Planning to expand your business into an overseas market? Before applying for the MRA Grant Singapore, one of the first things to check is whether your company meets the eligibility requirements.
The Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant, administered by Enterprise Singapore, helps eligible Singapore companies defray the costs of activities related to expanding into overseas markets.
From 1 April 2026, eligible SMEs can receive up to 70% of eligible costs, with support capped at S$100,000 per company per new overseas market.
However, not every company or overseas expansion project will qualify.
In this guide, we explain the key MRA Grant eligibility criteria, what Enterprise Singapore considers a new overseas market, and what Singapore SMEs should know before preparing an application.
What Is the MRA Grant?
The Market Readiness Assistance Grant is an Enterprise Singapore support programme designed to help Singapore businesses expand into overseas markets.
The current MRA framework supports eligible activities across three areas:
- Overseas market promotion
- Overseas business development
- Overseas market set up
Depending on the project, supported activities can include overseas marketing and PR, participation in overseas trade fairs, identification of potential overseas partners and B2B customers, outsourced business development, overseas marketing presence, and certain market entry costs.
For businesses planning international expansion, the MRA Grant can help reduce some of the costs involved in developing a new overseas market.
Before looking at the project itself, however, businesses should first check the basic eligibility criteria.
MRA Grant Eligibility Criteria
Under the current requirements, a company must meet several conditions to qualify for the MRA Grant.
1. Your Business Must Be Registered and Operating in Singapore
The applicant must be a business entity registered and operating in Singapore.
The MRA Grant is intended to support Singapore based companies that are developing overseas revenue and expanding into international markets.
Enterprise Singapore may reject applications where the company’s main business operations are outside Singapore or where the business does not meet the requirements of the scheme.
2. Your Company Must Have at Least 30% Local Equity
The company must have at least 30% local equity held directly or indirectly by Singapore citizens and/or Singapore Permanent Residents.
Enterprise Singapore determines this based on ultimate individual ownership.
For companies that are part of a larger corporate group, the ownership structure may therefore need to be considered beyond the immediate applicant company.
3. Your Company Must Meet the SME Size Requirement
The company must meet at least one of the following conditions:
- Group annual sales turnover of no more than S$100 million
- Group employment size of no more than 200 employees
Enterprise Singapore assesses these requirements at the relevant group level.
This is important for companies that are part of a larger corporate group, as the size of the wider group may affect eligibility.
4. Your Company Must Be New to the Target Overseas Market
This is one of the most important MRA Grant eligibility criteria.
The company must be new to the overseas market it is applying to enter.
Under the current requirements, a market is considered new when the company’s annual sales in that target country have not exceeded S$100,000 in any of the preceding three years.
For example, a Singapore company planning to expand into Japan should consider its existing sales in Japan when determining whether the market qualifies as new.
The assessment is made at the country level, so businesses should review their existing overseas sales in the specific country they intend to target.
What Does the Company Need to Know About Its Target Market?
Choosing the target market is an important part of an MRA application, but companies are not expected to have completed detailed market research before applying. The detailed understanding of the market, including its opportunities, challenges, customers, and competitive environment, can be developed as part of the approved project.
Instead, the applicant should provide a reasonable business basis for selecting the target market. This could include factors such as existing enquiries, industry opportunities, customer interest, previous business contacts, or the company’s broader international growth plans.
The purpose of an MRA project may be to help the company explore and develop a deeper understanding of the target market and create business opportunities there.
SEKIM International supports companies with market prioritisation and market opportunity analysis, helping businesses understand the opportunities and challenges within their selected markets.
Can a Newly Registered Company Apply for the MRA Grant?
Yes.
Newly registered companies with less than one year of operations can apply for MRA support.
However, Enterprise Singapore may assess whether the company has adequate financial and manpower resources to support the proposed overseas expansion project.
Newly incorporated companies may also need to provide updated certified management accounts or other relevant supporting documents.
Being a new company does not automatically prevent a business from applying, but the company should be able to demonstrate that it is in a position to undertake the proposed project.
What Activities Can the MRA Grant Support?
Meeting the company level eligibility requirements is only the first part of the process.
The proposed project must also involve an eligible activity.
The current MRA framework includes three main areas.
Overseas Market Promotion
This can include eligible overseas marketing and PR activities and participation in overseas physical or virtual trade fairs.
Overseas Business Development
This can include identifying potential overseas partners and B2B customers and using outsourced business development services in the target market.
Overseas Market Set Up
This can include certain advisory, legal, documentation, intellectual property, incorporation, and import and export licensing costs.
Each MRA application is currently limited to one activity in one overseas market.
What Should Companies Prepare for an MRA Application?
Once a company has established that it meets the basic MRA Grant eligibility criteria, it can begin preparing the application.
