Mandatory Licensing

The IMDA Telecommunication Dealer's Licence: A 2026 Guide

If you are a foreign manufacturer looking to sell wireless equipment in Singapore, you will quickly encounter a major hurdle: IMDA does not accept applications from overseas entities. Every piece of registered equipment must be tied to a local Singaporean license holder.

Executive Summary: IMDA Dealer's Licence

Requirement: A Singapore-registered entity (ACRA) must hold the licence to import or sell telecom/wireless equipment.
Individual Licence: Required for most equipment, valid for 5 years, costs S$250.
Class Licence: For specific low-risk, short-range equipment, one-time S$50 fee.
Customs: You must declare your valid IMDA licence number on the TradeNet import permit.

The Role of the Local Applicant

Every equipment registration—whether ESER, SER, or GER—must be submitted by a company registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) in Singapore. This company must also hold a valid Telecommunication Dealer's Licence issued by IMDA.

Regulators like having someone local to call if a product starts broadcasting on emergency frequencies. And if a market surveillance audit happens, they expect a local representative to answer the door. Attempting to bypass this requirement is like trying to board an international flight with a library card—it’s not going to work, and security will not be amused.

Official ACRA corporate registration and IMDA dealer licence

Types of Dealer's Licences

Individual Licence

For companies manufacturing, importing, or selling equipment not explicitly exempted by IMDA. Valid for 5 years (costing S$250) and renewable. This is what most commercial importers require.

Class Licence

For companies dealing strictly with low-power or specific pre-approved Short Range Devices (SRD). Requires a one-time registration fee of S$50 on the IMDA portal.

Why It Matters for Foreign Manufacturers

If you don't have a local subsidiary in Singapore, you have two practical choices to enter the market:

Use Your Local Distributor: You can ask your local distributor to hold the licence. However, this gives them legal control over your product's market access certificates. If that relationship sours and you want to change distributors, you may have to re-certify everything from scratch.
Independent Local Representation: Companies like HertzWeg act as your neutral local applicant. We hold the dealer's licence and the equipment registrations on your behalf, giving you full control and flexibility to work with any distributor (or multiple distributors) you choose.

Maintaining Compliance

The dealer's licence holder is responsible for maintaining all registration records, filing TradeNet import declarations with their licence number, and acting as the point of contact during an IMDA market audit. At HertzWeg, we manage these records meticulously, ensuring that your "Local Applicant" status is always pristine. After all, customs delays are significantly less exciting than compliance planning.

TradeNet customs declarations and cargo clearance in Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can a foreign company apply for the Dealer's Licence?

No. You must be a business entity registered with ACRA (Singapore's Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority).

How much does the licence cost?

An Individual Licence costs S$250 and is valid for 5 years. A Class Licence is a one-time fee of S$50.

Do I still need customs permits if I have the licence?

Yes. Even with a Dealer's Licence, you must declare the licence number when obtaining an import permit via the TradeNet system for each shipment.

Need a Local Applicant in Singapore?

We provide independent IMDA Dealer's Licence representation for global tech brands.

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