Singapore at a glance
| Income tax for residents | 0% to 24% |
| Tax year | Calendar year; return due in April of the next year |
| GST (sales tax) | 9% |
| Healthcare | Private insurance for most foreigners |
| School year | International schools: August to June. Local schools: January to November |
| UK licence | Can be converted after a theory test |
| Typical rent | S$3,800 to S$5,500 a month for a two-bedroom condo in the city fringe |
| Side of the road | Left, as in the UK |
| Pets from the UK | Import licence needed; quarantine usually waived for UK pets |
| Sea freight | 7 to 11 weeks door to door |
| Exchange rate used | S$1.70 to £1 |
In short
- Your work pass is the foundation. It is tied to your employer and sets the salary you need to bring your family.
- Housing is the big cost. Most expats rent condominium flats, paid monthly, and family-sized homes in central areas can cost more than London.
- Tax is low and simple. Resident rates top out at 24%, and foreign income is generally not taxed when you bring it in.
- Your UK State Pension is frozen in Singapore. It is paid, but never increases. Check your National Insurance record before you leave.
- Vapes are illegal. E-cigarettes are banned from import and possession, and they are the item most often found in British shipments.
Start with the visa
Most Britons move to Singapore on a work pass sponsored by an employer. The pass sets your salary floor, whether your family can join you and whether you can later apply for permanent residence, so settle it before anything else.
| Route | Who it suits | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass (EP) | Professionals, managers and executives with a job offer | Minimum salary S$5,600 a month (S$6,200 in financial services), rising with age to S$10,700 (S$11,800) for those 45 and over. Must also pass the COMPASS points test. Up to 2 years, then renewals of up to 3 |
| Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass | Top earners and leaders in their field | 5-year pass not tied to one employer. Salary route of S$30,000 a month, or an exceptional-achievement route |
| Personalised Employment Pass | Existing high earners who want flexibility | Salary threshold of S$22,500 a month. Not tied to one employer |
| EntrePass | Founders starting a venture-backed or innovative business | Assessed on the business and its backing |
| S Pass | Mid-skilled workers | Lower salary floor than the EP, with quotas and levies paid by the employer |
| Dependant’s Pass | Spouses and children of pass holders | The pass holder must earn at least S$6,000 a month. Parents may get a Long-Term Visit Pass if the holder earns at least S$12,000 |
Source: PilotoAsia, 2026. Thresholds are reviewed often, so check current figures with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) before you accept an offer.
Rules to know once you live there
- Your pass is tied to your employer. If you change jobs, your new employer must apply for a new pass. If your job ends, your pass is cancelled and you and your family have a short time to leave or find a new pass.
- Your partner may not be able to work freely. Dependant’s Pass holders need their own work pass to take a job, so check this before you commit.
- Permanent residence is possible but not guaranteed. EP holders can apply after some time in Singapore, but approval is discretionary and many are turned down.
- UK citizens can visit without a visa to look at homes and schools before the move.
Cost of living
Housing is by far the biggest cost. A two-bedroom condo flat on the edge of the city centre typically rents for S$3,800 to S$5,500 a month (about £2,235 to £3,235), and a three-bedroom family home in the prime central districts can cost S$8,000 to S$14,000 (about £4,700 to £8,235).
| Condo size | Prime central, e.g. Orchard, Tanglin, Bukit Timah (S$ a month) | City fringe, e.g. River Valley, Novena, Tanjong Pagar (S$ a month) | Outside central, e.g. East Coast, Holland area, the west (S$ a month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio or one-bedroom | 3,500 to 6,000 | 2,800 to 3,800 | 2,200 to 3,000 |
| Two-bedroom | 5,000 to 9,000 | 3,800 to 5,500 | 3,000 to 4,200 |
| Three-bedroom | 8,000 to 14,000 | 5,500 to 8,500 | 4,200 to 6,000 |
| Four-bedroom or penthouse | 12,000 to 25,000+ | 8,500 to 13,000 | 6,000 to 10,000 |
Indicative rents for the first quarter of 2026 from URA and SRX data, via LovelyHomes, September 2026. Region labels follow Singapore’s planning zones, and examples are approximate. Sterling figures use S$1.70 to the pound, the rate in early October 2026.
What works differently from the UK
- Leases are usually one or two years. Expect a deposit of about one month’s rent for each year of the lease, and an agent’s fee that is often negotiated. Ask for a “diplomatic clause” so you can leave early if your job moves, usually after 12 months with two months’ notice.
