Application for Licence

Application for Certification of Registration & Hotel-Keeper’s Licence

Any person who wishes to operate a hotel has to apply to the Hotels Licensing Board for the following as stipulated under the Hotels Act 1954:

• Certificate of Registration to use the premises as a hotel; and
• Hotel-Keeper’s licence to enable the person to manage the hotel

Note:

• All hotels should have a valid Certificate of Registration and the Hotel-Keeper’s Licence while the hotel is in operation.
• The hotel can only begin operations after it has received the e-copies of the Certificate and Licence.

At A Glance

Submission of Application

1. Application for the Certificate of Registration and Hotel-Keeper’s licence is to be submitted online via GoBusiness Licensing.

2. Application for the Certificate of Registration and Hotel-Keeper’s licence for new hotels can be made from 1 January to 30 November only.

3. Please submit all the following documents as attachments together with the online application.

4. For the Certificate of Registration:

   • Grant of Written Permission / Temporary Permission (“URA Permission”) from Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
   • ACRA business profile of the business or company
   • Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) / Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC) from the Building & Construction Authority (BCA). Under the Building Control Act, all building owners are required to conduct periodic structural inspections once every 5 years for non-residential buildings. If the TOP/CSC is issued more than 5 years ago, please submit documentation of BCA’s acceptance of the most recent periodic inspection report of the building.
   • Temporary Fire Permit (TFP) / Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Under the Fire Safety Act, any public buildings use as hotels, hostels, boarding houses, etc. and if the occupant load of buildings is more than 200 persons, the building owners or occupiers must apply/obtain Fire Certificates from the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
   • Copy of the advertisement according to the Notice template in PDF format. The electronic notice (“e-notice”) will typically be published on the HLB website within 3 working days from the date in which the e-notice is submitted with complete information to the Board. Any notice of objection lodged with HLB within two weeks of the advertisement will be taken into account in the assessment of the application for a Certificate of Registration. The step-by-step guide on how to upload the e-notice can be found here.

5. For Hotel-Keeper’s Licence

   • Resume (Curriculum Vitae) of the proposed Hotel-Keeper
   • Copy of proposed Hotel-Keeper’s employment pass (if applicable)

6. The Hotel-Keeper:

   • Must be a person who holds a post of a Chief Executive Officer or General Manager or equivalent to that of a Chief Executive Officer or General Manager of the hotel; and
   • Must be a Singaporean, Permanent Resident or an Employment Pass holder.

Approval Process

1. A pre-opening inspection will be carried out to ascertain the hotel is ready for operations, upon receipt of all required documents. Checks will include, but are not limited to:

   • Furniture and fittings in most rooms
   • Clearly visible hotel frontage & signage
   • Reception counter or area for receiving guests
   • Fully installed and operating electronic video surveillance system at all entry/exit points, lobby, front desk/concierge desk and every area where a guest or visitor may pass through to access the guest rooms.
   • Adherence to terms and conditions stated in URA’s Written Permission and conditions laid down by other Government agencies

2. Processing of the application will take a minimum of two weeks from the pre-opening inspection date.

3. You will be informed via SMS and/or e-mail if your application has been approved.

4. After the application has been approved, you will receive the Certificate and Licence via GoBusiness Licensing. The step-by-step guide to guide you through the printing of the Certificate and Licence can be found here. The Certificate of Registration and Hotel-Keeper’s Licence should be displayed in a conspicuous place. Please note that with effect from 1 January 2025, it is not a requirement under the Hotels Licensing Regulations for hotels to display the Certificate and Licence.

5. The Hotels Licensing Board reserves the right to prescribe additional conditions or waive existing conditions for any application for a Certificate of Registration and/or a Hotel-keeper’s Licence.

For More Information

1. The step-by-step guide to guide you through the submission of the application for a Certificate of Registration and Hotel-Keeper’s Licence can be found here.

2. For further clarification, please email hlb_info@hlb.gov.sg or call 6736 6622.