Liquor Licence: Application and Renewal (SPF)
Any company, business, or society supplying liquor in Singapore — selling, serving, or delivering it — needs a liquor licence from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), unless a specific exemption applies under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015.
Licence Classes and Fees
| Class | What It Covers | Trading Hours | Validity | Fee (non-refundable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | All liquor, consumed on premises | 0600–2359 | 1 year | S$880 |
| 1B | All liquor, consumed on premises | 0600–2200 | 1 year | S$660 |
| 2A | Beer only, consumed on premises | 0600–2359 | 1 year | S$460 |
| 2B | Beer only, consumed on premises | As per licence | 1 year | S$285 |
| 3A | Retail liquor for off-premises consumption (delivery/takeaway) | 0700–2230 | 1 year | S$110 |
| 3B | Retail beer for off-premises consumption | 0700–2230 | 1 year | S$110 |
| 4 | Wholesale liquor | 0700–2230 | 1 year | S$110 |
| 5 | Temporary (events/exhibitions) | Per licence | Up to 30 consecutive days | From S$22 for a single day, rising in bands to S$220 for the full 30 days |
Class 5: covers one continuous block of up to 30 days per licence — non-consecutive dates need separate licences. The fee is banded, not a flat per-day rate (e.g. 2–7 days is a flat S$44, not S$22 × days).
Eligibility
Applicants must meet SPF's "fit and proper" criteria, and the premises must be suitably located for the supply of liquor. Approval of a liquor licence is separate from a Public Entertainment licence — if you need both (e.g. live music alongside alcohol service), you must apply for each individually.
Documents Needed
- ACRA certificate (or Registry of Societies certificate for societies)
- NRIC/FIN of the applicant's contact person
- Land authority approval — HDB approval for public housing premises, URA/SLA planning permission, or an NEA hawker licence if applying as a hawker beer stall
Applying and Renewing
Applications go through GoBusiness (SingPass or CorpPass login), taking around 15–20 minutes to complete. Processing takes approximately 3 weeks once all supporting documents are submitted — applications missing required documents will not be processed until completed.
Licences run for one year. SPF's guidance points to renewal action being expected around 2 months before expiry, accessible via the "Due for Renewals" tab in your GoBusiness account — we'd recommend renewing as soon as that window opens rather than waiting, since sources vary on whether this is a window or a submission deadline, and lapsing into unlicensed operation carries real penalties (below). Cancelling a licence early does not entitle you to a refund of the fee already paid.
Penalties for Operating Without a Licence
Supplying liquor without a valid licence carries a fine of up to S$20,000. Repeat offenders face a fine of up to S$20,000, imprisonment of up to 3 months, or both.
Applying for a liquor licence or need help with renewal?
We assess which licence class fits your business model, prepare the application and supporting documents, and manage your renewal timeline through GoBusiness — renewing early to avoid any risk of a lapse — liaising with SPF on your behalf throughout.