Relocating to Singapore from Ireland: Key information and tips
An international financial hub, Singapore has gained a positive reputation for its economic strength, education system, and highly developed infrastructure. It’s no wonder people look to migrate there!
If you’re planning to relocate from Ireland to Singapore there are many things to consider including visas, cost of living, work, healthcare and banking. To help out, this guide is going to run you through the key information to know on each of these topics as an Irish person moving to Singapore, as well as some tips to make it easier.
As part of it we’ll let you know how Wise can help make your move a little simpler, allowing you to easily manage, send and receive Singapore dollars.
Wise: EUR and SGD
in one account 🌏
Things to know before moving to Singapore
- Singapore population in 2025: Approximately 5.85 million⁶
- Currency: Singapore dollar (SGD)
- Official languages: Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English⁷
- Time difference: Singapore is 8 hours ahead of Ireland
- Number of Irish expats: Around 5000⁸
Can I move to Singapore as an Irish citizen?
As an Irish citizen you need a visa to move to Singapore. Which one you get will depend on why you’re migrating there and what you’re eligible for. These are some of the main Singaporian visa types that an Irish person could potentially apply for and obtain:
Work visas
Singapore has a few different work visas on offer that allow people to live and work in the country, including:
Which one you’d apply for depends on the type of work you’re going to Singapore for. Keep in mind that most Singaporean work visas require you to be sponsored by a company or someone in Singapore.¹
Student visa
If you’re hoping to study in Singapore you’ll need to obtain a Student Pass. The specific requirements vary depending on the type of educational institution you wish to study at, but at the most basic level you must be accepted into an approved, full-time course to be eligible.²
Long-term visit pass holder
Depending on your circumstances you may be able to obtain a long stay visa, called the Long Term Visit Pass. These are the foreigners who are eligible to apply for one³:
- Spouses of Singaporean citizens or Permanent Residents (PR)
- Unmarried children of a Singaporean citizen or PR aged under 21 and born in a legal marriage or legally adopted
- Parents of a Singaporean citizen or Permanent Resident (PR)
- Graduates from an Institute of higher learning looking for employment
- Parents or grandparents of a child studying in Singapore
- Visitors who want permission to give birth in Singapore.
Can I move to Singapore without a job?
Whether you can move to Singapore without a job depends on the type of visa you get.
For example, the S Pass is for eligible skilled workers and needs to be applied for on your behalf by an employer or appointed employment agent.¹ If you change jobs while you’re in Singapore then the new company needs to apply for another S Pass.
Finding a job in Singapore
Getting yourself a job in Singapore is a matter of finding suitable positions, applying for them, and then if selected, going through the interview and hiring process.
Online job boards are one place to start the search, so here’s a few to get you going:
If there are particular businesses or industries you’re interested in it’s also worth checking if companies are advertising positions directly on their website. Alternatively, you could contact a Singaporian recruiting company to gain their assistance in finding a job.
Cost of living Ireland vs Singapore: Comparison 💰
Generally, it is more expensive to live in Singapore than Ireland. To give you a little more insight into the topic, here’s a comparison of the cost of some common expenses in Dublin versus Singapore.⁴
| Expense | Dublin | Singapore (capital) |
|---|---|---|
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 20.00 € | 9.90 € |
| Pint of domestic draught beer | 7.00 € | 7.07 € |
| Regular cappuccino | 3.97 € | 4.47 € |
| 1L of milk | 1.35 € | 2.66 € |
| 1kg of local cheese | 8.48 € | 15.11 € |
| 1kg of chicken fillets | 10.07 € | 10.46 € |
| Monthly public transportation pass | 115.00 € | 84.89 € |
| Unlimited high speed internet per month | 50.17 € | 33.13 € |
How much does it cost to move to Singapore?
The cost of moving to Singapore from Ireland will depend on various factors including how many people are moving there, what you’re taking with you and if anything is being subsidised, for example a company covering relocation costs or moving in with a family member.
When estimating what the move from Ireland to Singapore will cost you, take these costs into consideration:
- Flights to Singapore
- Visa application process
- Relocating your belongings and pets
- Accommodation and housing in Singapore
- Health insurance
How to open a bank account in Singapore
As a foreigner you can open a Singaporean bank account provided you meet the application criteria and have all of the required documentation. The exact process and what you need to provide may vary between banks, including whether an in-person visit is necessary, but here’s some of the documentation you may be asked for:
- Passport for identification
- Proof of an Employment, Study, Dependent or Long Term Visitors pass
- Proof of a residential address
- Proof of your tax residency
- Proof of mobile phone number ownership.
