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Settling in

Settling in Singapore

Singapore is one of the easiest cities in Asia to settle in as a family, as long as you follow the steps in order: each person's pass, attached to the working parent's pass, then housing, the bank account and the consular register. Almost everything is online and quick. Here is what we would have liked to know before arriving, checked against official sources.

Verified on 31 October 2026

Arrival and first steps

In Singapore, the spouse and children follow the work pass of the parent who was hired. The employer applies, and the family's pass lasts as long as the main pass.

Good to know

  • The Dependant's Pass is for the legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an Employment Pass or S Pass holder, who must earn a minimum fixed monthly salary set by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Otherwise, the family may qualify for a Long-Term Visit Pass. Source
  • The employer (or its agent) files the application; the pass lasts as long as the main pass. On arrival, an appointment may be required for fingerprints and a photo, then the card arrives at your address about 5 working days later. Source
  • A spouse who wants to work needs their own pass: the employer applies for an Employment Pass, an S Pass or a DP-Work Permit, the latter with no minimum salary and tied to the Dependant's Pass validity. Source
  • Foreign children aged 12 and below applying for a long-term pass to study must first show proof of measles and diphtheria vaccination to the National Immunisation Registry: keep the health record at hand. Source
  • Registering with the French consular register is not compulsory but strongly recommended: free, valid 5 years, it is done online on Service-Public.fr with French ID, proof of residence in Singapore and a recent photo. Family members can be linked to your file. Source
  • Week 1, in order: pass collection and biometric appointment if required, local SIM card, bank account, lease and deposit, consular registration, then choosing a neighbourhood clinic for the children. Source

Addresses

  • Section consulaire de l'ambassade de France à Singapour

    Consulate

    101-103 Cluny Park Road, Singapore 259595

    Near the Botanic Gardens. Procedures by online appointment only, Monday to Friday (closed to the public on Thursday afternoons); walk-in slot from 12:00 to 12:45 to collect passports and ID cards.

    Website Source

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Where to live and how to rent

French families follow the school first: the International French School (formerly the Lycée français) is in Ang Mo Kio, in the north-east, which makes Serangoon the French neighbourhood par excellence. The rest is a trade-off between greenery, commute and budget, in a city where everything stays close.

Good to know

  • French families often choose their area by distance to the IFS or, failing that, transport access to it; young professionals aim for the CBD. Rents rise with proximity to the centre, the MRT and shopping malls. Source
  • Three main housing types: the condominium (gated residence with pool, gym, barbecue pits), detached or terraced houses, and HDB flats, public housing where most Singaporeans live, often roomier and cheaper but without shared facilities. Many rentals come furnished. Source
  • The usual path: a letter of intent (LOI) with a good faith deposit of one month's rent per year of lease, later turned into the security deposit, then the Tenancy Agreement. Leases usually run for one or two years. Source
  • Insist on a diplomatic clause: it usually lets you end the lease without penalty after one year, with two months' notice, in case of relocation or job loss. Also make a detailed inventory at check-in. Source
  • The lease is subject to stamp duty filed with the IRAS tax authority, calculated on the rent for the whole term; the stamp certificate also protects the tenant. Source
  • A trap to know: renting for less than three consecutive months is illegal in private residential homes. For the first weeks, plan on a serviced apartment or a hotel, not a holiday rental. Source

Addresses

  • Serangoon et Serangoon Gardens

    Neighbourhood

    The French families' neighbourhood, minutes from the IFS: family condominiums, houses, a village feel and small French-speaking preschools nearby.

    Source

  • East Coast et Joo Chiat

    Neighbourhood

    Seafront, cafés and direct access to East Coast Park; now in high demand with the new MRT stations. Les Petits Gaulois preschool is based here.

    Source

  • Bukit Timah et Holland Village

    Neighbourhood

    The expat classics: green, residential areas close to several international schools and the Botanic Gardens. La Petite École is in Bukit Timah.

    Source

  • Newton et Novena

    Neighbourhood

    Halfway between the IFS and the centre, well connected, at the heart of the city's medical hub (hospitals and clinics).

    Source

  • River Valley, Robertson Quay et Tanglin

    Neighbourhood

    Central, near Orchard, the malls and the CBD: handy for the working parent, further from the IFS; among the highest rents.

    Source

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Phone and insurance

A phone line takes a few days once the pass is issued. Health insurance, on the other hand, is settled before you even arrive.

Good to know

  • Mobile and broadband operators: Singtel, StarHub, M1, MyRepublic and budget brands. A prepaid SIM can be bought at the airport with your passport; a monthly plan comes once you have your pass. The property agent often helps set up water, electricity (SP Services) and broadband. Source
  • No public cover for the family: non-residents receive no subsidies at public hospitals and polyclinics. Private health insurance (international, local, or CFE plus top-up) is essential, maternity included if a baby is planned. Source
  • The French State does not cover your health costs abroad, neither hospitalisation nor repatriation: check that your policy also covers medical evacuation. Source
  • If you employ a domestic helper, the employer must buy medical insurance and personal accident insurance for her, and cannot pass the cost on to her. Source

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Banking and money

A local account opens quickly, often from the bank's app, as soon as the pass is issued. Day to day, you pay by contactless card or PayNow QR code.

