PRESS RELEASE FOR AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION OF SOCIETIES
On 19 May this year, Parliament passed the Societies (Amendment) Bill to introduce an Automatic Registration scheme for societies. The Automatic Registration regime will take effect from
(a) A declaration that the society’s objects, purpose or activities are not those specified in the Schedule (see Annex);
(b) A copy of the proposed rules of the society; and
(c) Payment of the registration fee of $200.
2 To prevent abuse of the scheme, the Societies Act was also amended to empower the Minister to dissolve a society if it had obtained automatic registration through false declarations in its registration. In addition, the Registrar of Societies may also order a society to change its name or rules.
3 For categories of societies listed in the Schedule, these groups can continue to apply for registration through the normal process, as it is done now. Any group wishing to register their society can do so online via the Registry of Societies Electronic System (ROSES) at http://www.mha.gov.sg/ros or http://www.safetyandsecuritytown.gov.sg or over-the-counter at the Registry of Societies.
Registry of Societies
Annex
THE SCHEDULE
Sections 4(1) and 33A
Specified societies
1. Any society whose object, purpose or activity, whether primary or otherwise, is to ¾
(a) represent;
(b) promote any cause or interest of; or
(c) discuss any issue relating to,
any religion, ethnic group, clan, nationality or a class of persons defined by reference to their gender or sexual orientation.
2. Any political association.
3. Any society which uses the word “National” or “Singapore” in its name, except where the word “Singapore” or any abbreviation thereof is used to indicate the society’s place of registration.
4. Any society whose object, purpose or activity, whether primary or otherwise, is to ¾
(a) represent persons who advocate;
(b) promote; or
(c) discuss any issue relating to,
any civil or political right (including human rights, environmental rights and animal rights).
5. Any society whose object, purpose or activity, whether primary or otherwise, is to discuss any matter relating to the governance of the
6. Any society whose object, purpose or activity, whether primary or otherwise, is to promote or discuss the use or status of any language.
7. Any society which is formed under the instruction of a foreign government or an organisation affiliated to a foreign government.
8. Any society which is formed under the instruction of a foreign organisation or is affiliated to a foreign organisation or whose major source of funding is from outside of
9. Any alumni of an educational institution that is not established in
10. Any society which has an office bearer who ¾
(a) was previously holding office in a society that was dissolved under section 24 and the order for dissolution was made less than 3 years ago;
(b) while being a member of any society, was convicted for an offence involving the unlawful expenditure of the funds of the society; or
(c) has been previously declared in writing by the Minister to be unfit to act as an officer of a society.
11. Any society whose object, purpose or activity, whether primary or otherwise, is to promote, discuss any issue relating to, or to provide training in any form of pugilistic or martial arts.