Moving to Singapore from the UK: Complete guide

Thinking about getting on a plane to Singapore and starting a new life there? That’s not such a bad idea, since this country has one of the highest living standards in Asia. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about moving to Singapore from the UK, including the cost of living, whether anything has changed for Brits after Brexit and much more.

We’ll also point out a cost-effective way to manage your money across borders – the Wise account from the money services provider Wise. It’s an international alternative to a bank account that lets you manage your money in 40+ currencies including British pounds and Singapore dollars.

You can send, receive and convert money at great mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees*. Your money is always safeguarded and every transaction is secured.

Looking to take your savings with you? Wise can also help you with large transfers.

Learn more about the Wise account 💰

Table of contents

Can you move to Singapore from the UK? How to get a Singaporean visa How to move to Singapore from the UK 1. Research the job market 2. Secure a job 3. Collect the necessary documents 4. Find accommodation 5. Look into health insurance and Singaporean banks What’s the cheapest way to get to Singapore from the UK? Options for retiring in Singapore Living in Singapore - The key facts Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to Singapore Renting or buying property in Singapore Healthcare system Opening a Singaporean bank account Finding a job in Singapore Working in Singapore Checklist for moving to Singapore from the UK Save on your relocation costs to Singapore with Wise Conclusion

Can you move to Singapore from the UK?

Yes, you can move to Singapore from the UK as long as you submit the required documents and meet the necessary criteria. We'll now guide you through the steps and explain how to relocate to Singapore from the UK.

How to get a Singaporean visa

When figuring out how to move to Singapore from the UK, you’ll need to consider what you even plan on doing once you arrive. If you don’t already have family in Singapore, the most popular options are the Student and trainee visa and Work visa. There are around a dozen work visa types available, but what they have in common is that you need to secure a job offer before starting the application.¹

The Employment Pass and Personalised Employment Pass are made for high-earning professionals. The S Pass requires a smaller salary and it’s a visa for mid-level skilled workers. There’s also the EntrePass, the work permit for performing artists and the work permit for migrant workers.²

How to move to Singapore from the UK

The exact steps for moving to Singapore from the UK will depend on what you plan to do once you arrive. Let’s go over the general steps involved in moving to Singapore for work:

1. Research the job market

Singapore is known for its finance and technology industries, but make sure to research the job market further. This includes looking into in-demand positions and salary averages. You can explore some job websites like JobsDB or Indeed Singapore, but LinkedIn is also a good option.

This can help you determine which work visa you should apply for.

2. Secure a job

No matter which work visa you choose, you'll need to secure a job offer before applying. Your employer will handle the application process. Keep in mind that each visa has a different validity period.

3. Collect the necessary documents

Check the required paperwork for your specific visa type. In addition to basic documents like your passport, some visa types may require additional certificates or proof of qualifications, such as the EntrePass.

Once you've gathered all the necessary documents and paid any associated fees, you can send them to your employer for the application. Since work visas have different application procedures, be sure to carefully review the specific requirements.

4. Find accommodation

If your employer doesn’t offer to help with accommodation, you'll need to find it on your own. Both locals and new expats use websites such as PropertyGuru or Rently to find either temporary or permanent housing.

5. Look into health insurance and Singaporean banks

While you’re waiting for your visa approval, take the time to research health insurance and banking options. These will be some of the most important aspects of your life in Singapore, so be sure to review them carefully.

This is a general overview of the steps you'll need to take. Depending on the purpose of your stay and your specific circumstances, the requirements may change. For example, the steps will be different if you're moving to Singapore on a family or student visa.

💡 Read more: Best ways to spend money while travelling abroad

What’s the cheapest way to get to Singapore from the UK?

At the moment, the cheapest month to fly is November, when you can get a one-way ticket for £391.³

However, it’s not always possible to find a good deal. A more realistic price is between £260 and £560 for a one-way ticket.⁴

Options for retiring in Singapore

Singapore doesn’t offer a retirement visa. Instead, the most common route to retiring in Singapore is by obtaining permanent residency. This is typically achieved through one of the work permits or by marrying a Singaporean citizen. The available permits include the Employment Pass, EntrePass, and S Pass, with another option being the Global Investor Programme.⁵

If you manage to retire in Singapore, you can also claim your UK state pension there. It can be paid into a UK bank account or a Singaporean one, in which case you’ll be paid in the local currency. You can choose how often you’ll get paid - anywhere from 4 to 13 weeks. Contact the International Pension Centre to get the most recent information.⁶

Living in Singapore - The key facts

Here are some basic facts you should know about Singapore if you’re considering moving there:

💰 Currency:	Singapore dollar (SGD)
🗣️ Main language:	Malay, English, Tamil, Singaporean Mandarin
👥 Population:	5,846,317⁷
🇬🇧 Number of British expats:	around 45,000⁸

💡 Read more: Is it better to use cash or card in Singapore?

Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to Singapore

Before moving to Singapore, or any other country, it’s good to know what you can expect in terms of living costs.