For most activities, Enterprise Singapore requires documents including:
- Company financial statements for the past three years
- A proposal and/or quotation from the selected consultant or market entry service provider
- Detailed scope of services
- Expected project deliverables
- Cost breakdown by scope of services
Newly incorporated companies may have different financial documentation requirements.
The proposal should clearly explain what the project will involve, what it is expected to deliver, and how the activity relates to the company’s overseas expansion plans.
The company does not need to have already completed the market research that the project itself is intended to undertake.
When Should You Apply for the MRA Grant?
One of the most important rules to understand is that companies generally need to apply before starting the project.
A project can be considered retrospective if the company has already:
- Made payment to the consultant or service provider
- Signed a contract or purchase order
- Started the project
- Engaged a consultant or service provider to begin preliminary project activities
Retrospective applications are generally not permitted, with a specific exception for certain overseas trade fair arrangements.
Applications should also be submitted no earlier than six months before the proposed project start date.
This means businesses should have their project scope and supporting documents ready before committing to the work.
Does Meeting the Eligibility Criteria Guarantee Approval?
No.
Meeting the basic MRA Grant eligibility criteria means that your company may qualify to apply. It does not automatically mean that the proposed project will be approved.
Enterprise Singapore will also assess the proposed activity, project scope, supporting documents, and other requirements.
A strong application should clearly communicate:
- The overseas market being targeted
- The business reason for selecting that market
- The activity being proposed
- The expected project deliverables
- The estimated project costs
The detailed market insights do not necessarily need to be available before the project begins. In many cases, developing those insights is part of what the project is designed to achieve.
How SEKIM International Can Support Your Overseas Expansion
Understanding the MRA Grant eligibility criteria is only one part of preparing for international expansion.
Once a company has identified a target market, it may need support to understand the opportunity, identify potential customers, and develop business there.
SEKIM International helps companies grow in international markets through five key areas.
Export Readiness
We help businesses assess and develop their readiness to grow exports and expand globally.
Market Prioritisation
We help companies evaluate potential markets and prioritise where they should focus their international expansion efforts.
Market Opportunity Analysis
We help businesses understand the opportunities and challenges within their selected target markets.
Overseas Customer Identification
We help companies identify potential clients and business partners in their target markets.
Business Development and Lead Generation
We perform business development and lead generation activities in target markets on behalf of our clients.
This provides companies with support across the international expansion process, from deciding where to expand, to understanding the opportunity, identifying who to approach, and developing real business opportunities.
MRA Grant Eligibility Checklist
Before preparing your application, check that your company meets the key requirements:
- Registered and operating in Singapore
- At least 30% local equity held directly or indirectly by Singapore citizens and/or Singapore Permanent Residents
- Group annual sales turnover of no more than S$100 million, or group employment size of no more than 200 employees
- New to the target overseas market
- Annual sales in the target country have not exceeded S$100,000 in any of the preceding three years
- Proposed activity is eligible under the MRA framework
- Project has not started before the application is submitted
Always check the latest Enterprise Singapore requirements before applying, as grant conditions and support levels can change.
Frequently Asked Questions About MRA Grant Eligibility
What are the MRA Grant eligibility criteria?
The main criteria include being registered and operating in Singapore, having at least 30% local equity, meeting the relevant group turnover or employment threshold, and being new to the target overseas market.
What qualifies as a new overseas market?
A target country is considered new when the company’s annual sales in that country have not exceeded S$100,000 in any of the preceding three years.
Can a newly registered company apply for the MRA Grant?
Yes. Newly registered companies can apply, subject to demonstrating adequate financial and manpower resources for the proposed project.
How much MRA Grant support can SMEs receive?
From 1 April 2026, eligible SMEs can receive up to 70% of eligible costs, subject to the applicable activity and grant caps. The overall support is capped at S$100,000 per company per new overseas market.
Can I apply for the MRA Grant after starting the project?
Generally, no. Companies must submit their application before commencing the project or entering into relevant contractual arrangements with a consultant or market entry service provider.
Does my company need detailed market research before applying?
Not necessarily. The company should have a reasonable business basis for selecting the target market, while detailed market research and market insights may be developed as part of the approved project.
Can SEKIM International help with MRA supported activities?
SEKIM International provides services including market prioritisation, market opportunity analysis, overseas customer identification, business development, and lead generation. Whether a specific project is eligible for MRA support depends on Enterprise Singapore’s current requirements and approval.
Is Your Company Eligible for the MRA Grant?
Understanding the MRA Grant eligibility criteria is an important first step for any Singapore SME considering international expansion.
But eligibility is only the beginning.
Businesses also need to understand their readiness for overseas growth, identify suitable markets, understand the opportunities and challenges within those markets, find potential customers, and develop relationships that can lead to new business.
SEKIM International helps companies through these stages, from export readiness and market prioritisation to market opportunity analysis, overseas customer identification, business development, and lead generation.
If your company is considering expanding into a new overseas market, understanding whether you qualify for the MRA Grant can be the first step towards building a structured international growth strategy.