Click here for previous thread (v16)

Job Hunting

- Job hunting is more difficult now thanks to the Fair Consideration Framework but still possible.
- Popular Job Search Sites: Jobstreet, Monster, eFinancialCareers

Employment

- There are 4 types of Work Passes for foreigners in SG: WP, S-Pass, EP and PEP. Visit MOM website for more information on these passes.
- The company hiring you has to initiate all the formalities for you so no need to worry too much on what type of pass or how to apply for it.
- Note that different types of work pass have different rights, benefits & restrictions.

CPF and Income Tax

- If you work 183 days or more in a calendar year you are a tax resident and pay the same progressive tax rates as locals.
- If you work less than 183 days you are not a tax resident and pay flat 15% tax or progressive tax rates as locals (whichever is higher). However the following year if your employment spills over into exceeding 183 days you can request IRAS to re-assess you as a tax resident and refund you the difference in tax paid.
- Visit IRAS website for more information on taxes.
- CPF (equivalent of our EPF) is only mandatory for PR's and SC's (Singapore Citizens) at 16% Employee, 20% Employer, capped at first $5k per month.
- Some companies will encash the employer portion for foreigners.
- Visit CPF Website for more information on CPF.

Permanent Residence

- ICA does not have any official guidelines for PR approval (or any points system like Australia/NZ).
- Previously most agencies recommend applying for PR after 1 year if you are on P1 EP, 2 years or more if you are on P2/Q1 EP.
- Visit ICA website for more information on applying for PR.

Accomodation in Singapore

- Accomodation $600-$100 (room) $2000-$3000 (entire flat)
- Typical costs are 1st month rental + 1 month deposit (for each year of the lease) + 1/2 month agent fee (for each year of the lease).
- Foreigners can only own Private Condominiums and are subject to ~18% stamp duty. PR's can own Private Condominiums and Resale HDB's are and subject to ~8% stamp duty.
- Popular room/house search websites: PropertyGuru, FlatsDB, RoomsDB, EasyRoomMate.

Accomodation in Johor

- Foreigners on Work Pass living in Malaysia and commuting to SG can drive MY-registered cars and bikes. Cars incur $35 and bikes incur $4 VEP/daily.
- PR's and SC's living in Malaysia and commuting to SG can only drive SG-registered cars and bikes into the island.
- Visit LTA website for more information on operating a car in SG as a foreigner.

Driving in Singapore

- Foreigners on Work Pass are allowed to drive in Singapore for the first year only using Malaysian Drivers License. For second year onwards you are expected to convert to Singapore license.
- Visit eCitizen site for more information on converting your license.
- Note that foreigners on work pass are only allowed to drive Malaysia-registered cars if you stay outside Singapore. Visit LTA site for more information.

Expenses

This is very subjective depending on the spending power of different individuals. Basic monthly expenditure:
- Accomodation $600-$1000 (room) $2000-$3000 (entire flat)
- Food $500 and up
- Transport $60 and up
- Handphone, bills and utilities $100 and up
- Entertainment, shopping etc $xxxx

This post has been edited by deodorant: Jan 2 2015, 04:10 PM

Meet-Up's and Gatherings

- Next Meet-up/Gathering TBA
- To be added to the Cool People whatsapp group PM MacKiddo

Sports Gatherings

- Next Badminton 8am 14th Dec Toa Payoh Sports Hall
- To be added to the Badminton whatsapp group PM me.


This post has been edited by deodorant: Dec 8 2014, 11:14 AM

Top 15 spammer from v16:

IwanAGP 165
Fiona Chin 140
deodorant 127
alaskanbunny 108
Mackiddo 102
sheng291 89
JohnJon82 70
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seantang 57
General Fahmy 52
crazy25kid 47
gnc88 43
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crapp0 39

Not my formula, is LYN sendiri calculate one


1 week timeframe probably varies a lot depending on seniority, position, industry, company, etc. My current job I think application to 1st day on the job took 2+ months.


MBP IMO. It's still plenty light and portable enough to do poser activities in starbucks and yet powerful enough to get real work done if needed.

Can't generalize; different companies different industries all have different culture. Some in SG work like dogs others every day go yumcha and 4pm 5pm knock off work liao.

TEP/TWP.

http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/pas...es/default.aspx

Anyway either one also need either company to sponsor or company to apply on your behalf. So first step get the company to offer you the internship first, worry about pass later.

Are you an experienced hire or a junior one? Experienced hire go throw your resume to people on linkedin / efinancialcareers and let those headhunter try and match you to jobs. If junior ... honestly quite difficult because there is no lack of junior level hires locally.


Tender after EP approved lor. Generally it takes few days to couple of weeks. Mine last time took 2 weeks whereas my wife one took I think 2 or 3 days only.


If you want to do it the "clean" way then ask your current malaysia company to issue borang CP21 for you. Then u bring it to LHDN and close off your income tax file. If can't-be-bothered way then every year just declare zero income on tax filing lo. Welcome to SG and if you're interested send a PM to our daikor MacKiddo to get added to the m'sians working in sg support group whatsapp

Yes, foreign bank. What I can say is thanks to the entire industry coming under huge regulatory and balance sheet pressures, practically every single foreign bank with significant SG presence is cutting jobs (or move them to cheaper places) - particularly on the more back office roles like IT and operations.

If you are a junior hire, to be honest without any cable you have very very small chance of getting in. If experienced still OK.


Seems unlikely (unless the company HR fukup when applying) that you won't get EP by 15 Jan. Cos normally it is approved (or rejected) within few days to max 1-2 weeks.

1. According to PAP, $12,000 annual salary can earn HDB liao.



2. SPR cannot buy HDB solo, must have two names.

If I'm not mistaken, you can't immediately switch companies, need to finish off your employment with current company sampai last day then current company cancels your EP and hands you 30days white card then only your new company can apply new EP for you. But not certain. Summoning ICA officers puppyee elvenchou to clarify.

When you apply for IC at 12 years old, does it follow your actual 12th birthday or "folo the year is OK addi?? (sic)

What part of this is unclear?

SG is "Sterilized Asia." The only place that qualifies as 'dodgy' is probably only Geylang. Other than that, your choices are between Mature estates (with older, pricier accommodation and a lot of facilities like eateries, malls, town centers, etc), and new estates (newer, cheaper accommodation but sacrifice on convenience).

balance pro & con lo
what pro's do you get from applying citizenship?

Change to sinkie passport oso can rent out SG HDB and buy landed in Iskandar mah

This post has been edited by deodorant: Dec 26 2014, 08:41 PM

No, PR not allowed to rent out their whole flat regardless of declare or no declare. How they get around it (and how Sinkie oso get around the 5-year MOP) is lock the utility room and structure the rental agreement as "Rent X bedrooms" instead of rent whole flat.

Interestingly though I also see rental agreement they like to put some crazy amount for "rental of furniture." Example if rental $2k, they say $500 room rental $1.5k furniture rental. Why ah, izzit cos of different tax rates? alaskanbunny sgrealestate pls clarify.

http://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en/ro...oll-charge.html

REP expire, just stay in SG don't go anywhere then = your PR still remains lo

I heard that shipyard give 8.1 months bonus. reign226 is this true?

Send your CV to Fiona Chin, she is SVP in huge international bank in SG.