Worldwide Assistance

Fast facts

Location
The Republic of Singapore is situated between the countries of Malaysia and Indonesia and is approximately 137 km north of the equator. The main island of Singapore has a land area of 685.4 sq km with some 63 islets within its territorial waters.

Climate
Singapore is generally warm and humid all year round with average temperature ranging between 25.2°C to 32°C (77°F to 89.6°F). There are two rainy seasons a year, from December to March and June to September.

Language
Almost all Singaporeans speak English and the vast majority are effectively bilingual, with Chinese (Mandarin), Malay and Tamil as the most common second languages spoken.

The expatriate population in Singapore
Singapore had a population of 4.68 million as of mid 2007, of which about 24% are foreigners. Due to the large number of expatriates and the myriad of nationalities, there are many expatriate clubs. Some popular associations are the British Club, American Club, Hollandse Club and the Japanese Association of Singapore. Country clubs popular with expatriates in Singapore are Tanglin Club and The Pines. For the full list of clubs and their contact details, you can visit the Singapore Expat website.

Traditional festivals
Singapore is a multicultural society which celebrates a wide variety of traditional and religious events such as Hari Raya Puasa, which is celebrated by Muslims to mark the end of the fasting month; Chinese New Year, which celebrates the beginning of the Lunar New Year; and Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Lights, that is celebrated by Hindus. To find out a list of public holidays in Singapore, please visit the Ministry of Manpower website.

Tax
Singapore has a comprehensive avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements signed with many countries such as Great Britain, Malaysia, India and China. For more information on Singapore tax laws, visit the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore website.

Entry requirements

All travellers visiting Singapore must fulfill the following immigration entry requirements before being admitted into the country:

• A passport with at least 6 months validity
• A valid Singapore visa, if applicable
• Confirmed onward/return tickets (where applicable)

Visa requirements

Visa requirements for Singapore vary depending on which country you are travelling from and also on on the purpose of your visit. Singapore offers different types of visas and each comes with their own requirements. These can be broken into four broad categories and cover the following.

General visit visas
These visas allow visitors to stay in Singapore for a period ranging anywhere from a few days to a few months and are generally issued to tourists, and those visiting friends and relatives.

Professional visas
Professional visas are issued to those who have secured employment in Singapore, those who are conducting short business trips and those who are visiting for training purposes.

Visas for professional seeking jobs in Singapore
Foreign professionals who hold acceptable degrees, qualifications or specialist skills and who wish to seek employment during their stay in Singapore can apply for these visas.

Visas for entrepreneurs
Singapore caters for those who plan to set up business in the country and those who wish to explore business opportunities in the region.

For more detailed information on entry and visa requirements for expatriates, please visit the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority website.

Banking and finance

The Claymore Offshore Banking Centre has been set up specially to help expatriates who have financial needs in more than one country. Our Offshore Banking Officers, will help you make the most of our global network by helping you manage your accounts wherever you are based.

6 Claymore Hill
#03-01 Claymore Plaza
Singapore 229571

Banking hours
Mon - Fri : 9.30 am to 3.30 pm
Sat : 9.30 am to 12.00 pm

HSBC has 11 branches islandwide, and our ATMs give you access to your account at over 133 locations in Singapore and over 17,000 ATMs worldwide. Our electronic banking channels include our 24-hour Phone Banking services and Internet banking services via online@hsbc.

If you are a Premier customer in your home country, you will also be accorded Premier status in Singapore without having to maintain the required minimum balance of S$200,000 or equivalent. This means that you receive the same privileges given to Premier customers in Singapore, which include having a Relationship Manager assigned to you who will take care of all your financial needs. You will also have access to our six Premier Centres located across Singapore.

Getting around

Besides private transport, public transport in Singapore is efficient, reliable and relatively inexpensive. The main modes of public transport are the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Light Rapid Transit (LRT), buses and taxis. A common travel card, called the ez-link can be used on the MRT, LRT and bus services. The ez-link can be purchased at convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and petrol stations islandwide.

Accommodation in Singapore

Whether you are here for a brief visit or staying for a longer period of time, Singapore offers a wide variety of accommodation to suit your needs.

Short stays
With a thriving tourist industry, Singapore provides a wide variety of choices for short-term accommodation. They range from service apartments to hotels, most of which are located in the heart of the city or near business districts for your convenience.

Long term housing
If you are staying for an extended period of time, there are a multitude of private apartments, condominums or houses available for rent or purchase.

If you wish to buy a home in Singapore, HSBC can help you find the right home loan for your needs. Visit our Home Resource Centre.

Healthcare

Singapore's healthcare system is amongst the finest in Asia. Well-qualified doctors, many of whom have been trained overseas, state of the art medical equipment and quality standards have resulted in an increasing number of foreign patrients seeking treatment in Singapore.

There are 13 private and 10 public hospitals in Singapore and almost all of them provide specialised treatment, ranging from dermatology and pediatrics to opthamology, urology and maternity services.

Patients can walk into a clinic for a basic consultation. For emergency services, patients can go to 24-hour Accident & Emergency Departments located in government hospitals. Some hospitals popular with expatriates are Gleneagles Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Hospital because of their central locations.

For a full listing of hospitals in Singapore, visit the Ministry of Health website.

As healthcare can be costly, HSBC offers a range of health insurance plans so that you can be confident that no matter what happens, you will be financially protected. Visit our insurance website to find out more about our various plans.

Education

Singapore's education system provides extensive options for children and adults alike, from preschool right through to university.

If you have children of preschool age, there is a wide variety of options for you to choose from such as Tanglin Trust School, Dover Court, British Association of Singapore Playschool. There are also local prescholls such as Montessori, Eton House and Lorna Whiston that you may want to consider.

For children or primary and secondary school ages, there are several education options for them. There are schools like the United World College and Chatsworth International School whose programmes draw from a wide range of education systems, or more specialised education options such as Lycee Francais de Singapour, The Japanese School or the Australian International School.

For a complete list of schools for children for expatriates, please visit the Singapore Expats website.

Children of expatriates are eligible to apply for the local schools as well. Local schools are split into mainstream, autonomous and independent schools, which differ in terms of entry requirements and the type of programmes they offer. Fees are generally more affordable for mainstream schools while independent schools are more costly, though less so than international or private schools.

Singapore has four main universites; the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the Singapore Management University (SMU) and Singapore Institute of Management (SIM). In addition to the universities, there are a number of private tertiary education institutes such as INSEAD and University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Communications

Telecommunications
Singtel, Starhub and M1 are the three main mobile phone operators in Singapore. They have service outlets all over the island, where you can purchase your phone and apply for a phone line.

Internet
Singapore is one of the most connected countries in the world, with most hotels, homes, schools and businesses having access to broadband connection. Internet cafes can also be easily found in the business and shopping districts.