So you're definitely, or possibly, moving to Singapore – congratulations! Most foreigners truly enjoy their "Asia lite" experience and find the living here easy and fun. Singapore is a friendly, clean and above all safe and first–world environment, offering a terrific gateway for travel to Asia. English is prevalent, but don't be surprised if accents cause puzzlement; persevere politely and you'll get through. The government keeps a firm hold here, unusually so in the eyes of some liberal Westerners, but it does keep crime rates low and the streets clean and tidy. The year round tropical weather means that clothing stays informal and light–weight on most occasions. Even office wear is usually limited to a shirt and tie for men and bare legs for women. Air-con is the modern miracle for Singapore so if you plan your journey well you might never have to leave it, though a sweater or two might come in handy for the cinema.
Below are a few pointers to bear in mind if you are moving to Singapore. You can discover much more by checking out the various expat sites on our Useful Resources page, or by emailing the AWA office with any specific questions you may have.
What to Bring
Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs
Advil, Tylenol, Aleve, Benadryl, etc. are only available through a doctor's prescription and some brands may be available under alternate names.
Immunization records
Recommended immunizations for Singapore: Diphtheria & Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Adult dose Polio Booster, Measles, Mumps & Rubella #2 (if born between 1956–1988). Consult your physician or the International Medical Clinic for more information.
Travel immunizations for Southeast Asia, according to risk
Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis, Meningococcal Meningitis, Malarial Prophylactic. Consult your physician six weeks before planned travel dates.
Shoes
Larger sizes for men (US 12 and up), for women (US 9 and up), and youth sizes can be difficult to find. Since you remove your shoes before entering homes, slip–on style shoes are useful as are Velcro sandals for toddlers.
Underwear
Bring extra. Larger sizes can be difficult to find.
Baby supplies
Diapers and formula (ready mix liquid or powder) are more expensive than in the US. 'Little Tykes' equipment is five to six times the US prices.
Bed Linens
Local bed linens do not fit US mattresses. Bring extra sets for each bed.
Metric system
Be sure to brush up on your kilograms, liters, kilometers, and centigrade conversions. When the weatherman says "high of 32" he isn't recommending that you wear a winter jacket.
Misc
Greeting cards, wrapping paper. Gas or charcoal BBQ grills are available but very expensive. Halloween costumes can be difficult to find and are more expensive. Special diet foods are limited (i.e. fat free and sugar free foods). Vitamins and cosmetics are available but, expensive. Bring small oven pans, the ovens in Singapore are smaller than in the U.S.-pack accordingly. If bringing a U.S. size ironing board, bring extra covers and pads (ironing boards used here are smaller). Feminine hygiene products are limited, think about stocking up on preferred brands.
What to Leave Behind
Photo–albums
Leave them in climate controlled storage or there may be some mildewing. If you want to bring your albums, leave negatives back in storage for safe keeping. Most people don't have a problem with mildew or warping.
Appliances
The plugs are different and the voltage in Singapore is 220 (in the US 110). The US formatting standard is NTSC and in Singapore it is PAL. Unless your TV and video systems are "multi-system", your NTSC format tapes won't play. Stereo equipment works with voltage converters. High wattage items require big and expensive converters that you can buy here. Think about leaving the coffee maker, bread machine, iron, etc. in storage. You can buy them here. Lamps work here if you change the bulb to a 220 volt bulb and use an adaptor for the plug when you get here.
Alcohol
There are high taxes on every bottle of alcohol you bring in the country (+/– 10 Sing $ per bottle).
Firearms
Chewing-gum
Under our current law on chewing gum, no one is allowed to bring in chewing gum even for his/her own consumption.
Poppy Seeds
There has been some confusion regarding Poppy Seeds. Expat Singapore had this to say on the matter: "poppy seeds can be brought in – there are poppy seeds in muffins in town and they are not confiscated by the Central Narcotic Bureau". You be the judge.
Illegal drugs
The penalty is death. Singapore laws are very strict.
Moving Your Pet
Deciding on whether or not to bring a pet to Singapore can be stressful and many factors should be considered: How old is the animal? Is it in good health? Will you be living in an apartment or a house? Can the pet handle the plane flight and required month-long quarantine? All of these factors need to be considered. Transporting an animal to Singapore is more complicated than you might imagine. It is best to start as soon as possible to make all the necessary arrangements.