- Tenants pay stamp duty of about 0.4% of the rent and handle minor repairs.
- Most expats live in condos. These come with pools, gyms and security. Foreigners can also rent public housing (HDB) flats, which are cheaper but further out.
- Cars are extraordinarily expensive (see Driving), so most people rely on the excellent trains, buses and taxis.
- Food ranges from cheap to very dear. Hawker centres serve meals for a few dollars; imported groceries and alcohol are expensive.
- GST is 9% and is included in shop prices. Restaurants often add a 10% service charge as well.
- Many families employ a live-in domestic helper, which is far more affordable than in the UK but comes with legal duties as an employer.
Buying a home
Foreigners can buy private condominium flats but not public HDB flats, and landed houses need government approval. Foreign buyers pay Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty of 60% of the price on top of the normal stamp duty, so very few expats buy (Expat Arrivals, April 2026). UK nationals do not qualify for the exemptions given to US and some European nationals. Permanent residents pay a much lower rate.
Tax
Singapore’s income tax is low and simple. Residents pay progressive rates from 0% to 24%, there is no capital gains or inheritance tax, and foreign income is generally not taxed even when you bring it into Singapore. Tax is assessed on the calendar year and filed the following April, usually from figures your employer has already sent to the tax authority.
| Taxable income (S$) | Rate on income in the band |
|---|---|
| First 20,000 | 0% |
| 20,001 to 30,000 | 2% |
| 30,001 to 40,000 | 3.5% |
| 40,001 to 80,000 | 7% |
| 80,001 to 120,000 | 11.5% |
| 120,001 to 160,000 | 15% |
| 160,001 to 200,000 | 18% |
| 200,001 to 240,000 | 19% |
| 240,001 to 280,000 | 19.5% |
| 280,001 to 320,000 | 20% |
| 320,001 to 500,000 | 22% |
| 500,001 to 1,000,000 | 23% |
| Over 1,000,000 | 24% |
Resident rates from 2024, via Corporate Services, January 2026; check the latest figures with IRAS.
Points that catch UK arrivals out
- Residency depends on time in Singapore. You are resident if you spend 183 days or more there in a calendar year, or work there across a longer period. Non-residents pay a flat 15% on employment income, or resident rates if higher.
- Tax is not taken from your pay. Unlike PAYE, you pay after your annual assessment, either in one go or by monthly instalment. Set money aside from the start.
- Returns are due by 18 April for online filing. Most employees’ income is pre-filled by their employer.
- Leaving Singapore needs tax clearance. Your employer must notify IRAS before you stop work, and may hold back your final pay until your tax is settled.
- No compulsory pension savings for foreigners. Employment Pass holders do not pay into Singapore’s CPF scheme, which keeps take-home pay high but means saving for retirement is up to you.
Leaving the UK tax system
Tell HMRC you are going. Most people do this with form P85, which can also trigger a refund for the year you leave. You will still pay UK tax on UK income such as rent from a property you keep. A UK–Singapore double taxation agreement stops the same income being taxed twice. Take advice from an accountant who handles both countries before you move, not after.
Healthcare
Singapore’s healthcare is among the best in the world, but government subsidies are for citizens and permanent residents. Foreigners pay the full cost, in public or private hospitals, so comprehensive health insurance is essential.
| Typical cost | S$ | Approx. in sterling (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Private GP consultation | 50 to 150 | 30 to 90 |
| Public hospital ward, per day | 150 to 500 | 90 to 295 |
| Private hospital, per day | 1,000 to 3,000 | 590 to 1,765 |
Source: PilotoAsia. Foreigners may pay more than these public ward rates, as they are not subsidised. Specialist fees, scans and surgery add up quickly.
How cover works
- Check your employer’s plan. Most employers of Employment Pass holders provide medical insurance, but cover for your partner and children is not always included. Ask what the limits are, and whether it covers outpatient care, maternity and dental treatment.
- Top up if you need to. International health plans can extend cover to treatment in the UK and to family members. Premiums rise with age.
- Foreigners cannot use Singapore’s state schemes. MediShield Life and Medisave are for citizens and permanent residents.
- Maternity is expensive. If you plan to have a baby in Singapore, make sure your policy covers it; many plans have a waiting period of 10 to 12 months.
- Arrange cover from the day you land. There is no reciprocal health agreement between the UK and Singapore.
