To live abroad in Singapore beyond the standard 90-day visitor visa, you will need to obtain permanent residence. This can be done gradually while working with an Employment Pass or immediately with substantial investment in the country using the Global Investor Program (GIP). Singapore has universal health care that is funded through a system of compulsory public insurance and government subsidies; however, temporary residents, such as expatriates, do not enter this system. Singapore mixes Asian and European cultures in a modern and exciting way, with influences from East Asia, South Asia and Malaysia.
The most popular industries for expats in Singapore are information technology (IT) services, banking and education. Potential downsides to using Singapore's public schools may include some language barriers and curricular differences. Singapore scored very highly in the categories of Homicide, Access to Weapons, Intensity of Internal Conflict, Violent Crime, Impact of Terrorism, Relations with Neighbouring Countries, and Deaths from External Conflicts. Sometimes bars in Singapore host “free-flowing nights”, where guests pay a cover charge at the door and can have a drink from the bar as often as they like.
It is essential to keep in mind that, unlike many other countries, a foreign spouse who wants to work in Singapore cannot do so without their own valid work pass. Expat wives, husbands and children embrace Singaporean life using community forums and joining summer camps to help children make friends. And with a mix of Chinese, Malaysian, Indian and European residents, Singapore's culture, art and food scene is the best kind of melting pot of cultures. Expats with a few years of experience in a professional occupation can expect to earn a good salary in Singapore.
While Singapore's local language is officially Malay, English is the de facto second language and employees of international companies often speak English at work. There are rules regarding the types of properties foreign buyers can buy in Singapore; HDB apartments are prohibited, for example. The high number of expats in Singapore gives life a fast pace and there are plenty of opportunities to meet new people. You can become a citizen of Singapore if you have been a permanent resident for at least two years, or if you have been married to a Singaporean citizen for at least two years.
