Complete Guide for Expats in Singapore
Singapore is one of the most enjoyable cities in Southeast Asia. As you zoom in from one of the world's best airports along the lushly tree-shaded expressway or on the zippy MRT train line, you'll quickly realize that there is are no traffic jams and as you stroll through the fashion emporiums of Orchard Rd, poke around antique shops in Chinatown or take a walk around one of the dozens of beautiful city parks, you'll know the city bears no crime and poverty. For past few decades Singaporean Government has encouraged foreigners to immigrate to Singapore.
Accommodation
The East Coast and Serangoon are the most popular areas among the expats as they are more value for money. These areas include malls, renowned local eating establishments, beach, and airport, near to MRT station and most important of the all is that it is connected to the motorway which provides easy access to the city. Rents are naturally higher for the past decades in Singapore but cost of housing has decreased over the past few years, it is now possible to own a home in Singapore.
There's a broad range of serviced residences in Singapore, and are ideal for new expats as they familiarize themselves with the island. Most properties provide built-in kitchens, gym, pool, maid, concierge and breakfast service, and whilst even the lower-cost options are still relatively pricey, they are undeniably a better option than a long-term stay in a hotel.
Education
The education system in Singapore aims at excellence in its students, offering various choices in pre-school, primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. Even if your children attend private or international schools, it is worth taking a closer look at the public education system in Singapore.
- Public schools
Children of foreigners can study in Public Government owned school but if there are vacancies, they also need to obtain student passes from the Immigration Department. English is the language of instruction in all public schools and all subjects are taught and examined in English except the Mother tongue language paper.
- Private Schools
Because of large expatriate community in Singapore people prefers sending their children to private schools as they are considerably cheaper than International schools.
- International Schools
The most costly option in Singapore for sending your children to school are international schools which either follow American or British schooling systems. The most famous names are George Washington Preschool, Integrated International School, and Australian International School.
Banks
To open a bank account in Singapore is very easy but you must have a work visa or employment pass. Banks staff usually speaks English and are of friendly nature. Most foreign banks in Singapore have only a restricted number of branch offices and free-of-charge ATMs. If that is a priority for you, check beforehand which banks are close to your workplace and/or accommodation. There are number of international banks which are providing high quality international standard services in Singapore for instance, ANZ, Citibank, HSBC, Maybank, Standard Chartered, and the State Bank of India. These Banks are providing ATM services with free cash withdrawal to facilitate their customers in Singapore as well.
Health Care
According to the World Health Organization’s ranking of the world’s health systems in 2011, Singapore was ranked 6th after France, Italy, San Marino, Andorra and Malta. This makes Singapore No.1 in the Asia-Pacific region. With many well-respected doctors trained in the best centers around the world, internationally-accredited hospitals and specialty centers, a global reputation as a medical convention and training center, a fast-growing basic and clinical research hub, it is no wonder that Singapore has established itself as Asia’s leading medical hub for expats. The Doctors in Singapore are proficient in English due to receiving education from different part of the worlds. The important phone numbers in case of emergency are as follows:
Police 999
Fire & Ambulance 995
Non-Emergency Ambulance 1777
Police Hotline 1800 225 0000
Traffic Police 6547 0000
Transport
Transport within Singapore is mainly land-based. Many parts of Singapore are accessible by road, including islands such as Sentosa and Jurong Island. Traffic in Singapore is very manageable and disciplined. Due to lots of restrictions imposed by the Government on car owners, people avoid buying the cars and owing a car in Singapore is a rarity. Numerous convenient options of travelling are available in Singapore for expats.
- Public Transport
Public transport covers a variety of transport modes such as bus, rail, and taxi. This is a result of great emphasis by the Government of Singapore in order to promote its use over private transport. About 5.308 million trips are made on a daily basis on the public transport system and at least half of its population utilizes it daily. It is advisable for expats to travel by public transport which is reasonably priced as well.
- Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)
The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is a standard gauge system with a total rail network length of 153.2 km and 104 stations. There are five main lines running at present: the North South Line, the East West Line, the Circle Line, operated by SMRT Trains (SMRT Corporation). The North East Line and the Downtown Line which commenced on 22 December 2013 is operated by SBS Transit.
- Ferry and Boats Services
There are boats and ferry services to nearby islands of Malaysia and Indonesia. These services can be found at Changi Ferry Terminal, Changi Point Ferry Terminal, Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Singapore Cruise Centre, and Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore