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

For many expats, Singapore starts out feeling efficient rather than emotional. You arrive, you work, and you settle into a routine that runs smoothly but sometimes feels a little too polished. The trains arrive on time. The coffee is consistent. Life works. And yet, after the first few months, a quiet question often appears: What does living here actually feel like? The answer usually reveals itself on the weekend. Weekends are when Singapore softens. The pace slows just enou

For many expatriates, accepting a role in Singapore is not a difficult decision. The city is safe, efficient, and professionally rewarding. The harder part often comes later, when the question turns from career to family. Can your spouse come with you? What about your children? How complicated is the paperwork, and how long does it really take? Most families eventually encounter the Dependant’s Pass , which is Singapore’s primary immigration route for bringing immediate famil

When people think about Singapore, they often picture clean streets, shiny buildings, and a city that moves at a fast but steady pace. What many newcomers discover only after they arrive is that Singapore also has a warm network of communities that sit quietly beneath its modern exterior. These groups help people stay connected, whether they are Singaporeans living overseas or foreigners trying to find their footing in a new environment. This article explores that network, th

Most foreign entrepreneurs do not arrive in Singapore with a business plan in their suitcase. They arrive with a job, a contract, and the intention to stay for a while. The idea of starting a company usually comes later, often quietly. It might surface after noticing how efficient things are here, or after spotting a gap in the market that keeps repeating itself. Singapore has a way of making entrepreneurship feel possible. Not romantic or chaotic, but realistic. Things work.

Image courtesy of makeyourasia.com Moving to Singapore can feel both exciting and overwhelming. The city is efficient, clean, and buzzing with energy, yet settling in can still take time. Many expatriates quickly discover that life becomes far smoother once they build a network of people who understand both the joys and the challenges of living abroad. Finding your tribe is not just a feel-good idea . It is one of the most practical ways to adapt, stay emotionally balanced, a

Moving to Singapore can feel both exciting and overwhelming. The city is efficient, clean, and buzzing with energy, yet settling in can still take time. Many expatriates quickly discover that life becomes far smoother once they build a network of people who understand both the joys and the challenges of living abroad. Finding your tribe is not just a feel good idea . It is one of the most practical ways to adapt, stay emotionally balanced, and enjoy daily life in a foreign co

Image courtesy of detik.com Moving to Singapore can feel like stepping into a kitchen you have never cooked in before. Shelves look familiar yet different. Brands do not match what you are used to. The sauces seem endless, the spice blends have names that may not ring a bell, and the heat level sometimes makes your eyes water before you even start cooking. If you are an expat, a tourist staying for an extended period, or someone completely new to Singapore, this guide is for

If you spend enough time talking to expats or overseas investors in Singapore, you will eventually hear the same question come up in some form, “Can foreigners actually buy property here?”  It is usually asked with a mix of curiosity and hesitation, because Singapore’s real estate market has a certain aura about it, one that feels stable, tightly regulated, and sometimes a little hard to decode from the outside. And the truth is, the rules can seem confusing at first. Some ty

Every time I meet a new business owner in Singapore, the conversation eventually circles back to hiring. Someone will say, half joking and half serious, that recruiting here is “a whole strategy by itself”. And honestly, they’re not wrong. The question of whether to bring in locals or foreigners isn’t just about filling a vacancy. It brushes up against government rules, company culture, future planning and sometimes even personal philosophy. Most employers I’ve spoken to don’

Living abroad is often described as exciting, refreshing, or life-changing. Those things can be true, but most Singaporeans who move overseas eventually admit something quietly. They say the transition feels very different once the novelty fades. A new country has its charms, but it also comes with daily decisions that require a different kind of attention. Things related to money, personal mindset, and stress levels begin to shape the overall experience more than anything el

If you’re a foreign worker settling into life in Singapore, you’ll quickly learn that the country runs on structure and rules. That includes healthcare and medical insurance. It’s not the most exciting part of working abroad, but it’s definitely one of the most important. And honestly, I’ve noticed that many newcomers only realise this after someone in their dorm or workplace lands unexpectedly in the hospital. So instead of leaving it to chance, it helps to know exactly what

Image courtesy: Traveloka.com Living abroad changes how you move through the world, literally. When you’re an expatriate in Singapore, hopping on the MRT  or a bus becomes as routine as buying kopi in the morning. But the confidence you build navigating Singapore’s well-structured transport system doesn’t always transfer seamlessly when you travel or relocate to another country. Suddenly, you’re decoding unfamiliar maps, figuring out payment cards, and learning new etiquette

Courtesy of Freshfarms.com If you have ever found yourself overseas staring at a bowl of noodles that looks nothing like the comforting chaos of your favourite hawker dish, you are not alone. Many Singaporeans and expats who lived here eventually go through that same moment, a kind of culinary nostalgia that hits without warning. You might be in a supermarket aisle somewhere in Sydney or Munich or Toronto, holding a bottle of soy sauce that tastes suspiciously flat, wondering

A friend asked me recently, “Is it worth applying for Singapore PR? ”He’d been here for four years, working at a tech firm in the CBD, renting a condo near Tiong Bahru, and was starting to feel that sense of belonging you get after a while. If you’ve ever found yourself in that same spot, wondering whether to take the leap, this guide is for you. Singapore offers several Permanent Residency (PR) schemes , and the right one depends very much on who you are: a professional, inv

The Singapore Expat Association (SEA) is thrilled to partner with Cerebral Games Trivia Nights, bringing together curious minds, global perspectives, and a shared love for a good challenge. This collaboration is all about building community, connecting expats and locals through laughter, learning, and a touch of friendly competition. Whether you’re new to Singapore or a long-time resident, these trivia nights offer the perfect chance to meet people, explore new venues, and ex

If you’ve been working in Singapore for a while, you’ll know that life here moves fast. Many foreigners start out just wanting experience, maybe two or three years. But then something changes. The convenience, safety, and way of life slowly grow on you. That’s when you start thinking, maybe I should stay longer . And for most professionals, that next big step means applying for Permanent Residency (PR) . As someone who has helped clients with work passes and PR matters for ye

As both a mother and a psychotherapist, I’ve spent years observing what it means to grow up between worlds, and what it means to raise a child who belongs everywhere, yet sometimes feels like she belongs nowhere. Through my work and personal journey, I’ve come to see how important community and understanding are for families like ours. That’s why I’m grateful for the collaboration between the Singapore Expat Association (SEA)  and TCK (Third Culture Kids)  — together, we’re c

If you’ve worked in Singapore for a while, you’ll know that your work pass isn’t just a card in your wallet. It’s basically your key to everything, your job, your apartment lease, even your Singpass login. So when the time comes to renew it, you don’t want to find yourself panicking at the last minute. Having helped a few colleagues and clients go through this process, I’ve seen how small details can cause big delays. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) doesn’t play around when it

When people talk about Singapore’s future, two issues keep coming up: the ageing population and the low birth rate. These are not just numbers tucked away in a government report. If you live here, you can probably see it in daily life. Void decks are busier with seniors than children, schools are merging because of smaller intakes, and hospitals are expanding geriatric wards. Singapore is Getting Older, Fast Walk around mature estates like Toa Payoh or Ang Mo Kio and it becom