Mr Shegar, General Manager of Touch World Enteprise Pte Ltd, is very satisfied with the Online Business Licensing Service (OBLS): “When I started my Tatami shop business, I spent three frustrating working days driving to various government agencies to apply for the Food Shop Licence, Company Incorporation, Fire Safety Licence and Permission for Change of Use. When I found out about OBLS, I decided to apply for the Liquor Licence for my second business through this e-Service. The experience was good. I did not have to travel to any agency and spent a mere 20 minutes applying for my Liquor Licence successfully using this online service. ”

Starting from today, businessesmen like Mr Shegar will be happy to learn that a new feature called the URT (which stands for Updating, Renewals and Terminations) modules is now available through the Online Business Licensing Service (OBLS) at http://www.business.gov.sg/licences.  The URT modules allow businesses to update, renew or terminate 45 different types of licences through the OBLS.  Previously, the OBLS only permitted businesses to apply for new licences.

This new feature, which offers time and cost savings to the businesses, eliminates the need for them to deal with different government agencies for different licensing services.  For instance, by using the Update module, the applicant would only need to complete one integrated form when updating licensing information to more than one agency. In the case of multiple renewals, a consolidated payment mechanism allows for one-time payment for multiple licence fees, eliminating the need to make separate payments.   A full list of licences with URT modules is attached in Annex A for reference.

The OBLS, which was officially launched in January 2004, has a total of 71 licences available for online application. Since then, more than 19,000 online applications have been received. This e-Service has been awarded the 2005 United Nations Public Service Award in the Category of "Application of information and communication technology (ICT) in Government: Local eGovernment".  This award recognises Singapore’s contribution to the business community in the areas of enhanced service delivery, re-engineered government operations and e-Participation.  

MINISTRY OF TRADE & INDUSTRY

25 October 2005

 Annex A

 List of Licences with URT (Updating, Renewals, Terminations) Functions

Agency	Licence
ACRA	Business Name Application and Business Registration
	Company Name Application and Company Incorporation
AVA	Animal Exhibition Licence
	Licence To Import Domestic Birds/Table Eggs/Sheep & Goats
	Licence for Import and Transhipment of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
	Licence for Import, Export and Transhipment of Meat Products and Fish Products
	Licence to Import or Export Ornamental Fish
	Licence to Operate a Food Processing Establishment (Excluding Meat & Fish)
	Licence to Operate a Meat or Fish Processing Establishment or Cold Store
	Licence to Operate a Slaughter-house
	Pet Shop Licence
	Registration to Import Processed Food Products and Food Appliances (Excluding Meat and Fish Products, Fresh Fruits and Vegetables)
HDB	Home Office Scheme (HDB)
HSA	Tobacco Retail Licence
IDA	Experimental Station Licence
	Localised Private Network Licence
	Localised Radio-Communication Station Licence
	Satellite Communication Station Licence
	Services-Based Operator (Class) Licence
	Services-Based Operator (Individual) Licence
	Telecommunication Dealer's (Class) Licence
	Telecommunication Dealer's (Individual) Licence
	Telecommunication Wiring Contractor's Licence
	Wide-area Private Network Licence
IESPORE	Rice Licence
	Rubber Licence
MDA	Dealers' Licence
	Non-Residential TV Licence
	Printing Press Licence
MINLAW	Moneylender's Licence
	Pawnbroker's Licence
MOM	Employment Agency Licence
	Factory Registration (except building operations or works of engineering construction)
NEA	Food Shop Licence
	Food Stall Licence
	General Waste Collector Licence
	Supermarket Licence
	Swimming Pool Licence
PUB	Written Approval For The Discharge Of Trade Effluent / Written Approval for Disposal of Organic Sludge
SCDF	Petroleum/ Flammable Materials Storage Licence
	Petroleum/ Flammable Materials Transportation Licence
SPF	Public Entertainment Licence
STB	Hotel Licence (Certificate of Registration & Hotel Keeper’s Licence)
	Travel Agent Licence
URA	Change Of Use