Many jurisdictions require at least one locally resident director — Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada (federal), Switzerland and Panama among them. CompanyVista provides licensed nominee directors across all these jurisdictions through our vetted local partner network, backed by a Director Services Agreement (DSA) that protects your full control and beneficial ownership.
A nominee director — also called a local resident director — is a licensed professional who appears on the public company register as a director on behalf of the beneficial owner, satisfying the jurisdiction's residency requirement while the beneficial owner retains full operational and financial control.
The relationship is governed by a Director Services Agreement (DSA) — a legally binding contract specifying the nominee's limited role: the nominee cannot act without written instruction, has no beneficial interest, and provides a pre-signed resignation letter held by the beneficial owner.
Nominee director arrangements are legal, widely used and standard practice for international companies incorporating in jurisdictions with residency requirements. Thousands of companies in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand are incorporated this way every year.
This table covers every country in CompanyVista's registration network. Requirements are colour-coded: Amber = Mandatory / Required · Green = Not Required · Purple = Conditional / Recommended
The Director Services Agreement is the legal instrument that defines the nominee's limited role and protects the beneficial owner's rights. Every CompanyVista nominee appointment is accompanied by a comprehensive DSA prepared to maximise your protection under the laws of the relevant jurisdiction.
All nominees are licensed professionals personally liable for their directorship. They conduct their own KYC on the beneficial owner and the company's business. CompanyVista does not provide nominees for companies involved in unlicensed financial services, high-risk or regulated activities (crypto, gambling, arms, money services) without proper licensing, or any activity that exposes the nominee to regulatory or legal risk. Full disclosure of business activity is mandatory before we accept any nominee director mandate.
CompanyVista confirms which jurisdiction you are incorporating in, whether a local director is required (mandatory or recommended) and assesses your business activity to confirm a nominee mandate can be accepted. Full disclosure of business activity is required — nominees conduct their own KYC and will not serve companies in high-risk or undisclosed activities.
⏱ Same day — during formation consultation or standaloneNominee director fees are Misc Charges — sourced locally and confirmed in your written quote at exact cost before any payment. The annual renewal fee is stated upfront at formation time. No surprise increases at renewal. CompanyVista's coordination fee is also confirmed in the written quote.
⏱ Written quote within 4 hoursThe nominee conducts KYC on the beneficial owner (passport, proof of address, business details). CompanyVista simultaneously conducts standard KYC as part of formation. Both sets are coordinated to avoid duplication. This stage takes 2–5 business days depending on jurisdiction and complexity.
⏱ 2–5 business daysThe Director Services Agreement is prepared, reviewed and executed. Pre-signed resignation letter and undated share transfer documents executed by the nominee and delivered to the beneficial owner. Beneficial owner confirms receipt before appointment proceeds.
⏱ 1–3 business daysNominee director appointed and filed with the relevant authority — ACRA, ASIC, NZCO, CCM, Canadian registry, Swiss Handelsregister or other. All statutory registers updated. Certified copy of updated register provided to beneficial owner. Company is now legally compliant.
⏱ Filed as part of formation — typically same day as company incorporationNominee director arrangement reviewed and renewed annually. Renewal reminders sent 60 days in advance. Nominee reconfirms eligibility. DSA reviewed for updates. If beneficial owner wishes to replace the nominee — for example, with a newly appointed local director upon obtaining residency — CompanyVista coordinates the transition and filing.
⏱ Annual — 60-day advance reminderMost formation agents only cover Singapore and Malaysia nominees. CompanyVista covers all 26 jurisdictions where nominee or local director requirements apply — including Australia (ASIC), New Zealand (NZCO), Canada federal (CBCA), Switzerland (Handelsregister) and Panama (nominee officers). One provider for all your global companies.
Our Director Services Agreement covers every protection point — written instruction requirement, no independent action, pre-signed resignation, undated share transfer documents, indemnity provisions. Drafted specifically for the jurisdiction's company law (Singapore Companies Act, Australian Corporations Act 2001, NZ Companies Act 1993 etc.).
CompanyVista only sources nominees through our vetted local partner networks — licensed, resident and eligible professionals who understand their statutory obligations. We do not use unlicensed individuals or informal arrangements. All nominees complete KYC on the beneficial owner and the company's business before accepting the mandate.
If a simpler structure avoids the nominee requirement — for example, using Hong Kong instead of Singapore (no local director required), or incorporating in BC/Ontario instead of a Canadian federal corporation (no residency requirement in those provinces) — CompanyVista advises you honestly before you pay for a nominee you could have avoided.
A company without a compliant local director is in violation of the Companies Act — subject to penalties and potential strike-off in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. CompanyVista's proactive renewal management ensures your nominee arrangement never lapses inadvertently. Reminders start 60 days before the due date.
Nominee director is sourced and appointed as part of the same formation engagement — same account manager, same portal, no separate provider. Annual renewal is managed alongside your compliance calendar, annual return filing and registered address renewal — all tracked together.
Free consultation · written quote before payment · DSA included · full disclosure of business activity required. CompanyVista covers 26 jurisdictions including Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada federal, Switzerland and Panama.
Many of the world's major company registration jurisdictions impose a mandatory local resident director requirement — and the countries that do are not limited to Singapore and Malaysia. Australia's Corporations Act 2001 requires at least one director ordinarily resident in Australia; New Zealand's Companies Act 1993 requires at least one NZ or Australian resident director; Canada's federal CBCA requires 25% Canadian resident directors (minimum 1 for small boards); Switzerland requires a majority of authorised directors to be Swiss residents; and Panama S.A. requires three nominee officers as standard practice. CompanyVista provides licensed nominee director services across all 26 jurisdictions in our network — backed by a Director Services Agreement (DSA) that protects the beneficial owner's full control while satisfying the legal residency requirement. Nominee fees are Misc Charges confirmed in your written quote at exact cost.
The Director Services Agreement defines the nominee's strictly limited role: no beneficial interest, no independent action, written instruction required for all significant decisions, pre-signed resignation letter and undated share transfer documents held by the beneficial owner. The DSA is drafted under the law of the relevant jurisdiction and is legally enforceable. An important distinction: the nominee director's name does appear on the public company register in Singapore (ACRA), Australia (ASIC), New Zealand (NZCO), Malaysia (CCM) and Canada — the DSA protects beneficial owner control, not public anonymity. For full directorship privacy, BVI and Cayman do not maintain public registers. CompanyVista advises on whether a nominee can be avoided through jurisdiction selection — for example, Hong Kong (no local director required) vs Singapore (mandatory), or BC/Ontario provincial corporation (no residency requirement) vs Canadian federal CBCA corporation (25% rule).
Nominee Director · 26 Jurisdictions · SG · MY · AU · NZ · CA · CH · DSA included · Written quote
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