SIN

Singapore

Arriving, settling in and working in Singapore: what official sources say, in the order you’ll need it. Every point links to the page it came from.

Plan my move to Singapore Read the guide ↓

Photo: Hu Chen / Unsplash

Guide sections12

Sourced facts59

Last verified1 Nov 2026

Time zoneSingapore

Decide

Is this the right city for us?

Singapore at a glance

The basics about Singapore, plus official sources for weather, haze and scams.

Singapore's population overview gives 5.92 million people as at June 2023: 3.61 million citizens, 0.54 million permanent residents and 1.77 million non-residents. This is the latest figure on that page.
population.gov.sg ↗
The Meteorological Service Singapore publishes 2-hour nowcasts, 24-hour and 4-day forecasts, heavy rain warnings and haze updates.
weather.gov.sg ↗
UK travel advice warns that from June to October, haze from land-clearance fires in Indonesia can affect health and disrupt flights.
gov.uk ↗
Official Singapore government websites end in .gov.sg. MAS advises sharing sensitive details only on secure https sites.
mas.gov.sg ↗

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If you think something is a scam, call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline on 1799.
mas.gov.sg ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Laws & local rules

Drugs, vapes, tobacco and other rules to know before you arrive.

Singapore has severe penalties for drug crimes. UK advice says drugs detected in your system on arrival or in transit can lead to refused entry or arrest.
gov.uk ↗
It is illegal to bring vaporisers and e-cigarettes into Singapore. Tobacco that is chewed or injected is also illegal.
gov.uk ↗
You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty when you arrive.
gov.uk ↗
Drink-driving carries serious penalties, including prison, and traffic police run regular breath tests.
gov.uk ↗

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Online and phone scams are common; scammers often pose as officials or bank staff. MAS staff will never ask you to transfer money or give bank logins by phone.
mas.gov.sg ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Arrive

The first 72 hours

Arriving at Changi (SIN)

The arrival card, and getting from Changi into the city.

Everyone entering Singapore, including residents and pass holders, must submit the SG Arrival Card with an electronic health declaration before arriving. It is free.
ica.gov.sg ↗
ICA does not endorse commercial websites that charge a fee to submit the arrival card for you. Use the official ICA e-service.
ica.gov.sg ↗
From Changi Airport MRT station, take the train to Tanah Merah and change to the East West Line towards Tuas Link, or go to Expo and change to the Downtown Line.
changiairport.com ↗
The first train leaves at 5:31 am Monday to Saturday and 5:59 am on Sundays and public holidays. The last train towards Tuas Link is at 11:18 pm.
changiairport.com ↗

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A taxi to the city takes about 30 minutes and costs S$25 to S$45 on the meter. The airport surcharge is S$8 from 5 pm to 11:59 pm and S$6 at other times; midnight to 5:59 am adds 50%.
changiairport.com ↗
Public buses 24, 27, 34, 36, 53, 110 and 858 stop at the airport. Buses take cash but give no change.
changiairport.com ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Getting around

The MRT, LRT, fares and concession cards.

Singapore has six MRT lines with more than 140 stations over about 200 km, plus two LRT lines. Over three million people ride the MRT each day.
lta.gov.sg ↗
The MRT lines are North-South, East-West, Circle, Thomson-East Coast, North East and Downtown. SMRT and SBS Transit run them.
lta.gov.sg ↗
LTA plans to grow the rail network to about 360 km by the early 2030s, with projects including the Jurong Region Line, Cross Island Line and the RTS Link to Johor Bahru.
lta.gov.sg ↗
You can pay MRT fares with contactless Mastercard, Visa or NETS cards, mobile wallets or a stored-value EZ-Link card. Foreign-issued bank cards incur admin fees.
changiairport.com ↗

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Concession cards exist for students, seniors, people with disabilities, full-time national servicemen and Workfare recipients. SimplyGo's helpline is 6883 5048.
simplygo.com.sg ↗

External links

Rail network (LTA) ↗SimplyGo ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Settle

Home, school, doctor, bank

Neighbourhoods & renting

What HDB flats rent for, by town.

HDB publishes the median monthly rent of HDB flats by town and flat type each quarter on data.gov.sg. The latest figures are for Q3 2026, updated on 27 October 2026.
data.gov.sg ↗
In Q3 2026, the median rent for a 4-room HDB flat ranged from S$3,000 in Bukit Panjang to S$4,800 in the Central area.
data.gov.sg ↗
For 3-room flats, Q3 2026 medians ranged from S$2,600 in Woodlands to S$3,300 in the Central area.
data.gov.sg ↗
MOE places international pupils based on vacancies and, where possible, your declared home area, so it can be worth choosing a neighbourhood with schools in mind.
moe.gov.sg ↗

External links

HDB median rent by town (data.gov.sg) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Schools

How international students get into government schools.

