--- title: "Moving to Singapore 2026: visas, requirements and tax" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Singapore Marina Bay skyline reflected on the water at night # Moving to Singapore 10 ways to move to Singapore in our guide: 2 talent schemes, 2 working holiday visas, 1 investor route, 1 business / startup route, 3 work visas, 1 student visa. No digital nomad visa. Smallest investment: [EntrePass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/entrepass/), SGD 100k+ ≈ $78k. Tax for newcomers: [Individual foreign-sourced income exemption and source taxation](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/tax/), Territorial. Checked against official sources on 12 October 2026. **Smallest investment needed:** **SGD 100k+ ≈ $78k** EntrePass **Longest first stay:** **5 years** ONE Pass **Tax angle:** **Territorial** Individual foreign-sourced income exemption and source taxation Singapore is a compact, fast-moving place where work, business and residence rules are tightly structured. The records here cover several distinct paths: employer-sponsored work passes, personalised passes for high earners, founder and investor routes, and short work-and-holiday options. Professionals with a Singapore job offer from a sponsoring employer Senior tech founders and leaders, or top talent in business, arts, culture, sport or research Investors and established or next-generation business owners seeking permanent residence Founders building a venture-backed or innovative-technology company in Singapore Students and young graduates, or Australian and New Zealand citizens wanting a short work-and-holiday stay ## Top options in Singapore · 1 Talent schemes ### [ONE Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/one-pass/) **Income needed:** SGD 30k+ a month ≈ $23k Stay 5 yrs, renewable [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/one-pass/) ## Talent schemes · 1 ### [Tech.Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/tech-pass/) **Income needed:** SGD 23k+ a month ≈ $18k Stay 2 yrs, renewable [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/tech-pass/) ## Working holiday · 2 ### [Work Holiday · AU & NZ](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/work-holiday-pass-whvp/) **Age limit:** Ages 18–30 Casual jobs OK [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/work-holiday-pass-whvp/) ### [Work Holiday Programme](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/work-holiday-pass-programme/) **Age limit:** Ages 18–25 Casual jobs OK [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/work-holiday-pass-programme/) ## Investing · 1 ### [Global Investor Programme](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/global-investor-programme/) **Investment needed:** from SGD 10M ≈ $7.8M [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/global-investor-programme/) ## Business / Startup · 1 ### [EntrePass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/entrepass/) **Investment needed:** SGD 100k+ ≈ $78k Stay 1 yr, renewable Can work: limited [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/entrepass/) ## Work · 3 ### [Employment Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/employment-pass/) **Income needed:** from SGD 5,600 a month ≈ $4,370 Stay 2 yrs, renewable Can work: limited [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/employment-pass/) ### [Personalised Employment Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/personalised-employment-pass/) **Income needed:** SGD 23k+ a month ≈ $18k Stay 3 yrs [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/personalised-employment-pass/) ### [S Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/s-pass/) **Income needed:** from SGD 3,300 a month ≈ $2,580 Stay 2 yrs, renewable [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/s-pass/) ## Student · 1 ### [Student's Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/students-pass/) Can't work [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/students-pass/) ## Tax Singapore taxes income arising in or derived from Singapore, including pay for employment exercised there even when a foreign employer pays it. Foreign-sourced income received in Singapore by resident individuals is generally exempt. Work-pass holders with a pass of at least the stated duration are provisionally treated as resident, reviewed at tax clearance. Tax residents pay progressive rates on chargeable income after reliefs, with the first band of chargeable income taxed at zero. Treat this as general context, not advice on your own position. Standard rules ### [Individual foreign-sourced income exemption and source taxation](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/tax/#tax-sg-individual-foreign-income) Territorial Foreign-source income: Territorial **Details** - Who: Tax resident: citizen or PR ordinarily resident Singapore taxes income arising in or derived from Singapore, including employment exercised there; foreign-sourced income received in Singapore by resident individuals is generally exempt. #### Taxed on Singapore-source income, including pay for employment exercised in Singapore even when paid by a foreign employer. #### Who it applies to - Tax resident: citizen or PR ordinarily resident, or a foreigner who stayed or worked in Singapore for 183 days or more in the preceding calendar year, with 3-year continuous presence and cross-year employment rules. - Overseas income received in Singapore by a resident individual on or after 1 January 2004 is generally not taxable; the exceptions are listed under exclusions. #### Exclusions - Overseas income received in Singapore through a partnership in Singapore is taxable, unless it qualifies for exemption. - Overseas employment that is incidental to a Singapore employment is taxable in Singapore. - Employment outside Singapore on behalf of the Government of Singapore is taxable in Singapore. - Service income received from overseas is taxable, unless it qualifies for exemption. - Employment exercised in Singapore is Singapore-source regardless of payer, so remote work done in Singapore for a foreign employer is not foreign-sourced income. #### Days in the country - At least 183 days in preceding\_calendar\_year · One key tax-residence test is presence/work for at least 183 days in preceding calendar year; additional tests include continuous 3-year presence and certain cross-year employment. #### Tax residence Work-pass holders with a pass of at least one year are provisionally treated as resident, reviewed at tax clearance. #### Visas No visa-specific tax holiday; pass status does not override source-of-income and tax-residence analysis. #### Other taxes GST applies to taxable supplies by GST-registered businesses. CPF contributions apply to citizens and PRs, not most foreign work pass holders. Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/tax/) Standard rules ### [Singapore resident individual income tax rates (from YA 2024)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/tax/#tax-sg-resident-income-tax-rates-ya2024) Progressive rates **Details** - Limit: SGD 20k/yr ≈ $16k Tax residents pay progressive income tax from 0% to 24%, with the first SGD 20,000 (≈ $15,600) of chargeable income taxed at 0%. #### Taxed on Chargeable income after reliefs, taxed on Singapore-source income including employment exercised in Singapore. #### Who it applies to - Foreigners are tax residents if they stayed or worked in Singapore at least 183 days in the previous calendar year, or continuously for 3 consecutive years, or worked continuously across two calendar years with at least 183 days of stay. #### Exclusions - Non-resident individuals: employment income is taxed at a flat 15% or at the resident progressive rates, whichever gives the higher tax; other income (including director's fees, rental income and pension) is taxed at 24% from YA 2024, apart from income subject to reduced withholding rates. #### Limits - SGD 20,000 a year (≈ $15,600) · 0% on the first SGD 20,000 (≈ $15,600) - SGD 30,000 a year (≈ $23,400) · 2% on the next SGD 10,000 (≈ $7,810) - SGD 40,000 a year (≈ $31,200) · 3.5% on the next SGD 10,000 (≈ $7,810) - SGD 80,000 a year (≈ $62,500) · 7% on the next SGD 40,000 (≈ $31,200) - SGD 120,000 a year (≈ $93,700) · 11.5% on the next SGD 40,000 (≈ $31,200) - SGD 160,000 a year (≈ $125,000) · 15% on the next SGD 40,000 (≈ $31,200) - SGD 200,000 a year (≈ $156,000) · 18% on the next SGD 40,000 (≈ $31,200) - SGD 240,000 a year (≈ $187,000) · 19% on the next SGD 40,000 (≈ $31,200) - SGD 280,000 a year (≈ $219,000) · 19.5% on the next SGD 40,000 (≈ $31,200) - SGD 320,000 a year (≈ $250,000) · 20% on the next SGD 40,000 (≈ $31,200) - SGD 500,000 a year (≈ $390,000) · 22% on the next SGD 180,000 (≈ $141,000) - SGD 1,000,000 a year (≈ $781,000) · 23% on the next SGD 500,000 (≈ $390,000); 24% above SGD 1,000,000 (≈ $781,000) #### Days in the country - At least 183 days in previous calendar year · Foreigner tax residence by stay or work in Singapore #### Visas Tax residence follows days of presence, not pass type. #### Other taxes A 60% personal income tax rebate capped at SGD 200 (≈ $160) was granted for YA 2025 (50% capped at SGD 200 (≈ $160) for YA 2024); IRAS lists no rebate for YA 2026 as at 11 October 2026. Checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/tax/) Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) **No digital nomad visa in Singapore.** Remote workers usually look at [ONE Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/one-pass/), [Tech.Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/tech-pass/), [Work Holiday · AU & NZ](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/work-holiday-pass-whvp/), or [nomad visas elsewhere](https://settleanywhere.com/visas/digital-nomad/). **Shorter stays · 2** Spouse visas ### [Spouse of a permanent resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) Can't work [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) Spouse visas ### [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/spouse-of-citizen/) Can't work [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/spouse-of-citizen/) ## Arriving in Singapore: first steps 1. Check which pass you hold and what it permits before you travel, since work rights, family eligibility and renewal rules differ by route. 2. Arrange health cover for yourself and any accompanying family, as pass rules and family eligibility vary and are separate from tax matters. 3. Open a bank account once your pass and address are in place, since banks typically ask for pass and address documentation. 4. Complete any registration steps required for your pass or profession, including local registration for registered professions such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, architecture and law. 5. Keep your pass conditions in view after arrival, including employer limits, job-change rules and the tax clearance process when you leave or change status. ## Questions people ask ### What special talent visas does Singapore have? Singapore has 2 talent schemes. [ONE Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/one-pass/) asks for an income of at least SGD 30,000 a month (≈ $23,400) and gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. [Tech.Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/tech-pass/) asks for an income of at least SGD 22,500 a month (≈ $17,600) and gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. ### Does Singapore have a working holiday visa? Yes. Singapore has 2 working holiday visas. [Work Holiday · AU & NZ](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/work-holiday-pass-whvp/) is for ages 18 to 30 and gives a first stay of 1 year. [Work Holiday Programme](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/work-holiday-pass-programme/) is for ages 18 to 25 and gives a first stay of 6 months. ### How much do you need to invest for residency in Singapore? Singapore has 1 investor route. [Global Investor Programme](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/global-investor-programme/) asks for an investment from SGD 10,000,000 (≈ $7,810,000). ### Can I move to Singapore by starting a business? Singapore has 1 business or startup route. [EntrePass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/entrepass/) asks for an investment of at least SGD 100,000 (≈ $78,100) and gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. ### What work visas does Singapore offer foreigners? Singapore has 3 work visas. [Employment Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/employment-pass/) asks for a salary from SGD 5,600 a month (≈ $4,370) and gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. [Personalised Employment Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/personalised-employment-pass/) asks for a salary of at least SGD 22,500 a month (≈ $17,600) and gives a first stay of 3 years. [S Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/s-pass/) asks for a salary from SGD 3,300 a month (≈ $2,580) and gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. ### How do I get a student visa for Singapore? Singapore has 1 student visa. It is [Student's Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/students-pass/). ## Compare with [🇹🇭 Thailand](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/) [🇯🇵 Japan](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/) [🇮🇩 Indonesia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/) [🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/) [🇲🇾 Malaysia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malaysia/) [🇻🇳 Vietnam](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/vietnam/) [🇰🇷 South Korea](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-korea/) [🇹🇼 Taiwan](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.