Another option is to check the Wise Account, which you can open for free, before you even leave Ireland.
With a Wise Account you can easily send, receive and hold Singaporean dollars in the same account that you hold Euros and many other currencies.
You can order an attached Wise debit card, for easy daily spending, and can get local Singaporean account details too. These allow you to send and receive money just like a local, great for getting paid by a Singaporean employer and sending money to other people in the country.
Wise Account:
Manage SGD as a local
Health care system in Singapore
Singapore has a universal health care system made up of three financing methods that work together to ensure citizens and permanent residents are covered.⁹
- MediShield Life: Mandatory basic healthcare insurance for citizens and permanent residents that’s lifelong
- MediSave: A medical expenses savings scheme for out of pockets costs that has mandatory contributions for working citizens and permanent residents
- MediFund: The government safety net for people who can’t cover their out of pocket expenses with the funds in their MediSave account.
As a foreigner the situation with healthcare and medical insurance depends on which visa you have. For example, people in Singapore on an S Pass must be provided with medical insurance by their employer which needs to meet minimum requirements of coverage.¹
Renting in Singapore: Where can you find an apartment?
To rent an apartment in Singapore you’ll want to start by getting a sense of what’s on the market and coming up with a shortlist. An agent could do this, or you could take a look at some online sites:
Once you’ve found a property you’re seriously interested in, these are the basic steps to renting in Singapore¹⁰:
- Send a Letter of Intent to the landlord outlining your offer of terms
- If the landlord accepts you as a renter, pay the rental stamp duty
- Sign a Tenancy Agreement, which is usually based on the terms of the Letter of Intent
- Do a final inspection of the property, during which it’s a good idea to record the current condition of the property and furnishings
- If all is well, it’s time to move in.
Average rent prices in Singapore
When moving to Singapore you can expect housing to be more expensive than it is in Ireland, something to factor into your decision. This is a comparison of the monthly rent on an apartment in Dublin and Singapore.⁴
| Housing | Dublin | Singapore (capital) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom apartment in city centre | 1,990.25 € | 2,742.41 € |
| 3 bedroom apartment in city centre | 3,504.32 € | 5,477.49 € |
| 1 bedroom apartment outside city centre | 1,684.02 € | 1,982.83 € |
| 3 bedroom apartment outside city centre | 2,927.91 € | 3,537.75 € |
Moving to Singapore from Ireland? Save on your relocation costs with Wise
If you're planning to relocate to Singapore, then it’s worth considering using Wise to save on international money transfers.
With a Wise Account there are no monthly account fees, and currency exchanges are done at the mid-market rate, the same rate you normally find on Google. There’s no hidden fees or margins to worry about, just a small variable fee when a currency exchange takes place.
With a Wise Account you can enjoy Singapore as a local, because you'll be able to:
- Send and receive money in Euros and Singapore dollar
- Have both currencies in one account and convert between them whenever you want
- Always convert at the commercial exchange rate (the same one you normally find on Google)
- Make payments and withdrawals in Singapore, in the local currency, with your Wise card
- Create free virtual cards and then add them to mobile wallets.
Open your Wise Account
for free 🚀
How to move to Singapore: Checklist
Speaking broadly, here’s a simple checklist for moving to Singapore.
- Decide which visa you are going to enter and stay in Singapore under.
- Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for the visa, which could involve finding a job or being accepted into a school.
- Apply for the visa.
- Once the visa application is successful, start organising your move to Singapore, packing up life in Ireland, booking flights and finding accommodation for your arrival.
- When the time comes, board the flight and get started on your new life chapter in Singapore!
Is moving to Singapore a good idea? Pros and cons
Ultimately, whether or not moving to Singapore is right for you comes down to your personal circumstances and plans for the future. If you’re not 100% sure yet, here’s some pros and cons to consider.
| Pros of moving to Singapore | Cons of moving to Singapore |
|---|---|
|
|
Sources used:
- Ministry of Manpower - Key Facts on S Pass
- ICA - Becoming a Student’s Pass Holder
- ICA - Becoming a Long-Term Visit Pass Holder
- Numbeo - Cost of Living Comparison Between Dublin and Singapore
- DBS - Documents Required for Account Opening
- Worldometer - Singapore Population
- Babbel - What Language Is Spoken In Singapore?
- Ireland in Singapore - Ireland’s Relationship with Singapore
- The Commonwealth Fund - International Health Care System Profiles Singapore
- Singapore Global Network - Renting in Singapore
Sources last checked on date: 29 January 2025
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