Some common UK medicines, including strong painkillers and sleeping tablets, are controlled in Singapore. Carry a prescription or doctor’s letter, and check the Health Sciences Authority’s rules before you travel.
Schools and the school year
Most British families choose an international school. Several follow the English National Curriculum through to IGCSEs and A-levels or the IB, and run a year from August to June, so moving between UK and Singapore schools is straightforward. Fees are high, and places at the most popular schools are hard to get.
| International school | Annual tuition (S$) | Approx. in sterling (£) |
|---|---|---|
| UWCSEA (2024–25) | 36,078 to 56,361 | 21,220 to 33,155 |
| Dulwich College Singapore (2024–25) | 41,830 to 54,060 | 24,605 to 31,800 |
| Chatsworth International School (2026–27) | 30,554 to 41,512 | 17,975 to 24,420 |
| One World International School, Nanyang campus | 21,000 to 24,000 | 12,355 to 14,120 |
Sources: Dollars and Sense and Expat Arrivals, June 2026. Fees rise with your child’s age and usually by a few per cent each year; check each school’s current fees.
What else to know
- One-off fees are large. Application fees and capital or development levies can add S$5,000 to S$10,000 per child, and buses another S$3,000 to S$6,000 a year.
- Apply as early as you can. The best-known British schools have waiting lists, and some give priority to children whose parents’ employers hold corporate places. Ask your employer whether they do.
- Check whether your employer pays. School fees are a common part of expat packages, and can be worth more than a pay rise.
- Local schools are an option, but places are limited. Foreign children can apply for state school places through an admissions test, after citizens and permanent residents are placed. Fees for foreigners are higher than for locals but far below international schools. The local year runs from January to November.
- Think ahead to university. Children who have lived abroad may be charged international rather than home fees at UK universities, depending on how long they have been away.
Driving
Singapore drives on the left, as in the UK, and its roads are well run. But owning a car is extraordinarily expensive, so many expats never buy one and use the trains, buses and taxis instead.
Your licence
- For your first 12 months as a foreign resident, you can drive on your UK licence with an International Driving Permit. Buy the permit at a UK Post Office before you leave.
- After 12 months, you must convert to a Singapore licence. You need to pass the Basic Theory Test, a multiple-choice test on Singapore’s highway code, but not a driving test.
- What to bring. Your passport, work pass, UK photocard licence, a recent photo and, if your licence does not show when it was first issued, a DVLA record of your driving history. Proof that you lived in the UK when the licence was issued may also be asked for.
Source: Singapore Police Force.
What a car really costs
To own a car you must first buy a Certificate of Entitlement (COE), a 10-year licence to have a vehicle on the road, sold at auction. In October 2026 a COE for a smaller car cost about S$130,000 (about £76,500) before you pay anything for the car itself (Little Big Red Dot, 7 October 2026). Registration fees, import duty, road tax, electronic road pricing charges in the city centre and parking all come on top. Leasing or using car-sharing schemes is common.
Road rules worth knowing
- Fines are strict and enforced by cameras, including for speeding, using a phone and stopping in yellow-box junctions.
- Electronic Road Pricing charges you automatically for driving into busy areas at peak times.
- Drink-driving brings jail as well as fines, even for a first offence.
Should you ship your car?
No. Cars more than three years old cannot be imported at all, and even newer ones face the COE system and taxes that usually cost more than the car is worth. Our vehicle shipping guide sets out what is involved elsewhere.
Pensions
Foreign workers in Singapore do not join its state savings scheme, the Central Provident Fund (CPF), and there is no social security agreement with the UK. Your retirement savings are therefore up to you, but low tax makes it easier to build them.
Your UK State Pension
- It is paid in Singapore, but frozen. You cannot get annual increases there; the rate you first receive is the rate you keep. See State Pension if you retire abroad.
- You need 35 qualifying years for the full amount and at least 10 to get anything. Check your forecast before you leave.
- Topping up from abroad became harder and dearer on 6 April 2026. Cheap Class 2 voluntary contributions are no longer available for time abroad. You can pay Class 3 only if you lived in the UK for 10 years in a row or paid 10 years of contributions. See voluntary National Insurance if you live abroad.
Saving in Singapore
- Employment Pass holders do not pay into CPF, and neither does their employer. Ask whether your employer offers a pension or savings plan instead, and treat it as part of your package.
- Permanent residents do join CPF. If you become a permanent resident, you and your employer start making contributions, which reduces take-home pay but builds savings for housing, healthcare and retirement.
