Work Remotely from Singapore: Complete Guide

Visa Options

Singapore’s visa policies are among the strictest in Asia, making it challenging for traditional digital nomads:

Tourist Visa (Social Visit Pass)

• Duration: 30-90 days (varies by nationality, most Western get 90)
• Requirements: Valid passport, return ticket, proof of funds
• Work status: Illegal to work, even remotely for foreign companies
• Enforcement: Singapore takes this seriously - don’t assume gray area
• Extensions: Generally not granted for tourism
• Best for: Short exploration trips, not working stays
• Reality: Some nomads risk it, but consequences are severe if caught

Employment Pass (EP)

• Requirements: Local job offer, minimum salary S$5,000/month (~$3,700 USD), recognized degree, relevant experience
• How to work remotely: Get hired by Singapore company (even part-time) while maintaining foreign remote work
• Duration: Up to 2 years, renewable
• Benefits: Legal work status, can rent apartments, open bank accounts
• Pathway: Can lead to Permanent Residence
• Challenge: Need to find willing sponsor

Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass)

• For those starting innovative business in Singapore
• Requires registered company, business plan, funding
• Minimum S$50,000 capital
• Annual revenue/funding requirements
• Can work on your own business while remote working (if business is structured correctly)

Personalized Employment Pass (PEP)

• For high-earning professionals (S$18,000/month minimum, ~$13,500 USD)
• Not tied to specific employer
• 3-year validity
• Difficult to obtain, but offers flexibility

Long-Term Visit Pass

• For spouses/dependents of EP/PR holders
• Can apply for Letter of Consent to work
• Not a primary visa option

Work Holiday Programme

• Available to students/recent graduates from select countries (Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, UK, US)
• Age 18-25
• 6-month validity
• Can work part-time locally while remote working

The Hard Truth: Singapore intentionally doesn’t cater to digital nomads. The government wants skilled workers contributing to the local economy, not foreigners working remotely tax-free. Most “digital nomads in Singapore” are either:

1. On tourist visas taking legal risk
2. Employed locally with remote side work
3. High-net-worth individuals with special arrangements
4. Using Singapore as a base between 90-day visa runs

Tax Implications

Singapore’s tax system is efficient but strictly enforced:

Tax Residency

• 183+ days in calendar year = tax resident
• Tax residents pay tax on Singapore income only (territorial system)
• Non-residents taxed at 15% minimum or progressive rates, whichever is higher

Income Tax Rates (for residents)

• Progressive: 0% to 24%
• First S$20,000 is exempt
• First S$40,000 taxed at only 2%
• Most expats fall in 11.5-15% effective tax rate
• No capital gains tax

Foreign Income

• Singapore uses territorial taxation
• Foreign-sourced income not remitted to Singapore is typically not taxed
• Keep foreign income in foreign accounts
• Remote work for foreign employer (if you were legally allowed to do so) would likely not be taxed if kept offshore

Employment Pass Holders

• Must pay tax on Singapore employment income
• Remote work income (separate from EP employer) in gray area - consult tax advisor
• Annual filing required

GST (Sales Tax)

• 9% GST on most goods and services (increased from 8% in 2024)
• No way to avoid this - affects daily cost of living

CPF (Central Provident Fund)

• Mandatory for Singapore citizens/PRs
• Foreigners on EP exempt (usually)
• Employer + employee contributions ~37% combined (for citizens/PRs)

Tax Treaties

• Singapore has 90+ tax treaties
• US citizens still must file US taxes
• Foreign Tax Credit often useful

Practical Considerations

• Singapore tax authority (IRAS) is highly efficient and strict
• Penalties for tax evasion are severe
• If working illegally on tourist visa, you’re also evading taxes (double violation)
• Consult tax professional before assuming tax-free status

Why Some Choose Singapore Despite Challenges

• 0% tax on foreign income kept offshore (if legally resident)
• No capital gains tax (great for crypto, investments)
• Stable, predictable tax system
• Good for establishing regional business hub

Best Cities

Singapore is a city-state, so there aren’t multiple cities - just different neighborhoods:

