If you wish to engage in certain types of business activities in Singapore, you must obtain the relevant business licenses. Business licenses in Singapore are generally issued by the relevant government authorities, and you need to apply for the appropriate license based on the type of business activity you intend to conduct.
Today, let's explore how to apply for a license to operate a massage centre in Singapore.

I. Required Documents for Establishing a Massage Centre in Singapore

1 In addition to the documents required for company registration, you will need to provide the following documents to open a massage centre in Singapore:

(1) If the property is rented, a no-objection letter from the property manager or landlord
(2) URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) planning permission
(3) Plans approved by the Fire Safety and Shelter Department
(4) The property's blueprint
(5) If rented, a copy of a lease agreement for at least 2 years

2 You will also need to provide:

(1) A list of employees with detailed information
(2) Detailed information on the amount invested in the spa centre
(3) Photos of employees in company uniforms

II. Licenses Required for Establishing a Massage Centre in Singapore

In Singapore, operating a massage centre (referred to as Massage Establishment, or ME, including massage therapy, nail treatments, foot reflexology, electrotherapy, steam baths, or other similar treatments) requires a Massage Establishment licence, abbreviated as ME licence. According to the provisions of the Singapore Massage Establishment Act, any establishment providing the above-listed services must apply for an ME licence unless exempted.
Institutions that meet the following criteria are exempt from applying for the licence:
1 Institutions providing massage services in full public view (i.e., not using any rooms, curtains, or any form of partition to obscure or otherwise make the services private);
2 Institutions offering only head or scalp massage services;
3 Institutions providing massage services solely to customers under 12 years of age;
4 Institutions providing massage services by the following registered individuals:
  (1) Individuals registered under section 14 of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Act (Chapter 333A) and holding a valid practising certificate issued under section 17 of that Act.
  (2) Individuals holding a certificate issued under section 22 of the Allied Health Professions Act (Chapter 6B) for registration as allied health professionals, and holding a valid practising certificate issued under section 23 of that Act.
  (3) Individuals registered under the Medical Registration Act (Chapter 174) as practising doctors and holding a valid practising certificate issued under section 36 of that Act.

III. Types of Massage Establishment Licenses

The ME license is divided into two main categories:
Cat I (including both Cat I ME licenses and temporary Cat I licenses)
Cat II ME licenses
Additionally, under special circumstances, certain establishments may be exempt from applying for an ME license.

1 Cat I

The first type of license allows you to operate a massage establishment in Singapore during specific business hours. This license also comes with age restrictions, and you are permitted to hire foreign professionals to work in your establishment. To apply for this license, you must meet the following conditions:
(1) Obtain CaseTrust accreditation
(2) Have a minimum paid-up capital of S$50,000 for rent, renovation, or asset costs
(3) Ensure that 80% or more of your technicians and therapists are licensed under the Massage Establishment (ME) Act
(4) Have a premises area of at least 100 square meters, or a lease term of at least 2 years
(5) Operate from 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM

2 Cat II

The second type of license requires that your massage establishment in Singapore be located away from residential areas, hospitals, and schools. Additionally, you can only employ Singaporean and Malaysian citizens or residents in your establishment. To obtain this license, you must meet the following conditions:
(1) Obtain CaseTrust accreditation
(2) Ensure that employees providing massage services undergo a mandatory medical health check before registering with PLRD
(3) Meet site conditions, which may include having no locks on doors and access to the management service area; all employee rooms must:
(4) Have "No Entry" signs and clearly separate male and female areas
(5) Employees must wear company uniforms approved by PLRD
(6) The shop must have at least a 2-year lease or the massage parlour area must be at least 100 square meters
(7) The Singapore massage establishment license and permits will be used for the following activities:
  ① Providing foot reflexology services
  ② Providing massage services
  ③ Providing manicure and pedicure services
  ④ Providing spa services
(8) Individuals intending to apply for a license to operate a massage parlour in Singapore must meet the following eligibility criteria:
  ① No criminal record
  ② At least 21 years old
  ③ If you are not a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, you must hold a Singapore employment pass
(9) Investors intending to apply for a massage business license in Singapore must comply with the following conditions:
  ① The company must provide uniforms for all staff
  ② The company must have a minimum capital of SGD 550,000 for investment purposes
  ③ Must have at least 100 square meters of space
  ④ The company must have spa and wellness services certified with the CaseTrust accreditation

3 Exemption from License Application

In special circumstances, you can apply to the Singapore Police Force for an exemption from applying for an ME license. The following situations may be exempt from the requirement to apply for an ME license:
(1) Providing manicure services
(2) Providing pedicure services
(3) Light therapy services
(4) Electrotherapy services
(5) Steam therapy services
(6) Bath services
If you engage a company setup specialist to help establish your business, they will assist you in applying for the necessary licenses and permits. These specialists have extensive experience and are familiar with local laws and regulatory requirements for all types of industries.

