In this section of the website, you will find all essential information about requirements, procedures, qualifications, timelines, etc. pertaining to Singapore work permits, immigration, relocation, and other visa matters.
Singapore has relatively liberal immigration policies that are designed to facilitate the relocation of foreign entrepreneurs and working professionals to Singapore. Singapore's population of 4.5+ million includes Singaporeans of Chinese, Malaysian, and Indian descent as well as thousands of foreigners working in Singapore from across the world. Not surprisingly, the country has four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. English is the most widely spoken language.
People residing in Singapore can be grouped into the following categories in terms of their immigration status:
- Citizens of Singapore
- Permanent Residents of Singapore
- Work Pass holders i.e. people who are employed in some capacity in Singapore
- Dependend Pass holders i.e. immediate family members (spouse, children) of the work pass holders
- Long-term social visit pass holders i.e. people (fiancée, children above 21, parents, etc.) sponsored by work pass holders
- Student pass holders i.e. foreign students studying in Singapore
The increasing share of the non-citizen population is a direct consequence of Singapore's policies to attract and rely on "foreign manpower" — at both the high and low ends of the spectrum — to overcome the limits of local resources. Also, about 10% of the student population in Singapore is foreign students.