As all airlines have different rules and regulations regarding animals it is imperative to check with the carrier your pet will be traveling on to get accurate, up-to-date information. For details on all the necessary steps required to get the furry family member to Singapore check out: Contact Singapore.
You can also hire a company to do most of the work for you, door-to-door. A big one in Singapore is: Pet Movers.
Remember that Singapore is a tropical climate and it will take some time for your pet to adjust to the weather. It is perpetual summer so shedding is increased and often constant. Special care must be taken to keep the skin healthy and to protect against ticks, fleas and parasites. Veterinary care is good in Singapore so you can get help reduce the risks of these infections. Keep in mind that there is a large Muslim community in Singapore and Muslims view dogs as unclean, so consideration is important. There are also "leash" and "scoop" laws in effect. If you would like to let your dog run, there are a number of dog parks on the island where dogs are allowed to run unleashed.
International Schools
Click on 'International Schools' above to view a list of schools most frequented by AWA children. For more information and a complete listing of international schools in Singapore, visit: Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE).
An International School is considered by the Singapore Government to be one with a curriculum based upon a foreign system. Examples are SAS, which uses the American system or Chatsworth, OFS, ISS, etc, which use the IB/PYP system.
The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) licenses some schools as "approved institutions", which allows eligible Singaporean citizens to utilize the Children Development Co-Saving (CDA) Scheme for the payment of kindergarten fees. It also means that they are "childcare centers" and can provide before and after-school daycare to cater to working parents. For more information see: MCYS
The Ministry of Education (MOE) advises local preschools/kindergartens to give priority to local children. For more information on local preschools and kindergartens, go to MOE.
Getting Around
Cars
Cars are very expensive in Singapore. Not only are the prices very high, but with the myriad of Singapore taxes added on, plan on about S$150,000 for a new midsize car. Keep in mind that driving is on the left. Leasing a new car is an option.
Conversion of a Foreign Driving License
If you are residing in Singapore for less than twelve months, you are not required to convert your foreign driving license to a Singapore driver's license. You may drive in Singapore with a valid International Driving Permit issued by a foreign Automobile Association. If an International Driving Permit is not available, an official translation of your foreign license in English is required.
For foreigners on Employment Pass/ Dependant Pass/ Student Pass/ or Work Permit and residing in Singapore for more than twelve months or if you are a Singapore Permanent Resident, you are required to convert your foreign driving license to a Singapore driving license in order to drive here. If you convert your foreign license within 12 months from the date you first entered Singapore, you only need to pass the Basic Theory Test to demonstrate you are familiar with Singapore's Highway Code.
For more information on how to apply for and take the basic tests, please visit: Singapore Police Force
Public Transportation
Buses and the subway, or Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) are accessible, affordable, and safe. You can purchase an "Easylink" card at MRT stations. It is an "add–on" value card, that can be used for the buses and MRT. Remember the card needs to be "swiped" getting on and off the buses, as well as the MRT. It figures out the accurate fare and automatically deducts the value.
Information about the MRT can be found at: SMRT
Information about buses can be found at:
Taxis
Cabs are clean, reasonable, and numerous, except when raining!
Ferries
High speed ferries provide transportation to and from islands within the Indonesian and Malaysian archipelagoes. Check the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (TMFT) and/or World Trade Center for schedules and prices.
Housing
Some expats find it practical to stay at a hotel first while waiting for their belongings to be shipped over, or for renovations to be completed. Dozens are available, from 6–star luxury hotels to low-budget guest houses.
What to Read
Information on the web:
Books
- Culture Shock! Singapore – Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company (ISBN 1-55868-108-6)
- Living in Singapore, An Expatriate's Guide – The American Association of Singapore
- Guide to Doing Business in Singapore – Deloitte & Touché SNG Corp 9789810029067
- Singapore Street Directory – SNP Corporation Ltd Ministry of Law (ISBN 88886 59058 528)
- Transit Link – SNP Publishers
- Lonely Planet: Singapore – Lonely Planet Publications (ISBN - 0-86442-400-0)
- Street Smart – by David Brazil; Times Books International (ISBN 981-204-065X)
Page last updated: September 22, 2011