- Singapore has a voluntary tax-relieved scheme, the Supplementary Retirement Scheme, open to foreigners, which can reduce your Singapore tax bill.
Your UK workplace and private pensions
These can stay invested in the UK and be paid to you in Singapore. Moving a UK pension abroad usually triggers a 25% overseas transfer charge unless you live in the same country as the scheme, and expats in Singapore are a common target for unregulated advisers. Use a regulated adviser, and read GOV.UK on transferring to an overseas pension scheme first.
Shipping your home
Used household goods you have owned and used can be relieved of Singapore’s 9% GST when you move there, but the relief must be claimed correctly at entry. Singapore Customs is strict about a few items British households often pack, and your building’s management can matter more than the port.
Customs
- GST relief is a claim, not automatic. Used household goods and personal effects can qualify when you transfer your residence. We prepare the claim with your valued inventory.
- Alcohol and tobacco are always taxed, however old, with duty and GST. Think carefully before shipping a wine collection.
- Vapes and e-cigarettes are illegal to import or own. They are the item most often found in British shipments, so check every drawer and bag.
- Chewing gum cannot be imported for sale, and quantities in a household shipment will be removed.
- Books and films are screened. Obscene or seditious material is refused; ordinary books and films are fine.
- Drones and anything with a radio transmitter need approval, so declare them.
Delivery to your new home
Most condominiums and HDB blocks require you to book the service lift in advance, pay a refundable deposit and protect common areas, and some only allow moves on weekdays. HDB lifts limit what fits, and landed homes on narrow lanes may need a smaller shuttle vehicle. Give us your address and building manager’s details early.
Sea freight and humidity
Sea freight takes 7 to 11 weeks door to door to Pasir Panjang, and air freight 4 to 7 days. Singapore’s heat and humidity can damage leather, paper, artwork and musical instruments over time, so we pack for it and can advise what to leave behind. Our Singapore shipping guide has the detail.
Pets
Cats and dogs from the UK can enter Singapore without quarantine if conditions are met, as the UK is in the lowest-risk group.
- Get an import licence from the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) before you travel. Since 1 April 2026, an AVS-recognised pet agent must handle clearance.
- Microchip, vaccinations and a vet’s certificate are required. Pets must be at least 12 weeks old. Check with AVS which vaccinations apply, including rabies.
- Pets are inspected on arrival at the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station.
- Some breeds are banned, including pit bull types and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Akitas, Neapolitan Mastiffs and Tosas and their crosses. Others, such as Rottweilers, Dobermans and German Shepherds, are allowed only with conditions.
- Public housing limits pets. HDB flats allow only some small dog breeds, so check before you choose a home.
Source: Zoovet Travel, 2026. Confirm the current rules with AVS before you book.
Useful links
These are the official sources we point clients to. Rules change, so check them close to your move date.
| Topic | Website | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Passes | Ministry of Manpower: work passes | Employment Pass, ONE Pass and dependants |
| Passes | Immigration & Checkpoints Authority | Permanent residence and entry |
| Settling in | FCDO: Singapore travel advice | Local laws and customs |
| Settling in | URA: private property rentals | Rental rules and data |
| Tax | IRAS: individual income tax | Rates, residency and filing |
| Tax | GOV.UK: tax if you leave the UK | Telling HMRC and form P85 |
| Healthcare | Ministry of Health | Healthcare in Singapore |
| Healthcare | Health Sciences Authority | Bringing in personal medicines |
| Schools | Ministry of Education: international students | Local school places for foreign children |
| Driving | Singapore Police Force: driving licences | Converting a UK licence |
| Driving | Land Transport Authority | COE, car ownership and road pricing |
| Pensions | GOV.UK: check your State Pension forecast | How much you will get and any gaps |
| Pensions | GOV.UK: State Pension if you retire abroad | Claiming and being paid in Singapore |
| Pensions | GOV.UK: voluntary National Insurance abroad | Whether you can keep paying in |
| Pensions | GOV.UK: transferring to an overseas scheme | Rules and tax on moving a UK pension |
| Shipping | Singapore Customs | GST relief and prohibited goods |
| Pets | Animal & Veterinary Service | Pet import licences |
| General | GOV.UK: moving or retiring abroad | The UK government’s leaving checklist |
This guide is general information for people planning a move, correct to the best of our knowledge in October 2026. It is not tax, pension, legal or immigration advice. Rules and figures change, so check the official sources linked above and take professional advice on your own circumstances.