International students can apply to mainstream primary and secondary schools through the AEIS or S-AEIS admissions exercises. All tests are held in Singapore.
moe.gov.sg ↗
AEIS is for Primary 2 to 5 and Secondary 1 to 3 the following year. The 2026 tests ran from 1 to 3 September 2026, and successful pupils start in January.
moe.gov.sg ↗
S-AEIS applications open in early January 2027, with tests tentatively from late February to early March 2027.
moe.gov.sg ↗
Children aged 6 on 1 January of the admission year apply for Primary 1 through the P1 registration process for international students.
moe.gov.sg ↗

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Admission is not guaranteed: it depends on test results and vacancies. Private schools, preschools and international schools handle their own admissions.
moe.gov.sg ↗
School fees depend on nationality and school type. International students' fees include GST. Use MOE's fees checker for exact amounts.
moe.gov.sg ↗

External links

International students (MOE) ↗School fees (MOE) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Healthcare

Emergency numbers, when to see a GP, and costs.

For fire, rescue or an emergency ambulance, call 995 (or SMS 70995). For a non-emergency ambulance, call 1777.
scdf.gov.sg ↗
For police emergencies, call 999, or SMS 70999 if it is not safe to talk.
police.gov.sg ↗
MOH says to go to a hospital emergency department only for signs of an emergency, such as chest pain, breathing difficulty or uncontrolled bleeding. Otherwise see a GP or polyclinic.
moh.gov.sg ↗
MOH lists 27 polyclinics and 14,331 public hospital beds.
moh.gov.sg ↗

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Healthcare in Singapore is high quality but expensive. UK advice is to have insurance that covers local treatment.
gov.uk ↗
Check whether you need Health Sciences Authority approval before bringing medicines into Singapore, and carry a prescription.
gov.uk ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Banking & IDs

Singpass, deposit insurance and checking who you deal with.

Singpass is the national digital identity. You use it to log in to government and private services, show a digital IC, share Myinfo details and sign documents.
singpass.gov.sg ↗
Deposits with a failed member bank or finance company are insured up to S$100,000 per depositor, per institution.
sdic.org.sg ↗
Use the MAS Financial Institutions Directory to check that a company is regulated before you invest or send money.
mas.gov.sg ↗
ICA's e-services cover entry, long-term passes and identity cards, including a check on whether a pass is valid.
ica.gov.sg ↗

External links

Financial Institutions Directory (MAS) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Driving & cars

Using a foreign licence and road rules.

UK advice says you can drive on a UK licence for up to 30 days. After that you also need a 1949 International Driving Permit, which you must get before you travel.
gov.uk ↗
Long-term pass holders and permanent residents must get a Singapore driving licence.
gov.uk ↗
After an accident with damage or injury, stay at the scene, give your details and tell the police within 24 hours.
gov.uk ↗
Drink-driving carries serious penalties, including prison.
gov.uk ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Thrive

Work, study, belong

Jobs & work

Work passes, salary thresholds and leave.

The Employment Pass is for foreign professionals, managers, executives and technicians. Employers must advertise the job on MyCareersFuture and consider all jobseekers fairly first.
mom.gov.sg ↗
The EP qualifying salary starts at S$5,600 a month (S$6,200 in financial services) and rises with age. For new applications from 1 January 2027, it starts at S$6,000 (S$6,600).
mom.gov.sg ↗
Candidates must also score 40 points under COMPASS, unless exempt, for example with a fixed salary of at least S$22,500 a month.
mom.gov.sg ↗
The Dependant's Pass lets spouses and children of Employment Pass and S Pass holders join them. MOM lists separate work pass options for DP holders who want to work.
mom.gov.sg ↗

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Under the Employment Act, you get paid annual leave after 3 months of service: 7 days in your first year, rising by one day a year to 14 days from your eighth year.
mom.gov.sg ↗
MyCareersFuture is the government job portal, run by the Skills and Workforce Development Agency with GovTech.
mycareersfuture.gov.sg ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Universities & colleges

Singapore's six autonomous universities.

Singapore has six autonomous universities: NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, SIT and SUSS.
moe.gov.sg ↗
NUS and NTU are broad research universities; SIT and SUSS focus on applied degrees.
moe.gov.sg ↗
The six universities run a Graduate Employment Survey each year, about six months after final exams. Results are on the MOE website and data.gov.sg.
moe.gov.sg ↗
Students in a polytechnic, university or private institution can apply for a student concession card for cheaper fares.
simplygo.com.sg ↗

External links

Autonomous universities (MOE) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Newcomer support

Community clubs, courses, volunteering and reporting crime.

The People's Association runs community clubs. Use 'Find Your Nearest CC' on onePA to find one.
pa.gov.sg ↗
You can sign up for PA courses and activities on onePA with Singpass, and volunteer through PA.
pa.gov.sg ↗
To give the police information about a crime, call the Police Hotline on 1800 255 0000 or use the I-Witness e-service.
police.gov.sg ↗
MOH warns of fake emails asking for a 'Digital Health Verification'. If unsure, call the MOH hotline on 6325 9220.
moh.gov.sg ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

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