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Retiring in Singapore

Residency routes, healthcare and pension tax · SGD

Routes to residency

Healthcare

Foreign residents on long-term visas (e.g. Long-Term Visit Pass, Employment Pass, S-Pass, Dependant's Pass) cannot join Singapore's subsidized public healthcare schemes (MediShield Life, MediSave, MediFund), which are restricted to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents. Foreigners are billed at full, unsubsidised rates at public and private hospitals.

Not applicable: foreign long-stay visa holders generally never gain access to MediShield Life/MediSave regardless of waiting period, since eligibility is tied to citizenship or PR status rather than a qualifying residency period.

Private health insurance is a condition of residency in Singapore.

Long-Term Visit Pass holders and similar foreign residents are generally required by their pass conditions to carry adequate private health/medical insurance, since they are excluded from MediShield Life and billed at unsubsidised rates; private expat health plans are used to cover hospitalisation and other costs.

US Medicare: US Medicare does not cover medical care received in Singapore; Medicare generally only pays for healthcare within the United States and its territories, with only very narrow exceptions, none of which apply to routine care in Singapore.

Pension income tax

Singapore does not tax foreign pension income of its residents.

Singapore operates a territorial tax system. Under IRAS rules, foreign-sourced income (including most pension income from abroad) remitted into Singapore by an individual is generally tax-exempt, except for income received through a partnership in Singapore; Singapore itself has no comprehensive pension-specific tax on foreign-sourced retirement income for most individuals.

There is no US income tax treaty with Singapore.

The United States and Singapore do not have a comprehensive income tax treaty; Singapore does not appear on the IRS list of income tax treaty partners, so there is no treaty provision allocating taxing rights over pensions or Social Security between the two countries, and US citizens remain subject to US worldwide taxation on such income regardless of Singapore's treatment.

Sources: Health Insurance in Singapore for Foreigners · The Ultimate Guide to Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) in Singapore · Tax Exemption for Foreign-Sourced Income (Third Edition) IRAS e-Tax Guide · Taxation Liability for Singaporeans with Businesses and Investments in Other Countries - MOF · US-Singapore tax treaty: Expat guide

Checked Oct 2026

Customs & etiquette

• Greetings and Handshakes — A light handshake is the standard greeting across ethnic groups in Singapore, though some Muslims may prefer a nod or a hand over the heart rather than physical contact with the opposite sex. Titles and surnames are used until invited to use first names, especially in business settings.
• Gift Giving Practices — Gifts are typically given and received with both hands as a sign of respect, and are usually not opened in front of the giver. Appropriate gifts and wrapping vary by ethnicity: Chinese Singaporeans value symbolism and elaborate wrapping, Malay/Muslim Singaporeans avoid alcohol and pork-derived products, and Indian/Hindu Singaporeans favor bright wrapping colors.
• Removing Shoes Indoors and at Religious Sites — It is customary to remove shoes before entering someone's home, as well as before entering temples, mosques, and certain other establishments. Visitors to religious sites should also dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees.
• Chopstick and Dining Etiquette — Chopstick etiquette is widely practiced and observed, particularly at Chinese-influenced meals. Sharing dishes family-style is common, and it's polite to wait for the host or eldest person to begin eating first.
• Public Order and Cleanliness Laws — Singapore places strong emphasis on public cleanliness and order, with strict laws and fines enforced for littering and similar offenses. Queuing patiently in lines is a deeply ingrained social norm expected in nearly all public settings.
• Escalator and Walkway Etiquette — On escalators and stairs, the norm is to stand on the left and allow those who wish to walk to pass on the right. This orderly behavior extends to many other queuing and movement situations in public spaces.

Religion

Buddhist 31.1% · Christian 18.9% · Muslim 15.6% · Taoist 8.8% · Hindu 5% · other 0.6%

Other countries in East Asia & Pacific

Australia · Cambodia · Indonesia · Japan · Malaysia · New Zealand · Philippines · South Korea · Thailand · Vietnam

Reference information compiled from the sources cited above and reviewed by hand. Immigration, healthcare and tax rules change and are applied at the authorities' discretion — confirm with the consulate, an immigration adviser or a tax adviser before making plans. Nothing here is tax or immigration advice.

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