Setting Up a Family Office in Singapore: A 2026 Guide

Singapore has become Asia's leading base for family offices. Here is how the setup actually works: the two tax schemes, the route to permanent residency, what it costs, and how long it takes.

The short answer: a Singapore family office is usually a private company that manages a single family's wealth, structured to qualify for tax exemption under the Section 13O scheme (from S$10 million in assets) or Section 13U (from S$50 million). Permanent Residency for the family is a separate step, through the Global Investor Programme. Most families set up both together.

The three routes, compared

Two of these are tax-incentive schemes administered by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The third is the residency-by-investment route administered by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). They differ mainly on the capital and team required, and on what you get.

	Section 13OOnshore family office fund	Section 13UEnhanced-tier fund	GIP, family office routeResidency by investment
Minimum assets	S$10mgrow to S$20m within 2 years	S$50min designated investments	S$200mAUM, with S$50m deployed locally
Investment professionals	2 1 at application, 1 within a year	3 at least 1 non-family member	Team via the family office
Local business spend	S$200kper year, minimum	S$500kper year, minimum	Job-creation commitment
What you get	Tax exemption on qualifying income	Tax exemption, higher tier	Permanent Residency for the family

Indicative Figures current as of July 2026, verified against MAS and Singapore EDB. Thresholds change and conditions apply; a licensed specialist confirms your position before you commit.

What is a Singapore family office?

A single family office is a company that holds and manages one family's investments, employing its own investment team. In Singapore the common structure is a private limited company incorporated with ACRA, which receives investment income and manages the portfolio. It is not a licensed activity in itself when it manages only that family's own money, which is what allows a family to run it without a fund-management licence, subject to conditions.

The reason families choose Singapore is a combination of legal certainty, access to Asian markets, political stability, and a tax system with no capital gains tax, no estate duty and no wealth tax. Foreign-sourced income is generally not taxed unless it is brought into Singapore.

The tax schemes: 13O and 13U

Both schemes exempt the fund's qualifying investment income from Singapore income tax. The difference is scale.

Section 13O suits most families setting up for the first time: at least S$10 million in assets at application, rising to S$20 million within two years, at least two investment professionals, and minimum local business spending of S$200,000 a year.
Section 13U is the enhanced tier for larger pools: at least S$50 million in designated investments, at least three investment professionals with at least one who is not a family member, and minimum local spending of S$500,000 a year.

For a full side-by-side, see our 13O vs 13U comparison.

Getting permanent residency: the Global Investor Programme

The schemes above are about tax, not residency. To secure PR for the family, the family office route of the Global Investor Programme requires establishing or investing in a single family office with at least S$200 million in assets under management, of which S$50 million is deployed into approved Singapore investment categories. A successful applicant, along with their spouse and unmarried children under 21, receives Permanent Residency. Read the detail in our Global Investor Programme guide.

What it costs and how long it takes

Beyond the assets you commit, expect professional setup and advisory fees, annual running costs for the team and local spend, and the incorporation itself. A Singapore single family office typically takes around four to six months from mandate to first investment. We cover the numbers in the cost of setting up a family office in Singapore.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum to set up a family office in Singapore?

Under the Section 13O scheme the fund needs at least S$10 million in assets under management at application, growing to S$20 million within two years. Section 13U requires at least S$50 million. The Global Investor Programme family office route requires a single family office with at least S$200 million in assets. Figures are indicative and verified against MAS and EDB.

Does setting up a family office give you PR in Singapore?

Not by itself. The 13O and 13U schemes are tax-incentive schemes, not residency schemes. Permanent Residency comes through the Global Investor Programme family office route, or Employment Passes can cover the principal and the investment team. The two are usually structured together.

How long does it take to set up a family office in Singapore?

A Singapore single family office typically takes around four to six months from mandate to first investment, including incorporation, the tax-incentive application to MAS, and hiring the required investment professionals.

Is family office income taxed in Singapore?

Qualifying investment income of a family office fund under the 13O or 13U schemes is exempt from Singapore income tax. Singapore also has no capital gains tax, no estate duty and no wealth tax. Foreign-sourced income is generally not taxed unless it is remitted into Singapore. Confirm your position with a licensed tax specialist.

Sources

Scheme figures are indicative and drawn from primary sources: Monetary Authority of Singapore (13O and 13U conditions), Singapore Economic Development Board (Global Investor Programme), the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (tax treatment), and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (incorporation). Thresholds change; verify with a licensed specialist before acting. This page is general information, not financial, tax, legal or immigration advice.

Setting up a family office in Singapore