From 9 December 2024, ACRA requires affected individuals to provide one contact address.
It can be local or overseas but must be a physical address in the same jurisdiction as the residential address where the person can be contacted by post; it cannot be a PO box.
Separate three different addresses
A contact address is the public-facing location for an individual. It is not automatically the company’s registered office, and ACRA still keeps and uses the residential address for official correspondence. Label all three fields in your compliance file so an update to one is not assumed to update the others. (ACRA contact-address announcement)
ACRA’s FAQ says the contact address must be a place where the individual can be found and contacted by post, in the same jurisdiction as the residential address. An email address or PO box fails that test. A service-provider office works only if the arrangement is genuine and mail can reach the person.
| Situation | What changes |
|---|---|
| Residential address is acceptable for public display | Use it as the contact address |
| You want privacy and have a reachable office | Use that physical address if it meets the jurisdiction rule |
| Only a PO box is available | Do not use it; choose a qualifying physical address |
| You hold several positions | Maintain one contact address per individual, not one per company |
Know who is covered
The regime protects individuals associated with business entities, including directors, shareholders, owners and partners, as well as relevant public accountants. Corporate shareholders do not use the regime because it protects personal residential addresses. (ACRA company-information update guide)
ACRA states that only one contact address per individual can be provided. The address follows the individual across relevant records rather than becoming a different alias for each appointment. Check every active appointment after an update instead of assuming the public output changed everywhere immediately.
Example: A director living in Singapore may use a Singapore office that can receive post as the contact address while ACRA retains the home address confidentially. A Singapore PO box alone is not acceptable.
Keep the residential record current
The contact address does not replace the duty to keep the confidential residential address accurate. ACRA says official correspondence continues to go to the residential address. For Singapore citizens and permanent residents, also follow the ICA-linked update route where applicable.
Privacy is lost if the substitute address cannot actually receive time-sensitive mail. Agree who opens, scans, escalates and retains correspondence. Do not place personal identity documents in an unsecured shared mailbox.