Good to know

  • To open an account, DBS asks for your passport, a valid pass (Employment Pass, S Pass, Student Pass, another pass issued by MOM or ICA, or the in-principle approval), proof of address and proof of tax residency. You apply in the digibank app; with Singpass, the account can be ready the next day. OCBC and UOB offer similar processes. Source
  • Until your local account is open, your French bank card works for the first purchases, within the limits set by your bank. Wise also offers its multi-currency account and card to Singapore residents. Source
  • Day to day, contactless cards work everywhere, and PayNow sends Singapore dollars instantly from one account to another using just a mobile or FIN number, without knowing the recipient's bank. At shops, you scan their PayNow QR code from your banking app. Source
  • To send or receive money from France, use your bank or a transfer service: check that it is listed in the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) directory of licensed institutions before trusting it with funds. Source
  • Keep at least one account in France, useful for bills and refunds, and tell your bank before you leave: it switches to non-resident status, and some products such as the LEP savings account must be closed. Ask about the conditions it applies to non-residents. Source

Addresses

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Getting set up

Three IKEA stores, large supermarket chains, family-friendly malls and Carousell for second-hand: getting set up in Singapore is quick.

Addresses

Getting around with children

Buses and the MRT cover the whole island, air-conditioned, punctual and designed for pushchairs. Most families manage very well without a car.

Good to know

  • Children under 0.9 m travel free with a fare-paying adult. Between 0.9 m and 1.2 m, they still ride free if under 7 and not yet in primary school, with a free Child Concession Card from a TransitLink ticket office. Source
  • No ticket needed: you tap through the gates with a contactless bank card or your phone (SimplyGo). The MyTransport.SG app helps plan journeys. Source
  • Open pushchairs are allowed on buses (up to 120 x 70 cm), with a designated space and restraint; board at the front if you can. On the MRT, every station has a lift route: never take a pushchair on the escalator. Source
  • To drive in Singapore long-term, you must convert your French licence: pass the Basic Theory Test (the local highway code), complete an online pre-assessment, then attend Traffic Police (10 Ubi Avenue 3) by appointment. Source
  • Car or not? Vehicles are heavily taxed (a COE certificate is required to drive one) and most expats do without: taxis and ride-hailing (Grab, Gojek, Tada, CDG Zig) remain affordable. Source

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Admin and tax

No social security number to apply for: in Singapore, everything runs on the FIN number printed on your pass. Tax is light, but you file it yourself each year.

Good to know

  • The FIN (Foreign Identification Number) is on each family member's card: it is your identifier for the bank, phone, clinic and school. Keep a photo of each card on your phone.
  • You are a tax resident if you stay at least 183 days in the year, or from arrival if your work pass is valid for at least a year. Income tax is progressive, from 0 to 24% for residents. Source
  • Foreigners do not contribute to the CPF, the pension and health scheme for Singaporeans and permanent residents: to keep rights in France, look into the Caisse des Français de l'étranger (CFE). Source
  • A baby born in Singapore is registered with ICA within 14 days; they get a 42-day special pass, time to obtain a French passport at the consulate and a Dependant's Pass, to be applied for within 6 weeks. Source
  • What the consular section does: passports and ID cards, civil status (registering births, marriages, PACS), the register, school grants for accredited schools, help in a serious emergency. What it does not do: Singapore passes, private disputes or paying medical bills. Source

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Budget: what changes

Singapore is expensive on the big items (housing, school, car) and surprisingly affordable day to day if you live like Singaporeans. Orders of magnitude, without exact prices that date quickly.

Good to know

  • Housing is the biggest item, often far more expensive than Paris for the same space, especially near the centre and MRT stations; negotiate it into the expat package where possible. Source
  • Schooling is fee-paying everywhere for foreign children, the French school included: a major item, detailed on our School fees page. Source
  • A car costs several times its French price because of the COE; on the other hand, public transport and taxis are cheap. Source
  • Eating at hawker centres costs less than a restaurant in France; Western restaurants, wine and imported products (cheese, charcuterie) cost noticeably more. Source
  • A live-in domestic helper is common and costs far less than home childcare in France, but it brings employer duties: work permit, insurance, lodging and weekly rest. Source
  • Income tax is lighter than in France for most families, but private health insurance, schooling and flights to Europe weigh heavily: do the full calculation before comparing salaries. Source

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A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Singapore will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Ambassade de France à Singapour, inscription au registre
  2. 2 Ministry of Manpower, Dependant's Pass
  3. 3 Land Transport Authority, les transports avec des enfants
  4. 4 IRAS, résidence fiscale et barème
  5. 5 URA, locations de moins de trois mois
  6. 6 lepetitjournal.com Singapour, où habiter en 2026
  7. 7 Accueil Singapour, Singapour utile
  8. 8 DBS, ouvrir un compte quand on arrive à Singapour

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Verified addresses, official sources, school-year dates: we write when the Singapore guide changes, never more than once a week.

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