Crazy Rich Asians.
The movie that placed Singapore on the map for many Expats. Suddenly, this small city-state country has become the topic for many conversations and more people are considering shifting here.
But before you start packing your bags and booking the first flight over, there are a number of things you should know about living and migrating to Singapore.
Singapore is one of the most densely populated countries in the world – it has 6.9 million people living on 710 sq km (275 sq miles) – and that means there are always lots of things happening, from concerts and exhibitions to sporting events and festivals. There’s never any downtime! And with so many cultures living side by side, there are plenty of opportunities for cross-cultural exchange too.
To make your life a breeze, we’ve created this comprehensive Expat guide to living and migrating to Singapore.
1) What to Expect When Moving to Singapore
Most Expats make their lives in two main areas: Singapore’s CBD (Central Business District), which includes Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay; and the Sentosa Island resort.
Singapore’s CBD is a cosmopolitan hub of business and entertainment, while Sentosa offers a relaxing escape from city life with its beaches and lush greenery. If you’re looking to enjoy weekends filled with bars and restaurants, Singapore’s Orchard Road – which spans 5km (3 miles) – is the place to be!
Of course, you can also choose to live outside the city – in areas such as Jurong or Yishun – but this does mean that everyday tasks like going to certain movie theatres or reaching a good selection of grocery stores might take slightly longer than it would if living downtown. But for many Expats, being just 15 minutes away from work by public transport is still worth the small sacrifice.
2) How to Settle in Quickly and Make Friends
Singapore is an incredibly safe place, with low crime rates and high standards of living, but it’s inevitable that there will be moments when you feel homesick or lost. However, Expats can make friends quickly by joining the many Expat networking groups available in Singapore; attending activities like picnics or dinners put on by their employers, or walking into bars and clubs around Orchard Road (and asking where everyone hanging out at the bar might know) are all great ways to meet new people.
3) The Best Places to Live in Singapore
Many Expats live downtown because central locations mean being close to work as well as having access to great entertainment and nightlife.
Whether you’re considering living in the city central or on the outskirts, there are several considerations when it comes to choosing a condominium unit to live in. A cheaper alternative is the public HDB units that are only available to Singapore citizens. They may not have premium facilities like their own swimming pool or private gym, but the units are spacious and looks amazing. Most of these HDB units are located outside of the CBD but there’s usually a train service within the vicinity.
4) Tips for Working and Living in Singapore
The range of jobs available in Singapore is vast – everything from banking, engineering and architecture to construction. So whatever industry you’re in you’ll be able to find work here! The only downside is that many companies still expect employees who aren’t originally from Singapore to know more of the local language than those who are. So it’s important for Expats to make a real effort to learn some of this.
Singapore is a diverse place where many cultures mix – and you’ll be expected to follow suit! But blending in with the locals will make your life here much easier, so take note of what they do before doing as they do. For example: greet people as soon as you’ve been introduced; maintain eye contact with people when having conversations; and avoid touching someone’s head if talking to them.
5) Adjusting Your Lifestyle to Suit Singaporean Culture
There may be lots of new things that you simply don’t understand and can’t “figure out” about living in Singapore, but it’s completely fine not to “get” them – and there’s no such thing as a stupid question.
At first, some Expats find living in Asia quite difficult due to the differences between Asia and their home country. However, Asia is one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, so if you can learn to embrace these cultural differences you’ll soon be able to settle into a wonderful new life here!
6) Getting Around Singapore
With so many places around this small island being only minutes from each other by public transport, most Expats choose to live centrally so they can walk or cycle everywhere rather than relying on cars or taxis. In fact, owning a car is extremely expensive as there are restrictions with parking spaces and unique to this small country is the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) which is like an extra levy to own a private vehicle. It’s how the Singapore Government regulate and control the number of cars on the road to reduce congestion and traffic jams.
7) Exploring More of This Exciting Country!
Singapore is a foodie’s paradise with so many different cuisines available that most Expats never get bored of sampling them all.
When you’re not exploring the great outdoors in Singapore, there are lots of things to do indoors like visiting museums and art galleries; watching dance or theatre performances; playing golf; shopping at some amazing shopping malls (like VivoCity), and catching a movie at one of several modern cinemas around town. So whatever you enjoy doing back you’ll probably find something similar in Singapore!
8) Applying for Permanent Residency (PR)
For those who have lived and worked in the country for a period of time and decided to become a PR, there are some things to take note of.
Firstly, in order to apply for a Singapore PR, Expats have to live here for a minimum of two years on either an Employment Pass, Dependant’s Pass or Personalised Employment Pass which allows you and your immediate family members (e.g spouse and children below 21 – if they hold a Long Term Visit Pass) to live, work and study in Singapore.
Next, they’ll need to visit the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority website. This will help them figure out exactly what type of pass they can apply for as well as the different requirements that come with each one. In general, employees require a minimum salary of $3,600 per month – BUT – this amount is only applicable to those with at least three years of experience in the same occupation and there’s a big list of 193 approved jobs that meet these criteria.
Another alternative is to engage a professional immigration specialist agency that can better advise Expats on the best way to go about applying. Due to the limited slots allocated for new PRs every year, it can take years before receiving approval.
And in most cases, no reason or explanation is given for rejection. This leaves many interested individuals scratching their heads wondering what they should do next.
Instead, by working closely with an experienced team, it helps create a reliable plan of action to help Expats increase their chances of migrating and living here for the long term.
Conclusion
Living in Singapore can be an amazing experience, but it’s important to understand the different processes and procedures involved in order to make the move as smooth as possible. In this article, we’ve outlined some of the most important things Expats need to know before moving to Singapore, from getting around the city to applying for Permanent Residency.
We hope that this information will help you make the best decision for your individual needs and enjoy all that Singapore has to offer!