By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 29 September 2026
Moving to Singapore to work starts with a work pass arranged by your employer: an Employment Pass for professionals, which in 2026 needs a salary of at least S$5,600 a month and 40 points on MOM’s COMPASS test, or an S Pass for mid-skilled roles from S$3,300. Earn S$6,000 or more and you can bring your spouse and children on Dependant’s Passes. In your first two weeks you will collect your pass card, register for Singpass, open a bank account and sort out a phone, a home and health insurance.
Singapore is one of the easiest places in the world to move to, and one of the most rule-bound. Almost everything runs through official portals and a card with your number on it; almost nothing works until you have that card. This guide is written by people who live here, for the version of you reading it on a laptop at 1am with a job offer in one tab and a map of the island in the other.
Moving to Singapore: the essentials
| Work passes | Employment Pass from S$5,600 a month (S$6,200 in financial services) plus 40 COMPASS points; S Pass from S$3,300. Both rise with age and in 2027 |
| Family | Dependant’s Pass for a spouse and children if you earn at least S$6,000; Long-Term Visit Pass for parents from S$12,000 |
| Your ID | A pass card with a FIN (foreign identification number); the key to Singpass, banks and phone lines |
| Healthcare | No public insurance for foreigners; employers must insure S Pass and Work Permit holders, not Employment Pass holders |
| Schools | Local schools admit international students through MOE’s AEIS tests; places are not guaranteed |
| Driving | Your foreign licence works for 12 months; after that, convert it by passing the Basic Theory Test |
| Shipping | Used belongings can come in free of GST if shipped within six months of your arrival |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Cost | Housing sets the budget; almost everything else is predictable and paid by card. |
| What you get | A safe, English-speaking, efficient city where paperwork is online and quick once you have your pass. |
| The hard part | The first two weeks, when nothing works until your pass card arrives. |
| Worth it for | Professionals and families who value safety, schools and a short commute. |
| Plan early for | Schools, pets and shipping; each has deadlines months ahead. |
Before you arrive
Your employer applies for your work pass. Once it is approved in principle, you receive an In-Principle Approval letter, which lets you enter Singapore and have the pass issued. If your family is coming, apply for their passes early, because children’s school places and pets’ import licences both run on long timelines. Work passes explained and bringing your family set out the rules.
Your first two weeks
Collect your pass, then everything else follows: Singpass, a bank account, a local phone line, a lease, utilities and a GP. The first-two-weeks checklist puts it in order.
Where the rest of WahLiao helps
This series answers new-resident questions. For renting and buying, read The Address, including its guide to rental stamp duty. For household bills, The Big Buy explains your electricity bill and other running costs. For money, The Ledger covers bank fees, deposit insurance and credit scores. For your first shop, see grocery shopping for new residents. Friends coming to visit? Send them to Visiting Singapore.
Moving to Singapore: every guide
Read now: Work passes · Bringing your family · The first two weeks · Singpass for foreigners · Opening a bank account · Healthcare and insurance · Schools for newcomers’ children · Converting a driving licence · Bringing a pet · Shipping your belongings
Now live: Income tax for new residents · CPF for new permanent residents · Applying for permanent residence · Mobile plans · A monthly household budget · Where new residents live · Changing jobs on a work pass · Finding community · Leaving and tax clearance · The rules newcomers learn the hard way
Also live: Having a baby in Singapore · Getting married in Singapore · National Service for sons of PRs · Preschool and childcare · Starting a business
Coming soon: Income tax for new residents · CPF for new permanent residents · Applying for permanent residence · Mobile plans · A monthly household budget · Where new residents live · Changing jobs on a work pass · Finding community · Leaving and tax clearance · The rules newcomers learn the hard way (all ten are now live; see Now live above)
Moving to Singapore: FAQ
How much do I need to earn for an Employment Pass?
At least S$5,600 a month in 2026, or S$6,200 in financial services, rising with age. You also need 40 points on MOM’s COMPASS assessment unless you earn S$22,500 or more.
Can I bring my family to Singapore?
Yes, if you hold an Employment Pass or S Pass and earn at least S$6,000 a month: your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can apply for Dependant’s Passes. To bring parents on Long-Term Visit Passes, you need S$12,000.
Do foreigners get public healthcare in Singapore?
Foreigners can use public hospitals and polyclinics but pay non-resident rates, and are not covered by MediShield Life. Private insurance is essential.
Can my children go to local schools?
They can apply through MOE’s AEIS or S-AEIS tests, held in Singapore. Admission is not guaranteed and depends on results and vacancies.
Can I drive in Singapore on my foreign licence?
For up to 12 months. After that, convert it by passing the Basic Theory Test and applying to the Traffic Police.
For writers and researchers: the searches behind this series are mapped in the Moving to Singapore keyword cloud.
Sources checked 29 September 2026: MOM, Employment Pass eligibility; MOM, S Pass eligibility; MOE, admissions for international students; Singapore Police Force, foreign driving licence conversion; Singapore Customs, moving to Singapore. This series gives general information, not immigration or legal advice. Last updated 29 September 2026.
