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Circular 05/2026 · New Entry Notification · Programme Reference: NBV-19
A formal credential issued by Data Bureau (Singapore) confirming that the holder is a newly incorporated or early-stage Singapore-registered business that has established the foundational conditions necessary to operate legitimately and professionally.
The Certificate of New Business Verification (Programme Reference: NBV-19) is issued by Data Bureau (Singapore) to newly incorporated and early-stage Singapore-registered businesses. Each certificate is assigned a unique Certificate ID and is valid for one year from the date of issuance, subject to ongoing compliance with the Data Bureau (Singapore) Renewal, Revocation & Programme Conduct Policy (DB-POL-001).
The certificate confirms that the holder is a properly constituted Singapore-registered entity whose directors are not subject to disqualification or adverse regulatory standing, that it has appointed a corporate service provider holding current ACRA CSP registration, and that it has established the foundational conditions necessary to operate legitimately and professionally — including verifiable public identity, employment and regulatory compliance, and operational readiness.
NBV-19 is designed for businesses at an early stage of their operating life. ACRA registration confirms existence. NBV-19 confirms that an entity is operationally constituted, appropriately governed, and maintaining a coherent public identity — the baseline that counterparties, platforms, and partners need before they can transact with confidence.
NBV-19 is available to any Singapore-registered sole proprietorship, partnership, LLP, or private limited company incorporated not more than 36 months prior to application, with paid-up capital not exceeding SGD 500,000, or engaging fewer than 10 individuals.
Certificates are publicly verifiable at any time via the Data Bureau (Singapore) registry at databureau.com.sg/registry. Any counterparty, platform, or institutional buyer may enter a Certificate ID to confirm its authenticity and current status.
The assessment areas below follow the NBV-19 standard framework used by Data Bureau (Singapore). They are presented in neutral, high-level terms and do not constitute an exhaustive disclosure of all evaluative factors.
The assessment areas below are illustrative. An entity may satisfy every published area and still not receive certification where proprietary assessment factors indicate material risk. Published areas are a necessary but not sufficient condition for certification.
Assessment Area 1
Assessment Area 2
Assessment Area 3
Assessment Area 4
Assessment Area 5
Applications are submitted through an Appointed Agent or directly to Data Bureau (Singapore). Assessment is conducted remotely. No physical site visit is required.
The applicant submits the NBV-19 application form via the designated submission channel, identifying the entity, the appointed CSP, and the basis of eligibility. The application fee is settled at submission.
The applicant submits the full evidence package covering all five assessment domains. Incomplete submissions are returned within five working days with a written specification of outstanding items.
Data Bureau's assessing panel reviews the two mandatory domains — statutory registration and CSP engagement — first. Where either mandatory domain does not meet its individual threshold, the applicant is notified and the assessment is closed. The applicant may reapply after a minimum remediation period of 90 days.
Where both mandatory domains are satisfied, the panel assesses the remaining domains. A clarification interview by video conference may be requested to resolve evidentiary ambiguities.
A confidential assessment report is issued to the applicant specifying domain-level findings and, where applicable, remediation observations. The report is issued within 15 working days of evidence package acceptance.
Upon a certified outcome, the NBV-19 certificate is issued in digital format. The entity's name and certification status are recorded in the Data Bureau public registry.
Certificate holders are subject to the Data Bureau (Singapore) Renewal, Revocation & Programme Conduct Policy (DB-POL-001), which governs ongoing compliance obligations, annual renewal requirements, revocation grounds, and the appeals process.
Recertification is required at 12-month intervals. An entity that has outgrown the eligibility conditions of NBV-19 — having exceeded 36 months of incorporation and both the paid-up capital and employee thresholds — may apply for the Certificate of Business Authenticity (CBA-01) as its successor credential. Material changes to ACRA registration status, CSP appointment, or director composition must be notified to Data Bureau within 21 days of the change.
The full policy is published separately and is available online.