First-Time Grant Application Checklist: Apply Faster

If you’re applying for a Singapore business grant for the first time, this checklist walks you through the complete preparation process—from setting up your BGP account to running final checks before you submit. Follow this end-to-end to avoid common first-timer mistakes.

Before You Start

Prerequisites

Before you can apply for any Singapore business grant, ensure you have:

1. ACRA-registered business entity – Your company must be registered with ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority).
2. UEN (Unique Entity Number) – Issued by ACRA upon registration.
3. At least 30% local shareholding – Most grants require at least 30% local equity (some require 51%).
4. Corppass admin account set up – You need Corppass to access BGP (Business Grants Portal).
5. PayNow Corporate or GIRO enabled – Required for grant payout disbursement. See PayNow Corporate vs GIRO: How to Choose? to decide which method to use.
6. Active bank account under company name – For receiving grant funds.

Documents to Prepare

Gather these documents before starting your application:

• ACRA BizFile+ business profile – Recent extract showing your company details.
• Financial statements – If required by the specific grant scheme.
• Vendor quotations – Must show your exact ACRA entity name (not shortened or modified versions).
• Supporting documents – Grant-specific requirements such as project proposals, equipment specifications, or training plans.

Important: Ensure all vendor quotations display your company’s exact registered name as it appears in ACRA records.

BGP Account Setup

Corppass Registration

You need Corppass to access the Business Grants Portal (BGP):

1. Assign Corppass Admin – Your company must have a registered Corppass Admin (usually a director or authorized officer).
2. Register at Corppass website – Visit www.corppass.gov.sg and complete registration.
3. Assign e-Services – The Corppass Admin must assign BGP access to relevant staff members.

For detailed setup instructions, see the Corppass Setup Guide.

BGP First Login

Once Corppass is ready:

1. Login to BGP – Visit Business Grants Portal and login with Corppass.
2. Complete company profile – Fill in your company information on first login.
3. Assign BGP users – Grant access to staff who will submit applications.
4. Verify entity details – Ensure your ACRA entity name, UEN, and shareholding details are correct.

Pre-Application Checklist

Eligibility Check

Before starting your application, verify:

SME Criteria (if applicable):

• Annual turnover ≤ S$100 million OR Employment size ≤ 200 employees

Local Equity Requirement:

• At least 30% local shareholding (some grants require 51%)
• Check specific grant requirements on BGP

Grant Limits:

• Confirm you have not reached the annual cap for the grant scheme
• Check if you have any active applications for the same grant

Business Status:

• Company is registered in Singapore
• Company is in good financial standing
• No outstanding statutory payments (CPF, taxes, etc.)

Quote/Proposal Requirements

Vendor Quotation Checklist:

• Quotation shows your exact ACRA entity name (not abbreviated or trading name)
• Quote is dated BEFORE your application submission date
• No advance payments or deposits have been made to the vendor
• No contracts signed with the vendor before approval

PSG-Specific (if applicable):

• Vendor is on the pre-approved vendor list for the solution category
• Solution is listed on the PSG pre-approved solutions list

Pre-Submission QA (Run Before You Submit)

Run through this checklist immediately before clicking submit:

Entity & Documentation:

• Entity name on all vendor quotes matches ACRA profile exactly
• All required documents are attached (check grant requirements)
• Financial statements uploaded (if required)
• Supporting details completed with no blank fields

Timing & Payments:

• No payments made to vendor yet
• No contracts signed with vendor yet
• Project start date is AFTER expected approval date
• Quote date is before application submission date

Grant Limits & Eligibility:

• Within annual cap (check previous claims in BGP)
• No duplicate active application for same grant
• Company meets local shareholding requirement
• Company meets SME criteria (if required)

Vendor & Solution (PSG):

• Vendor is pre-approved (if PSG IT solution)
• Solution is listed on pre-approved solutions (if PSG)
• Quote matches pre-approved solution specifications

Submission Details:

• Project description clearly explains business need
• Cost breakdown is detailed and reasonable
• All mandatory fields completed
• Contact person details are accurate

Common First-Timer Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors:

Payment & Contracts:

• Starting work before approval – Do not begin the project or pay the vendor until approval is granted.
• Signing contracts early – Contracts signed before approval may invalidate your application.

Documentation:

• Wrong entity name on quotes – Ensure vendor quotes show your exact ACRA registered name, not trading names or abbreviations.
• Missing required attachments – Double-check all required documents are uploaded.

Eligibility:

• Applying for already-purchased items – You cannot claim grants for purchases made before application approval.
• Not checking pre-approved vendor list – For PSG grants, only pre-approved vendors and solutions are eligible.

Timing:

• Applying too close to project deadline – Allow sufficient time for approval (typically 4-8 weeks).
• Rushing the application – Incomplete or inaccurate applications will be rejected.

For detailed analysis of common rejection points, see the Grant Pitfalls Guide.

After Submission

What happens next:

1. Application Review – Your application will be reviewed by the grant agency (typically 4-8 weeks).
2. Follow-up Queries – You may receive requests for additional information or clarification.
3. Approval or Rejection – You will be notified via BGP and email.
4. If Approved:
   • Review the Letter of Offer (LOO) carefully
   • Accept the LOO within the specified timeline
   • Only then proceed with vendor contracts and payments
5. Project Implementation – Complete the project according to approved timeline and budget.
6. Claims Submission – Submit claims through BGP with invoices and proof of payment.

Important: Do not start work or make payments until you receive and accept the Letter of Offer.

Glossary (Quick Definitions)

• BGP – Business Grants Portal, the central platform for applying to Singapore government grants.
• Corppass – Corporate digital identity for businesses to transact with government agencies online.
• UEN – Unique Entity Number, a standard identification number for entities registered in Singapore.
• ACRA – Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, Singapore’s business registration authority.
• PSG – Productivity Solutions Grant, supports adoption of pre-approved IT solutions and equipment.
• LOO – Letter of Offer, formal grant approval document you must accept before proceeding.
• Local Shareholding – Percentage of company shares held by Singaporeans or Singapore PRs.
• SME – Small and Medium Enterprise, typically defined as turnover ≤ S$100M or ≤ 200 employees.

For complete definitions, see the Singapore Grants Glossary.

Related Guides

• Grant Pitfalls Guide – Common rejection points and how to avoid them
• Corppass Setup Guide – Step-by-step Corppass registration
• PayNow Corporate vs GIRO: How to Choose? – Choose the right payout method for grant disbursement
• PayNow Corporate Setup Guide – Step-by-step setup for faster payout method (~14 working days)
• GIRO Setup Guide – Step-by-step setup for payout method (for special account types)
• Singapore Grants Glossary – Complete terminology reference
• Digitalisation Starter Guide – Getting started with digital transformation

Official Links

• Business Grants Portal (BGP): apply.gov.sg/grants/business
• Corppass: www.corppass.gov.sg
• ACRA BizFile+: www.bizfile.gov.sg
• Enterprise Singapore: www.enterprisesg.gov.sg