is making BCA claims for contractor, builder, construction, supplier, or facilities management.

Once you have checked ACRA and BCA, compare the official information with the documents provided by the firm.

Look at:

• Quotation

• Contract

• Invoice

• Website

• Email signature

• Name card

• Bank account name

• BCA certificate or listing

• Project reference documents

The company’s legal name, UEN, and business address should be reasonably consistent. If the registered entity differs from the name on the quotation, ask why.

For example, a firm may use a trading name for marketing, but the invoice may be issued by the registered company. That can be acceptable if the explanation is clear. However, if the details keep changing, or payment is requested to an unrelated entity, you should investigate further.

When checking the firm, be careful if:

• The firm refuses to provide its UEN

• The company cannot be found on Bizfile

• The UEN does not match the company name

• The company status appears inactive

• The BCA listing cannot be found

• The BCA workhead does not match the claimed service

• The registration appears expired

• The business address differs across documents

• The firm uses several unrelated company names

• The payment account does not match the registered entity

• The website makes claims that cannot be verified

• The firm avoids giving written clarification

One red flag does not always mean the business is dishonest. There may be a name change, a group structure change, an outdated document, or a clerical issue. But if the explanation is unclear, do not rush.

The first common mistake is relying only on websites. A nice website does not prove that a firm is properly registered or BCA-listed.

The second mistake is searching only for the brand name. Always ask for the official registered company name and UEN.

The third mistake is assuming ACRA registration is enough. For BCA-related matters, ACRA only tells you that the entity exists. It does not prove that the firm has the right BCA workhead, grade, or builder licence.

The fourth mistake is failing to check expiry dates. BCA registrations may have validity periods, so always review whether the listing is current.

The fifth mistake is failing to match details across documents. If the ACRA company profiles, BCA Directory listing, quotation, and payment details do not align, ask for clarification.

If you cannot find the firm, first check the spelling. Then search using the UEN instead of the name. You can also ask the firm to send its current ACRA business profile or BCA listing details.

If the firm says it is newly incorporated, recently renamed, or operating under a related company, ask for written confirmation. A legitimate business owner should be able to explain the structure clearly.

If you still cannot verify the information, it may be safer to pause the engagement until the firm provides proper documents.

You should verify a firm before:

• Signing a construction contract

• Paying a deposit

• Awarding a subcontract

• Submitting BCA-related documents

• Engaging a contractor registration consultant

• Starting a supplier relationship

• Entering a business partnership

• Sharing sensitive business information

• Relying on a firm’s claimed BCA grade

• Appointing a construction-related service provider

This is not about being overly suspicious. It is simply good commercial practice in the Singapore construction and BCA environment.

Learning how to verify a firm’s registration status can save you from unnecessary confusion later. Start with ACRA to confirm the firm’s company registration, business information, UEN, entity type, and registration status. Then check the BCA Directory to confirm whether the firm has a relevant listing for a contractor, licensed builder, supplier, or facilities management.

If the official records, documents, quotation, and payment details match, you can move forward with more confidence. If something does not match, ask questions before you commit.

For BCA-related matters, proper verification is especially important. The right check helps you understand whether the firm is properly registered, whether its scope is relevant, and whether it is suitable for the project or application you are considering.

If you need help reviewing a firm’s BCA registration, CRS workhead, grade, or related documentation, P Connect Services can guide you through the next practical step clearly and professionally.

1. Building and Construction Authority. BCA directory. View Source (Retrieved on 19 May 2026)

2. Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. Bizfile. View Source (Retrieved on 19 May 2026)