Spoiler: No! And here’s what you can do instead. If you’ve started researching how to apply for Singapore Permanent Residency (PR),...

When people talk about doing business in Singapore, tax usually comes up pretty quickly. You will hear things like “low rates” or “business-friendly system” thrown around a lot. And yes, those statements are generally true. But once you actually start running a company here, you realise it is not just about knowing the headline number. The real advantage comes from understanding how the system works in practice , not just what it looks like on paper. If you are a foreign entr

Singapore is not exactly short on Italian restaurants. Every few months, another new spot appears with dramatic interiors, theatrical plating, or a social media campaign promising “the ultimate authentic Italian experience”. Some survive. Many disappear just as quickly. Yet despite all the competition, certain restaurants quietly build loyal followings without making much noise at all. Ristorante Pietrasanta is one of them. Tucked away in One-North, far from the usual Marina

Starting a business in another country always sounds exciting until you actually try to figure out the steps. Singapore is often described as “easy” for company registration, but when you are a foreigner, it does not always feel that simple at the beginning. You might be asking yourself things like: Do I need a local partner? Can I do everything from overseas? How strict are the rules? The short answer is this. It is very possible to set up a company in Singapore as a foreign

If you have just moved to Singapore, healthcare is probably somewhere in the back of your mind. Not urgent, not something you plan to deal with today, but still important enough to understand before anything actually happens. The reassuring part is this. Singapore has one of the most reliable healthcare systems in the world. The not-so-obvious part is that it works a little differently depending on who you are, especially as an expat. Some things are straightforward. Others

For many foreign founders, Singapore looks like the ideal place to build something new. The business environment is stable, the rules are clear, and access to regional markets is hard to beat. But before anything else, there is one question that comes up almost immediately. What visa do you actually need to start a business in Singapore? It sounds like there should be a single “startup visa.” In reality, Singapore offers a few different pathways, each designed for a slightly

When you first land in Singapore, getting connected feels like one of those quick tasks you can tick off in an afternoon. Grab a SIM card, pick a plan, done. At least, that is what most people expect. In reality, it is one of those small decisions that can quietly affect your daily life more than you think. A slow connection during a work call, unexpected charges, or being stuck in a contract you do not need can turn something simple into a constant annoyance. The good news i

When you first land in Singapore, getting connected feels like one of those quick tasks you can tick off in an afternoon. Grab a SIM card, pick a plan, done. At least, that is what most people expect. In reality, it is one of those small decisions that can quietly affect your daily life more than you think. A slow connection during a work call, unexpected charges, or being stuck in a contract you do not need can turn something simple into a constant annoyance. The good news

If you spend enough time talking to entrepreneurs or investors eyeing Singapore, you will start to notice a pattern. The same questions keep coming up. Can foreigners really own 100 percent of a company? Is it only easy on paper? Are there hidden restrictions no one talks about? Some of these concerns are valid. Others are based on half truths that have been repeated so often they start to sound like facts. The reality is simpler than most people expect, but it is also more n

Writer: Ron Yap Founder of @mentalhealthceo on Instagram, Inner Hero Therapy & Consultancy Mar 20 5 min read For many expatriates, life in Singapore looks successful from the outside. The career is progressing. The city is efficient. Daily life feels stable and predictable. And yet, beneath that surface, something often feels unsettled. It is not about logistics. It is not about opportunity. It is something more internal. Many expats quietly reach a point where they ask a si

For many expatriates, Singapore feels straightforward at first. You arrive, your company applies for your pass, and everything seems settled. Life gets busy. Work ramps up. Paperwork fades into the background. That is often when problems start. Singapore is not difficult when it comes to immigration, but it is exact. Your legal status here depends on continuous compliance , not good intentions or past approvals. The system assumes that foreign professionals understand their r

Singapore has no shortage of cocktail bars, but every now and then, a place comes along that feels genuinely different . Not just in what it serves, but in how it makes people feel. That is exactly what Goodbye, Alibi is trying to do. Tucked away along Duxton Road, this bar does not scream for attention. Instead, it pulls you in with curiosity . The name itself hints at something playful, maybe even a little rebellious. And once you step inside, it becomes clear that this is

For many entrepreneurs and investors, Singapore is not love at first sight. It starts practically. A strong passport hub. Reliable banking. Clear laws. Regional access. Somewhere you can build without constantly watching your back. But after a few years, the question changes. It is no longer just about where the company is incorporated or where the fund sits. It becomes more personal. Where do I actually belong? Where does my family settle? Where does my business life realist

For many expatriates, the excitement of moving to Singapore is quickly followed by a practical challenge that almost everyone faces. Finding a place to live. At first, it may seem like it should be easy. Singapore is modern, organized, and well connected. Property listings are easy to find online, and agents often respond quickly when you ask about viewings. Yet after a few days of browsing apartments, many newcomers realize something. The rental market here works a little di

A recent case in Singapore caught a lot of people off guard. Someone paid a few thousand dollars to an “agent”, received documents that looked completely official, and believed their PR application was in progress. Later, they found out nothing had been submitted at all. No record. No application. Just gone. Reference to see the news: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ica-scam-fake-letters-pr-applications-6022706 It’s uncomfortable to talk about, but this happens mor

Singapore is often seen as one of the easiest places in the world to start a business. The process is fast, the system is transparent, and foreign ownership is fully allowed. On paper, it looks straightforward. In reality, many foreign entrepreneurs run into problems not because the system is complicated, but because they misunderstand how immigration and company rules work together. This is where things start to go wrong. Mistake 1: Assuming Company Ownership Equals Working

When people think about moving to Singapore, safety is usually one of the first things that comes up in conversation. Not in a dramatic way, but more like a quiet reassurance people are looking for before they take the leap. After all, relocating is not just about a job or a better salary. It is about daily life. It is about how you feel stepping out of your home, whether you are alone or with your family. If you ask most expats who have spent time here, the answer tends to b

Singapore attracts expatriates for many reasons. It is efficient, predictable, and business friendly. For foreign entrepreneurs, becoming a director of a Singapore company often feels like a natural move. What many only discover later is that being a company director and having the legal right to live or work in Singapore are two very different things. This article is written for expatriates who are already in Singapore or planning to relocate here. It focuses on how the rule

Business banking in Singapore has always been reliable, but reliability does not always mean ease. For many companies, especially smaller ones, the systems in place feel heavier than necessary. Things work, but they often take time. Sometimes more time than expected. Over the last few years, the way businesses operate has shifted. Payments are digital. Tools are online. Teams are distributed. Financial accounts are no longer just places where money sits. Aspire exists within

Most expatriates remember their first work pass approval clearly. It often feels like a milestone. You have secured the job, cleared the paperwork, and officially started your life in Singapore. After that, renewals can feel routine. Almost forgettable. That mindset is where problems begin. Renewing a Singapore work pass is not a rubber stamp exercise. Every renewal is a fresh assessment, even if you have lived here for years, paid taxes faithfully, and never changed employe