Is your career taking you to Singapore? It’s a beautiful, exciting, and exotic city to live and work in. Whether it’s for short or longer term, you may be wondering how to navigate the immigration process there.
Immigrating to Singapore can be tricky, but there are ways to achieve this outcome. Typically, you need to spend some time living and working in the country before you can qualify as a resident or citizen.
The first place to start is to apply to be able to work in Singapore.
Work Permits
Depending on your circumstances, there are several types of work permits you can apply for. You will need a license to work unless you already qualify to become a permanent resident or citizen due to your passport status.
The types of permits you can apply for include:
- Employment pass scheme (main work permit type – for company employees)
- Entrepreneur pass scheme (if you run your own businesses)
- Personalized employment permit (allows you to switch jobs without reapplying for a permit)
- S Pass permit (mid-level workers)
- Miscellaneous work pass (for short term contracts and assignments)
Each pass is valid for a different amount of time, after which you would need to reapply if you intend to stay on. To become a citizen, you will need to complete your Singapore citizenship application online. You can read more about becoming a full citizen a little later on.
Dependent Pass
Your spouse and children will need to apply for the dependent pass to be able to join you while you work in Singapore. However, the dependent will not be able to work on this pass. To do so, you will need to apply for a letter of consent.
Apply to Become a Permanent Resident or a Citizen
Becoming a permanent resident means you get several benefits that visitors will not. You may also get many benefits that full citizens enjoy.
Being a PR allows you to:
- Qualify for a blue card identity document, so you can leave and enter Singapore without any other visa.
- If you include your children and spouse, your children will get priority for public schooling.
- Apply for visas for your parents for extended visits.
- Change work places without having to apply again for a work permit for Singapore.
- Experience tax and income benefits of Singapore’s central provident fund (CPF). With this system, your employer and yourself pay a monthly minimum sum to your pension. The fund can also be used for healthcare, family protection, asset growth, and homeownership.
- Pay into a flexible pension scheme and CPF. You can draw cash from this fund once you reach the age of 55.
- Priority for taking out loans.
- Have access to the thriving Singapore job market.
- Convenient access to state and private healthcare facilities.
Becoming a permanent resident usually requires you to have lived and worked in the country for a fair amount of time.
Become a Full Citizen
If you would like to become a full citizen, this is also available for people who meet certain criteria, the main one of which is having been a permanent resident for several years.
Becoming a full citizen allows you to work and travel freely in Singapore and gives you access to healthcare, tax, housing, and other benefits. Singapore also benefits working mothers, disabled children, grandparents, and other humanitarian scenarios.
Conclusion
As you can see, immigrating to Singapore can be complicated, but it is absolutely achievable. It offers several benefits to those looking to make the move for the long haul. It’s a worthwhile venture for both you and your family.