IV. Conditions for Applying for an ME License

1 Applicant

Applicants who wish to apply for an ME license to establish a spa and massage business in Singapore must meet the following conditions:
(1) The applicant must be at least 21 years old at the time of application.
(2) The applicant must be a fit and proper person, such as having no criminal record.
(3) The applicant must serve as the responsible person defined in Section 2(1) of the ME Act (i.e., the owner of a sole proprietorship, a partner in a partnership, or a senior executive in a company).
(4) The applicant must hold a valid relevant work pass (if the applicant is a foreigner).

2 Business

Businesses applying for an ME license to operate a spa and massage establishment in Singapore must meet the following conditions:
(1) At least 80% of the massage therapists must be certified by PLRD during the licensing period.
(2) The remaining 20% of trainee massage therapists must obtain PLRD certification within 6 months from the date of initial registration.
(3) All employees must wear approved uniforms while working at the licensed establishment.
(4) Massage rooms or treatment rooms must not have lockable doors.
(5) All rooms must be numbered.
(6) Rooms used for administrative purposes must have appropriate "No Entry" signs to prevent unauthorized access by customers.
(7) No permanent or temporary obstructions should be placed in massage rooms to ensure clear visibility into the room when the door is open.
(8) No warning devices should be installed in the licensed establishment to alert staff of the arrival of law enforcement officers.
(9) The licensee must ensure that no obscene advertisements are present in the licensed establishment.
(10) The lighting in the massage rooms must be sufficiently bright to allow the licensee and/or supervisor to clearly observe the actions of the massage therapists.
(11) The licensee or supervisor should conduct daily briefings with all staff to ensure that no employee offers any form of sexual services to customers.

3 Employees

Before employing anyone to work at the establishment, prior approval from PLRD must be obtained.
At least 80% of the employees working at the establishment must have at least one of the following certifications:
(1) International Beauty Diploma from the CIDESCO.
(2) Diploma in Beauty Therapy Services from the Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (CIBTAC).
(3) Certificate or Diploma in Body Massage from CIBTAC.
(4) Spa Diploma from CIBTAC.
(5) Specialist Diploma in Beauty from the International Therapy Examination Council (ITEC).
(6) Diploma in Holistic Massage from ITEC.
(7) National Skills Recognition System (NSRS) Skills Standard Set 1.
(8) NSRS Skills Standard Set 2.
(9) Spa and Aesthetic Therapy Certificate from the Institute of Technical Education (NITEC).
(10) NITEC Certificate in Beauty Therapy (Body Massage/Spa Therapy/Body Treatment).
(11) Higher NITEC in Beauty and Spa Management.
(12) Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) certificate applicable to the spa and massage industry under the Tourism WSQ framework.

V. Documents Required for Business License Application

1 Company profile from ACRA.
2 CaseTrust accreditation certificate or acceptance letter.
3 Color photographs showing the following:
  (1) Full front view of employee uniforms (from sleeves to pants).
  (2) Side view of employee uniforms (from sleeves to pants).
  (3) Rear view of employee uniforms (from sleeves to pants).
  (4) Company or establishment name or name tag on the employee uniforms.
  (5) Close-up shot of the company name tag (if any).
4 Scaled floor plan of the establishment showing the total floor area in square meters.
5 Planning permission from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) or approval from HDB for the intended use of the premises as an ME (as applicable).
6 List of employee details (including name, position, Singapore identity card number or passport details, contact information, and certificates obtained).
7 List of renovation/assets and their receipts and invoices.
8 Copies of training certificates for therapists and professionals (certified by PLRD).

VI. Processing Time for ME Business License Application

In Singapore, the average processing time for license applications is 12 working days. The massage establishment license is valid for a maximum of 1 year and must be renewed thereafter.