Apply for a FEDA licence

Dormitory operators are required to alert, notify, seek approval, and submit reports to MOM.

• Seek approval for change of licensee directors/partners, legal structure, name of licensee/dormitory.
• Notify MOM within 14 days if there is change of information submitted in the FEDA licence application form.
• Serious incident affecting the safety, security or well-being of residents: Manage the incident and if necessary, alert emergency response authorities. Alert MOM by emailing to MOM_ACE_Ops_Centre@mom.gov.sg within 3 hours from the discovery of the incident and submit an incident report to MOM within 24 hours from the discover of the incident.
• Notify MOM at least 21 days prior to evicting residents.
• Seek approval from MOM to organise, conduct or allow any religious, race-related or political based events in the dormitory premises.

Dormitory operators and dormitories applying for a FEDA licence will need to meet the eligibility criteria.

Dormitory operator:

• ACRA registered business entity.
• At least one Singapore Citizen/Permanent Resident director.
• Directors are at least 18 years old.
• Directors are not undischarged bankrupts.
• Business entity and directors do not have outstanding arrears on foreign worker levy, salary payments due to employees or Medisave payable (self-employed persons).
• Business entity and directors do not have previous convictions for serious criminal offences.
• Business entity and directors do not have previous convictions for other offences in the past 5 years.
• Not disqualified due to previous FEDA licence revocation.
• Business entity has at least 2 years track record of operating a dormitory with occupancy load of 300 or above (For new applications for a licence Class 4 dormitory with occupancy load of 1,000 to 2,999).
• Business entity has at least 2 years track record of operating a dormitory with occupancy load of 1,000 or above (For new applications for a Class 4 dormitory with occupancy load of 3,000 or above).

Dormitory:

• Obtain the necessary building approvals from other government agencies e.g. URA Planning/Written Permission, SCDF Fire Safety Certificate (depending on the type of dormitory).
• Meet the FEDA licence conditions. Inspections of the dormitory may be conducted by MOM and other government agencies.

Dormitory operators are required to submit the appropriate licence application based on their operational status and any changes to the dormitory setup.

Submit a new application if you are applying under any of the following scenarios:

• New FEDA licence: For operators applying to operate a dormitory for the first time.

• Change of dormitory operator: For changes to the legal entity or operator responsible for managing the dormitory.

• Change in occupancy load to take effect before existing FEDA licence can be renewed: For operators who want to change their dormitory's approved occupancy load before their current FEDA licence is renewed.
  The FEDA renewal option on GoBusiness will only be available 6 months before the existing FEDA licence expires.

• Renewal of existing FEDA licence, with change in occupancy load that results in a change in the dorm licence class: For operators who want to change both their dormitory occupancy load and licence class at the same time.
Increase from 50 (Class 1) to 120 (Class 2).

Submit a renewal application if you are applying under any of the following scenerios:

• Renewal of FEDA licence with no change in occupancy load: For operators who want to continue operating with the same approved occupancy load.

• Renewal of FEDA licence with change in occupancy load but still within the same dormitory licence class: For operators who want to renew their FEDA licence in the same dormitory licence class and change the dormitory's occupancy load at the same time.  

  To continue operating a dormitory, operators must submit a renewal application at least 3 months before the expiry of their FEDA licence via the GoBusiness Licensing Portal. Please select “Renew” in your GoBusiness dashboard.

For further enquiries, you may refer to the FAQs.