Apply for Estate Agent Licence

• For New Estate Agents
• Licensing Criteria for New Estate Agents
• Licence & Registration Fees
• Processing Your Application
• Duty to Notify CEA of Changes to Information Submitted in any Application or Form

A) For New Estate Agents

Any entity that conducts estate agency work, be it through a real estate salesperson (RES) or a digital platform, is required to apply for an estate agent (EA) licence. The application for a licence shall be submitted by the Key Executive Officer (KEO)-applicant. The KEO is the person who will be responsible for the proper administration and overall management of the business of the EA and the supervision of its RESs. The KEO-applicant will have to log into CEA’s e-services to complete the application form and submit it to CEA. Please refer to the image below for an illustration of the workflow and process.

B) Licensing Criteria for New Estate Agents

The licensing criteria for a new EA are as follows:

1. The EA must be a registered entity with ACRA.
2. The EA must have a Key Executive Officer (KEO) who satisfies the requirements of the Estate Agents Act and Regulations.
3. The EA must not hold a moneylender's licence.
4. None of the EA's directors or partners or sole-proprietor or KEO hold a moneylender's licence, or are an employee, director, or partner of a licensed moneylender.
5. The EA is fit and proper, such as is not in liquidation or wound-up or in receivership, has not entered into a composition or scheme of arrangement with its creditors, does not have any convictions, does not have any judgment that involved a finding of fraud, dishonesty or breach of fiduciary duties entered against it in civil proceedings.
6. The EA's KEO and all directors or partners or persons responsible for the management must fulfil the fit and proper criteria under the Estate Agents Act. 

   CEA shall determine if the person is fit and proper for registration after considering all relevant facts and matters. In the circumstances listed below, a person shall not be fit and proper for registration, unless CEA determines otherwise:

   1. Where the person has been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty or fraud, or any offence under the Estate Agents Act.
   2. Where the person has had a judgment entered against him / her in civil proceedings that involve a finding of fraud, dishonesty or breach of fiduciary duties on his / her part.
   3. Where the person is an undischarged bankrupt or has made a composition or arrangement with his / her creditors.
   4. Where CEA takes the view that a person is not fit and proper after considering any other relevant facts or matters.

   Note : The person is required to declare all prior convictions in a court of law (including a military court), in Singapore or in any other country.

   Example:  A person who was previously detained under the Misuse of Drugs Act or served with a detention / police supervision order under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act would generally be deemed to be not fit and proper for registration, unless CEA determines otherwise after considering all facts and matters (including circumstances of the prior detention / supervision).

7. The EA must have a valid Professional Indemnity Insurance policy that covers the EA and all its RESs. All the partners, where applicable, must also be covered by the Professional Indemnity Insurance.

The EA must have Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines such as for training & supervision of RESs, complaints-handling & dispute resolution, advertising & printing of publicity materials, protection of confidentiality of clients' information and service standards for its operations.

The appointed KEO of the EA must:

1. Have a minimum of 4 GCE 'O' Levels passes or equivalent.
2. Possess a pass in the Real Estate Agency (REA) examination in the 2 years immediately before the application for a licence, or equivalent.
3. Be a sole-proprietor, director or partner of the EA.
4. Have at least 3 years’ experience in estate agency work (e.g., applicant has held a RES registration for at least 3 years, or has been a KEO, practising director or practising partner for at least 3 years).
5. Have concluded at least 30 transactions in the last 3 years as or on behalf of a licensed EA or have at least 3 years of experience in managing the business of a licensed EA as an executive director, a chief executive, key executive, key executive officer, partner or sole proprietor.
6. Not currently be a sole-proprietor, practising director or partner, KEO, or RES of another licensed EA.
7. Not been previously a sole-proprietor, KEO, director or partner of an EA whose licence was revoked.
8. Not hold a moneylender's licence and is not an employee, director, or partner of a licensed moneylender.
9. Not be in arrears with the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board for MediSave contribution. This also applies to directors and partners of the EA. Please click here to check if you have MediSave liabilities. To find out more about the Self-Employed Scheme, visit cpf.gov.sg/selfemployedmatters

The information above also applies to the practising partners in General and Limited Partnerships, and practicing directors in Companies.

For applications involving foreigners, EAs should first check with CEA on the type of employment pass they should possess.

C) Licence & Registration Fees

For Estate Agents (EAs)

• Application fee for a new licence or renewal of licence: $120 (GST exempt)

• Application fee to register a new RES or to renew the registration of a RES: $50 (GST exempt)

• Annual registration fee per RES:
  
  
  

  RES Registration granted for:	Registration Fee (GST exempt)
  a. A full calendar year, or part of a calendar year starting on or before 30 June and ending on 31 December	$230
  b. Part of a calendar year starting after 30 June and ending on 31 December	$115

*Notes:

• EAs shall be responsible for the payment of the EA's licence fee and the registration fee of their RESs, as well as the application fees for EA licence and RES registration. The application and registration fees for RESs and renewal of licence shall be paid by GIRO.
• The application fee is also payable when an EA submits an application for a RES to switch EAs (leaving/intending to leave one EA to join another).
• Invoices will be generated every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (excluding Public Holidays or on days where there are ad-hoc system maintenance) for applications at “Pending fee payment”. GIRO deduction by the bank will take place and complete in the next two working days.

D) Processing Your Application

CEA will process each application and shall revert as soon as practicable.

If the application is approved, CEA will send an email on the approval to your email address as stated in the application form.

E) Duty to Notify CEA of Changes to Information Submitted in any Application or Form

Once an EA is licensed, the EA or Key Executive Officer (KEO) shall notify CEA of any change to the information contained in any application or form submitted to CEA within 7 working days after the date of the change.

The EA or KEO can notify CEA of the following changes through CEA's E-services:

1. Changes in the EA Information (e.g., change of business address or email address).
2. Changes in the KEO Information. If a vacancy occurs in the post of KEO by reason of the death, resignation or revocation of appointment of the KEO, the EA shall appoint another KEO within one month of the KEO ceasing to carry out his duties. 
3. Changes in existing practising Directors/Partners Information. If you are appointing a new practising director/partner, find out more about the criteria here. 
4. Cessation of RES’s authority to act for the EA, i.e., cancellation of a RES registration.