Singapore property agents must complete minimum transactions for license renewal from 2027

Singapore property agents face a new licensing requirement starting in 2027: they must complete a minimum of three property transactions every three years or pass a refresher examination to renew their licenses. The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) will also transition license validity from one year to three years, with the initial three-year period set for January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2029.

Senior Minister of State for National Development Sun Xueling announced the changes, emphasizing a focus on three key areas: raising professional standards, improving industry transparency, and offering consumers clearer choices in a dynamic property market. These measures stem from feedback highlighting concerns about the currency of knowledge among agents who have not been active in transactions for extended periods.

Data reveals a gap between consumer expectations and agent performance. While three-quarters of consumers surveyed expect agents to complete at least one transaction annually, about 40% of agents currently fall short. As of July 1, Singapore had 38,162 property agents and 1,018 agencies. Between 2023 and 2025, the median number of residential property transactions per agent per year was two, though this figure excludes non-residential transactions.

Agents who fail to meet the transaction requirement by the end of a three-year cycle can opt for a refresher examination. Those who do not meet either requirement and wish to re-enter the industry will need to retake and pass the initial salesperson examination. The CEA plans to release further details on the refresher exam by mid-2029. Individuals in management roles not involved in estate agency work will be exempt from these new requirements.

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Our focus has been on three areas: first, raising professional standards; second, enhancing transparency within the industry; third, giving consumers greater clarity and choice in an evolving property market.