Central Business District (CBD) - Marina Bay, Raffles Place

• Best for: Finance professionals, networking with corporates
• Cost: $3,500-6,000+/month
• Pros: Heart of business district, modern, central, excellent transit
• Cons: Very expensive, corporate atmosphere, less residential vibe
• Vibe: Hong Kong-style skyscrapers, suits and ties

Orchard Road

• Best for: Luxury lifestyle, shopping, central location
• Cost: $3,000-5,000/month
• Pros: Central, world-class shopping, excellent food, well-connected
• Cons: Touristy, expensive, crowded on weekends
• Vibe: Fifth Avenue of Singapore

River Valley / Clarke Quay

• Best for: Expat professionals, nightlife access
• Cost: $2,800-4,500/month
• Pros: Central location, good restaurants/bars, near CBD
• Cons: Noisy nightlife area, expensive
• Popular: Many expat professionals live here

Tanjong Pagar

• Best for: Digital workers, food scene
• Cost: $2,500-4,000/month
• Pros: Trendy cafes, coworking spaces, excellent food scene, near CBD
• Cons: Increasingly expensive, gentrifying rapidly
• Vibe: Brooklyn meets Singapore - hipster cafes, startups

Tiong Bahru

• Best for: Creatives, cafe culture, character
• Cost: $2,200-3,800/month
• Pros: Vintage architecture, amazing cafes, Sunday market, local vibe
• Cons: Smaller, less central, limited nightlife
• Vibe: Most charming neighborhood in Singapore

Bugis / Kampong Glam

• Best for: Culture, Arab Quarter, budget-conscious (relatively)
• Cost: $2,000-3,500/month
• Pros: Cultural diversity, good food, central, more affordable
• Cons: Can be crowded, older buildings
• Highlight: Sultan Mosque, Haji Lane (indie shops)

Holland Village / Bukit Timah

• Best for: Families, expats, near nature
• Cost: $2,500-4,500/month
• Pros: Greenery, expat community, good schools, less urban
• Cons: Further from CBD, need car or rely on transit
• Vibe: Suburban Singapore, more spacious

Coworking Spaces

• WeWork (multiple locations)
• JustCo
• The Work Project
• Collision 8
• Cost: S$300-700/month (~$220-520 USD)

Important: Singapore is tiny (278 sq mi) - everywhere is accessible within 45min by excellent MRT system. Choose based on vibe, not commute.

Timezone Overlap

Singapore (GMT+8) has identical timezone as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines:

With US Teams

• East Coast (EST/EDT): -12 to -13 hours difference
• West Coast (PST/PDT): -15 to -16 hours difference
• Overlap: 8-10 AM Singapore = Previous evening 7-9 PM EST
• Reality: Almost zero workable overlap
• Required: Async-first company culture or willingness to work Singapore nights

With EU Teams

• UK (GMT/BST): -7 to -8 hours
• Central Europe (CET/CEST): -6 to -7 hours
• Overlap: 4-7 PM Singapore = 9 AM-12 PM EU
• Better: 3-4 hours of reasonable collaboration time
• Workable: Afternoon Singapore work schedule aligns with EU mornings

With Australian Teams

• Sydney/Melbourne: +2 to +3 hours
• Perth: Same timezone
• Perfect: Nearly complete overlap with Australian hours
• Ideal: APAC-focused companies

With Asian Teams

• Excellent overlap with Hong Kong, Manila, Kuala Lumpur (same or 1hr difference)
• Good overlap with Japan, Korea (+1hr)
• Perfect for companies with Asian headquarters or clients

Strategies

• Singapore is a regional hub - best for APAC-focused work
• EU collaboration is manageable with afternoon work schedule
• US collaboration requires night shifts or fully async workflows
• Many Singapore-based remote workers serve Asian markets during the day

Advantage of Singapore Timezone

• Prime position for serving Asian markets (huge economic region)
• Stock market overlap with Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul
• Business hours align with China, India, Indonesia
• Weekend starts fresh while US is finishing Friday