Singapore

SGP

Singapore is a Southeast Asian city-state and global financial hub, combining one of the world's strongest passports with a stratified, salary-driven work-visa system for skilled foreign talent. The economy is built on finance, trade, and increasingly deep tech and biotech. Its territorial tax system taxes only Singapore-sourced income for most residents, an advantage over residence-based regimes elsewhere.

Employment immigration runs in tiers: the EntrePass for founders, the Employment Pass for professionals (qualifying salaries revised upward recently), and the newer ONE Pass for high earners above the Employment Pass; the S Pass for mid-skilled workers has tightening thresholds too. The passport ties for 2nd globally with visa-free access to 193 destinations, but dual citizenship is not permitted.

English is official and proficiency ranks 7th globally, easing integration. Naturalisation can occur in as little as 2 years for qualifying permanent residents. Healthcare (index 87) is among the world's best, and the cost of living (index 85) is correspondingly among the highest globally, with CBD and Orchard rents rivalling major Western financial capitals.

Naturalisation: 2 years
Tax system: Territorial
Currency: Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Dual citizenship: Not allowed
Capital: Singapore
Region: asia
Population: 5,920,000
Cost-of-living: 85 /100

→ If you hold a Singapore passport, see the Singapore nationality guide

Passport Rank

Visa-Free

193

destinations

Visa-free travel

A Singapore passport has visa-free access to 160 destinations. See the full Singapore passport breakdown →

Passports that enter Singapore without a prior visa (162)

Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Botswana

Brazil+144 more

Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.

Country Details

Capital: Singapore
Currency: Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil
Population: 5,920,000
Tax System: Territorial
Dual Citizenship: Not allowed
Naturalisation: 2 years
Schengen / EU: No
Climate: Tropical
English Proficiency Rank: #7
Territorial Taxation: Yes — foreign-sourced income may not be taxed

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

198

Tax Summary

Tax System: Territorial
Territorial Taxation: Yes — foreign-sourced income may not be taxed
Naturalisation: 2 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship: Not allowed

Cost of Living by City

← scroll the table →

Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
CBD / Marina Bay	$3,500	$2,200	$500	$180	$90
Orchard	$3,800	$2,500	$520	$190	$90
East Coast	$2,400	$1,800	$460	$165	$85
Woodlands	$1,800	$1,400	$430	$155	$85

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Singapore

27°J

28°F

28°M

29°A

29°M

29°J

28°J

28°A

28°S

28°O

27°N

27°D

Rainfall range: 112–289 mm/month · Daylight 12h (winter) to 13h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Social Visit Pass (Tourist)
Student Pass
Employment Pass
EntrePass
ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise)
Personalised Employment Pass
S Pass
Work Permit
Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP)
Long-Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+)

Authority: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) / Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Official Portal: www.ica.gov.sg
Phone: +65-6391-6100
Email: ica_feedback@ica.gov.sg

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 2
Language Test: No
Civic Test: No
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: No
Fee: $75
Processing: ~12 months

Real Estate

Avg price/sqm (capital): $16,000
Transaction taxes: 64%

Foreign buyers: Foreigners may not purchase HDB (public housing) flats. Private condominiums and apartments may be purchased by foreigners subject to Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) of 60% for foreign buyers (as of 2023). Landed property generally restricted to Singapore citizens except on Sentosa. Typical private property SGD 1,800–2,500/sqft ($13,000–$18,000/sqm).

International Schools

← scroll the table →

International schools by city, curriculum, and annual tuition
School	City	Curriculum	Tuition (USD/yr)
Singapore American School	Singapore	American	$33,000–$43,000
UWCSEA (United World College South East Asia)	Singapore	IB	$28,000–$40,000
Tanglin Trust School	Singapore	British	$24,000–$36,000

Daily Life Logistics

Internet

1000 Mbps median

99% fibre coverage

eSIM: Singtel, StarHub, M1, GOMO

Driving

IDP required

Local licence required after 12 months

Exchange eligible: UK, Australia, New Zealand +4 more

Pet Relocation

Quarantine: 10 days

Rabies titre required

EU pet passport: not accepted

Safety

GPI Rank

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

⚠Phone scams impersonating police or government agencies
⚠fake job offers requiring upfront fees
⚠love scams on dating apps
⚠phishing SMS purporting to be SingPass

Examples of areas to avoid: Geylang late night (vice activity), Little India on public holiday nights can get crowded

LGBTQ+ Legal Status

Same-Sex Marriage: Not legal
Civil Partnerships: Not recognised
Anti-Discrimination Law: No
ILGA Rank: #107

Religious Life

Halal Food: Widely available
Kosher Food: Widely available
Prayer Facilities: Common

Sample Citizenship Test Questions

Q1. In what year did Singapore gain independence and become a republic?

Answer: 1965

Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Citizenship Guidelines

Q2. What are the four official languages of Singapore?

Answer: English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil

Source: ICA Citizenship Guidelines

Q3. What is the name of Singapore's national pledge?

Answer: The National Pledge

Source: ICA Citizenship Guidelines

Related Guides

Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list

Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Related on The Citizenship Desk

Move here

Life logistics

Reference tables

Visa Programs

Singapore EntrePass

Singapore SGP

Entrepreneur

Processing

2mo

Min. Income

—

Citizenship

Verified 2026-04-20

Singapore Employment Pass

Singapore SGP

Skilled Worker

Processing

1mo

Min. Income

$3,700/mo

Citizenship

Verified 2026-04-20

Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass)

Singapore SGP

Skilled Worker

Processing

1mo

Min. Income

$22,000/mo

Citizenship

Verified 2026-04-20

Singapore Tech.Pass

Singapore SGP

Skilled Worker

Processing

2mo

Min. Income

$16,650/mo

Citizenship

Verified 2026-07-24

Cities in Singapore

Singapore

Singapore remains Asia's preeminent hub for global business, wealth management, and high-end professional migration, built on political stability, rule of law, low crime, and a tax regime that is genuinely competitive by global standards. For foreign professionals, the Employment Pass (EP) is the standard route into the country, tied to a minimum monthly salary threshold that has risen steadily in recent years and is now weighted through the points-based COMPASS framework, which scores candidates on salary, qualifications, diversity, and support for local employment alongside the base pay bar. The EntrePass targets founders establishing an operating business in Singapore, requiring a viable business plan and minimum paid-up capital, while the ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass), introduced in 2023, offers top-tier global talent — defined by a high salary threshold or exceptional achievement in the arts, sports, science, or academia — a five-year renewable pass with the flexibility to work for multiple employers or start a business without needing a separate work pass for each activity. The city-state's efficiency is legendary and largely deserved: Changi Airport is consistently rated among the world's best, the MRT network is clean and punctual, and government services are almost entirely digitised. This efficiency comes at a cost that has become one of the defining features of expat life here — Singapore is now one of the most expensive cities on earth for housing, cars, and dining out, driven by finite land, a Certificate of Entitlement system that makes car ownership cost more than most people's annual salary, and a resident and expat population competing for a genuinely constrained private rental stock. Condo rents in the prime districts have roughly doubled since 2020, easing only slightly since the 2023 peak. Despite the cost, Singapore's draw for serious professionals remains intact: English is the primary working language, the legal system is transparent and reliably enforced, personal income tax tops out at a moderate rate relative to Western Europe, and the city functions as the natural regional headquarters for finance, tech, and trading firms operating across Southeast Asia. Healthcare and education are world-class. For those who can clear the salary bar, Singapore offers a level of predictability and polish that is genuinely rare in the region.