General

• Singapore is a small island state situated at the southernmost tip of the Malaysian peninsula in South-East Asia.
• It has a population of 5.9 million, of whom 30% are foreigners.
• Its currency is the Singapore dollar (S$).
• Language. Singapore has four official languages – English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. English is the main language
• Climate. Being on the Equator, Singapore has an even year-round temperature of around 30°C (86°F).
• Lifestyle. Assignees should expect a varied lifestyle, combining Western and Asian elements, with ultra-modern malls and traditional enclaves with food markets, Chinese medical stores and shop houses.

Housing

• If the assignee rents a property at below S$3,500 per month, they normally have to pay a commission equivalent to 1 month’s rent to the rental agent. If the rent is higher than this, the landlord usually pays the agency fee.
• Leases. The standard term for a lease is two years, though one-year leases can be found.
• Although leases generally come with a diplomatic break clause this can usually only be activated after 12 months.
• Insurance. It is not mandatory for tenants to have renter’s insurance, but it is recommended as landlord’s insurance may not cover personal possessions of tenants.
• Deposit: A deposit of one month’s rent is usually required for properties with a one-year lease, and two months’ rent for properties with longer leases.
• Stamp duty. Assignees must pay stamp duty to rent a property. This amounts to 0.4% to 3% of the total rent for the period of the lease.
• Utilities. These are often set up by the realtor, and utility bills are combined into one single bill every two months

Legal Matters

• To live and work in Singapore, assignees will need an Employment Pass (for high earners), an S-Pass (for mid-level staff) or a Work Permit (for unskilled or semi-skilled workers).
• Foreigners will need a Foreign Identification Number (FIN), which is applied for at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
• Foreigners are not required to carry ID in Singapore, but it is advisable to do so.

Health Insurance

• Quality. Singapore offers world-class healthcare facilities.
• Foreigners do not have a right to state health care, and all assignee health care must be paid for through private health insurance.
• Many companies with expat employees have a company doctor, whose services will be included as part of the employment contract.
• Some companies also carry corporate insurance policies, to protect employees against the high cost of hospitalisation and surgery.
• Many expats, even with employer healthcare, take out additional health insurance to cover the possibility of high costs.
• The main private health insurers include Allianz, Cigna, and Raffles Shield.
• Emergencies. In emergencies, dial 995 for an ambulance.

Banking

• It is straightforward for assignees to open a bank account in Singapore.
• Opening an account normally involves choosing and visiting a bank, filling out an application form and presenting supporting documentation.
• The documents needed are usually a passport, an employment pass, proof of address and, for some banks, the tax reference number of the country where the assignee previously paid tax.
• Main Singapore banks. These include DBS, OCBC (Bank of Singapore), and UOB.
• Singapore banks charge for various services. These fees can include account maintenance fees, transaction fees, fall-below fees, excess fees, and early account closure fees, among others
• ATMs. These are generally not free to use, unless the ATM is run by a bank at which the assignee holds an account.

Driving Licences

• No matter which country the assignee is from, they can drive on their home licence for up to 12 months, provided it is accompanied by an International Driving Permit.
• After 12 months, a Singapore driving licence is required.
• To obtain a licence, the assignee will have to pass a basic theory test in English, involving 50 questions.
• Once the theory text is passed, the driver must apply in person for the driving licence at the Traffic Police Test Centre or at a driving centre.
• The documents needed are the theory test result slip, passport and employment pass, a passport-size photograph and the home-country driving licence.
• New cars are expensive because the Singapore government applies a quota on annual car sales. To buy a car, assignees need to bid for a Certificate of Entitlement, which can cost thousands of dollars.
• Because of the expense, many expats use taxis or temporary hire cars for driving needs.