Business Licences in Singapore: Travel Agents, Massage Establishments, F&B and More

The short answer. Incorporating with ACRA lets your company exist; a licence lets it operate in a regulated trade. Common examples: a Travel Agent Licence from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), a Massage Establishment Licence from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), a Food Shop Licence from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), liquor and public entertainment licences from SPF, and an Employment Agency Licence from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Most are applied for on GoBusiness. Big change: from 1 December 2026, open-concept massage shops need a new Category 3 licence.

Licensing trips up more new businesses than incorporation does. The company is registered, the lease is signed, and only then does the founder discover that the premises can’t be used for the trade, or that the licence needs capital the company doesn’t have. This guide covers the licences we’re asked about most, and the order to do things in.

Does your business need a licence?

Licensing in Singapore is activity-based. You need a licence if what you do is regulated, not because of your company type. Three checks help:

1. Your SSIC code. The activity code you register with ACRA should match what you actually do. Agencies use it to flag the licences you need.
2. The GoBusiness licence directory. Search by industry or keyword to see which licences apply.
3. Your premises. Many licences depend on land-use approval from URA or HDB. Check this before you sign a lease.

Common business licences at a glance

STB Travel Agent Licence

Under the Travel Agents Act 1975, a business that makes travel arrangements or conducts tours, in Singapore or overseas, needs a Travel Agent Licence. An overseas agent that sells a package outside Singapore with payment made abroad does not.

How to apply: incorporate the company, inject the required capital, appoint a suitable Key Executive, then apply online through STB’s TRUST system.

After approval: the minimum financial requirement applies at all times, not just at application. STB suspends licences of agents that fall below it. Changes to directors, shareholders, capital or the Key Executive must be updated with STB, which is where your company secretary and STB filings need to stay in step.

Individuals who guide tours need a separate Tourist Guide Licence, also from STB.

Massage Establishment Licence (SPF)

Any business that provides massage services in an establishment needs a licence under the Massage Establishments Act 2017. Treatments such as manicures, pedicures, baths or vapour treatments without massage don’t.

What changes from 1 December 2026:

• Open-concept shops need a Category 3 licence. The old exemption ends. Customers and the public must have an unobstructed view of the massage from inside and outside, with no rooms, partitions, cubicles or curtains.
• Grace period for existing operators until 30 November 2027. Those licensed before 1 June 2027 get a 50% licence fee concession.
• Police poster at the shopfront. Every licensed outlet must display it. Existing Category 1 and 2 outlets have until 31 January 2027.
• Longer licences: three or five years depending on compliance record. New Category 1 and 2 licensees still start with a one-year provisional licence.
• Uniform standards are now prescribed in the rules, so Category 1 and 2 operators no longer need Police approval for uniforms that comply.

What the Police look at: a fit-and-proper assessment of the operator, HDB or URA land-use approval for the premises, and approval for each employee before they start work. Assessment generally takes about four weeks. Operating without a licence can mean a fine of up to S$10,000, up to two years’ imprisonment, or both for a first offence.

If the company’s UEN changes, for example when a sole proprietorship becomes a company, a new licence is needed.

Food and beverage: SFA, liquor and entertainment

• Food Shop Licence (SFA): for restaurants, cafés, bakeries and other premises selling food or drink. S$195 for one year. The application includes a layout plan review and a pre-licensing inspection, so build kitchen layout around SFA’s requirements from the start.
• Food Stall Licence (SFA): for stalls in hawker centres, coffee shops and food courts.
• Liquor Licence (SPF): needed to sell or serve alcohol. The class depends on the type of outlet and its hours.
• Public Entertainment Licence (SPF): needed for live music, karaoke or similar entertainment open to the public.

The SFA, liquor and entertainment licences all depend on the landlord’s and land-use approvals, so those come first.

Employment Agency Licence (MOM)

A business that places jobseekers with employers needs an Employment Agency Licence from MOM, whether or not it charges a fee. Expect:

• a licence type that matches the workers you place (MOM’s Select and Comprehensive licences)
• a Key Appointment Holder who meets MOM’s fit-and-proper test and, for most licences, holds the Certificate of Employment Intermediaries (CEI)
• a security bond as an electronic banker’s guarantee: S$20,000 for a new Select licence and S$60,000 for a new Comprehensive licence

How to apply, in the right order

1. Incorporate with the right SSIC code and, where required, the right paid-up capital.
2. Secure the premises approval (URA or HDB change of use) before committing to a lease.
3. Appoint the right people. Many licences need a qualified key person: a Key Executive for STB, responsible officers for SPF, a Key Appointment Holder for MOM.
4. Apply on GoBusiness (or STB’s TRUST portal), with the ACRA profile, tenancy agreement, layout plans and personal particulars ready.
5. Pass the inspection where one applies.
6. Display the licence and diarise its renewal date.

Keeping your licence after approval

Most licence conditions require you to tell the agency about changes: new directors or shareholders, a new key person, a change of address, a drop in capital. These are the same events your company secretary files with ACRA, so the two should move together. A licence lapsing because an ACRA change wasn’t mirrored to STB or SPF is an avoidable, and expensive, mistake.

Frequently asked questions

Does registering my company with ACRA mean I’m licensed to operate?

No. ACRA registration gives your business its legal identity and UEN. If your business carries out a regulated activity, such as running a travel agency, a massage establishment or a food shop, you need a separate licence from the relevant agency before you start.

Do I need an STB licence to sell tours online?

If your Singapore business makes travel arrangements or conducts tours, whether in Singapore or overseas, it generally needs a Travel Agent Licence from STB, whether it sells from a shopfront or online. An overseas agent that sells packages outside Singapore with payment made abroad does not.

Do open-concept foot reflexology and tuina shops need a licence now?

Yes. From 1 December 2026, open-concept massage establishments are no longer exempt and need a new Category 3 licence. Existing operators have until 30 November 2027 to obtain it, and get a 50% fee concession if licensed before 1 June 2027.

How long does a massage establishment licence take?

The Police generally take about four weeks to assess an application, which may include a site inspection.

What is the difference between a Niche and a General travel agent licence?

A Niche Licence covers a narrower scope, such as tours within Singapore, and needs S$50,000 minimum paid-up capital (or net value). A General Licence covers the full range of travel business, including overseas packages, and needs S$100,000.

Where do I apply for business licences in Singapore?

Most licences are applied for online through the GoBusiness Licensing portal. Travel agent licences are applied for through STB’s TRUST system.

Need a hand? Ashlar incorporates companies with licensing in mind, and keeps your ACRA records and licence conditions in step. Message us on WhatsApp at +65 8876 5393 and a consultant will reply the same working day.

This guide is general information, current as at 12 November 2026. It is not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change, so check the official source or speak to us before acting.

This article is general information about Singapore rules at the date of publication and is not legal or tax advice for your situation.