How Long Does It Take to Set Up a Family Office in Singapore?

Most families are ready to invest within four to six months. Here is where that time actually goes, and what tends to slow it down.

The short answer: plan for around four to six months from mandate to first investment. If you are also pursuing Permanent Residency through the Global Investor Programme, that runs on its own timeline of roughly nine to twelve months alongside it.

The typical stages

Structuring and advice (weeks 1 to 4): agree the structure, including any trust, with your advisers.
Incorporation (a few days to weeks): register the family office entity and fund vehicle with ACRA.
Tax-incentive application (the longest stretch): prepare and file the 13O or 13U application to the Monetary Authority of Singapore, then await approval.
Banking and hiring: open accounts and bring on the required investment professionals (two under 13O, three under 13U).

What slows it down

The common delays are due diligence and documentation, especially for cross-border families, and hiring the required investment professionals in a competitive market. Getting the structure right at the start, rather than reworking it later, is the single biggest time saver.

Doing it alongside residency

Families who want to live in Singapore usually run the Global Investor Programme in parallel. See our Global Investor Programme guide and the full setup guide.

Frequently asked questions