All kindergartens must be registered with the Ministry of Education (MOE).

Licensing Agency	Ministry of Education (MOE)
Cost Of Licence	S$400
Minimum Licence Processing Time	2 weeks

When do I need to register?

• You need to register with MOE to provide kindergarten education to 10 or more children.
  
  
• Your kindergarten, its courses/curriculum and teachers must be registered before you can start offering education to the public.

What is a kindergarten?

• A kindergarten is a “school” that provides a structured 3-year preschool education programme for children aged 3 - 6.
  
  
• The 3-year preschool education programme consists of:
  
  
  • Nursery
  • Kindergarten 1
  • Kindergarten 2
    
    
• Kindergartens may operate daily/five days a week. School hours are typically 3 - 4 hours a day. Most kindergartens have two sessions a day.

Who is eligible to register?

• Any organisation – including sole-proprietors, partnerships, companies and registered societies – operating a kindergarten that provides education to 10 or more children must register with MOE.

Who is not eligible to register?

• Any organisation offering education-related services only. For instance, Childcare Centres are not eligible to register.

What are the registration fees?

• The one-time registration fee is S$400 (excluding GST). Registration is a one-time process. There is no need to renew your registration.

What laws & regulations do I have to comply with before registering?

• You must comply with the Education Act, Cap. 87 (1985 Edition) and Schools Regulations (1990 Ed).
  
  
• There are many legal requirements. For instance, you must ensure that teachers hold Certificates in Pre-school Teaching.
  
  
• For a full list of pre-registration requirements, please download the Registration of New Kindergartens (WORD).

Things to note

• Registration with MOE gives kindergartens the right to operate when they have met basic statutory requirements.
  
  
• Registration does not amount to endorsement or accreditation by MOE. MOE does not endorse or accredit the quality of registered kindergartens, its courses and teachers.
  
  
• For the latest and most updated information on kindergartens, please refer to the MOE website.