The cost of living in Singapore is usually higher than in the UK. On average, you’ll pay around 30% less for groceries and everyday expenses and more than double for rent. However, restaurant prices are around 20% lower.⁹

Let’s take a look at a few average prices for common spending categories in Singapore, compared with the UK:

• A three-course meal for two costs around £55 in Singapore, while it’s £62 in the UK
• A loaf of bread is around £1.63, compared to £1.23 in the UK
• A draught beer is around £4.67, compared to £4.60 back in the UK
• A monthly public transport pass costs around £70 in both countries
• Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is around £2,126, compared to £1,052 in the UK⁹

Renting or buying property in Singapore

Whether you plan to rent or buy property in Singapore, this is one of the most important things to do as you start a new life here. A real estate agent could help guide you through the process, or you could go through some property websites on your own.

Here are some popular property websites in Singapore:

• PropertyGuru
• Rently
• 99.co
• SRX

You can buy property in Singapore, as long as you meet certain conditions. For example, you’ll need to seek special permission for buying certain types of property. This includes vacant residential land, a bungalow or a shophouse.

Also, you’re not allowed to buy certain properties if you aren’t married to a Singaporean citizen. For example, you can’t buy new HDB flats such as Build-to-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flats (SBFs).¹⁰

💡 Read more: The best UK banks for sending money abroad

Healthcare system

Singapore has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, which is why they’re among the healthiest nations. Both public and private sectors are regulated by the government.¹¹

All permanent residents contribute to the health insurance system and therefore have access to subsidised healthcare services. The savings plans in Singapore are called Medisave, Medishield, and Medifund. Medisave is a mandatory plan and it covers routine care.¹¹

Most healthcare facilities in Singapore are public. However, private care is more accessible here than in many other parts of the world. The goal is to reduce the gap between private and public healthcare, providing residents with more options.¹¹

Opening a Singaporean bank account

Most Singaporean banks allow non-residents to open bank accounts, as long as they have valid visas. The required documents can vary by bank, but you’ll likely be asked to provide your ID, visa, proof of address and proof of tax residency.

There are over 130 banks in Singapore and some of the most popular are DBS Bank, OCBC Bank and United Overseas Bank. On the other hand, examples of digital banks in Singapore are MariBank and ANEXT Bank.¹²

Whether you’ll be able to keep your UK bank account after moving depends on your bank. For example, Barclays closes your account once you move abroad.¹³

And, as an alternative to bank accounts, check out the Wise account. It enables you to send, receive, and spend in multiple currencies, including British pounds and Singapore dollars.

Finding a job in Singapore

You can find a job in Singapore through various platforms, such as recruitment agencies, job boards or in-house recruitment.

Here are some of the popular job-seeking websites:

• MyCareersFuture
• JobsDB
• Indeed Singapore
• Jobstreet
• Jobscentral

Working in Singapore

To begin working, you'll need to meet certain requirements, such as holding a valid pass. Some of them are the Employment Pass, S Pass and EntrePass.¹⁴

The Employment Pass is made for foreign professionals, managers, and executives. On the other hand, the S-Pass is made for mid-level skilled workers. There’s a minimum salary requirement for both of them. Finally, the EntrePass is a business visa allowing foreigners to start businesses that are venture-backed or involved with innovative technology in Singapore.¹⁴

Checklist for moving to Singapore from the UK

Here’s a quick checklist what you need to have in order before moving to Singapore:

• Go through available visa options, gather your documents and apply for your visa
• Find a place to live, either online or by travelling to Singapore
• Get quotes for shipping your belongings to Singapore
• Look into banks in Singapore, find some that suit you and see what documents you need to apply
• Look into taking out a private health insurance policy
• Tell HMRC that you’re leaving the UK
• Book your flight

Save on your relocation costs to Singapore with Wise

Before moving to Singapore, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders and can get expensive because of the transfer fees and exchange rate markups.

Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and Singapore for low, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rate. You can also get the Wise card to spend in SGD from the moment you step off the plane. It works in 150+ countries and automatically converts your pounds to the local currency whenever you spend, only adding a tiny, upfront currency conversion fee.

Here’s an overview of the main benefits for using Wise:
Fast and easy setup with no physical paperwork Dedicated support for large transfers Sophisticated security and anti-fraud measures Low, upfront, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rates Fully trackable transfers Fast transfer times Two-factor authentication and real-time notifications

Sign up with Wise today 💰

Conclusion

Moving to Singapore from the UK was not affected by Brexit, since Singapore is not a European country. There are several visa routes available for relocating there, such as the Employment Pass or Student Pass.

When it comes to costs, Singapore is generally more expensive in all areas, including rent and groceries. However, dining out is more affordable. Overall, it’s a great expat destination, thanks to its multicultural environment and high standard of living.

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Sources used:

1. Expatica - Singaporean visas
2. Expatica - Singapore work passes
3. Skyscanner - cheapest time to fly to Singapore
4. Skyscanner - London-Singapore flights in December 2024
5. Visa Guide - retiring in Singapore
6. Gov.uk - State Pension if you retire abroad
7. Worldometers - Singapore population
8. British Chamber of Commerce Singapore - number of UK expats in Singapore
9. Numbeo - cost of living in the UK compared to Singapore
10. PropertyGuru - buying property in Singapore
11. International Insurance - healthcare in Singapore
12. Statrys - opening a bank account in Singapore
13. Barclays - living outside the UK
14. Indeed Singapore - finding a job in Singapore

Sources last checked on date: 08-Nov-2024