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| Asian Welcome Pte Ltd Office |
| 279 River Valley Road, #03-01, Singapore 238320. Our office is located very close to the popular Orchard Road area. The location is close to many major hotels, restaurants and shopping malls and the historical Fort Canning Park. |
| SINGAPORE Area: |
| Total: 648 sq. km Main Island: 585 sq. km Distance east to west of main island : 42 km Distance north to south of main island : 23 km Of this, approximately 323 sq. km are built-up areas; the remainder is made up of inland waters, open spaces and gardens, military exercise zones, etc. |
| Alcohol |
| Legal age for the consumption of alcohol is eighteen years. |
| Airport |
| Changi Airport Terminals 1 to 3. Approximately 20 – 30 minutes to City Centre by taxi. Also accessible by MRT. |
| Automobile |
| Cars are very expensive to purchase in Singapore. Some of the costs involved are for the Certificate of Entitlement (COE), road tax, insurance, and car radio licence. Refer to section on Transportation System. |
| Banking |
| Full-service banks include local and international banks. Only Employment and Dependant Pass holders are able to open a bank account in Singapore. ATMs are conveniently located in many neighbourhood town centres and shopping malls. Banking hours are usually from 9.00am to 3.00pm on weekdays and 9.00am to 11.30am on Saturday. |
| Cash Card |
| Smart card with stored cash value used for paying road toll, parking fee, etc. Can be purchased from the local banks in Singapore. |
| Climate |
| The tropical weather is relatively uniform throughout the year, with high rainfall and humidity. There are two distinct monsoon seasons, the wetter North-East Monsoon from approximately November to March and the South-West Monsoon around July to September. |
| Clothing |
| The climate in Singapore is warm throughout the year. Light clothing is recommended for the outdoor. A sweater may be necessary for indoor places which are mostly airconditioned. |
| Clubs and Associations |
| A wide variety of professional and social clubs and associations are available in Singapore. |
| Complaints |
| Organizations offering help to resolve complaints include the Consumer’s Association of Singapore (CASE) www.case.org.sg, Small Claims Tribunal www.smallclaims.gov.sg and the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board (STPB). |
| Costs of Living |
| The Singapore International Chamber of Commerce publishes the booklet, Expatriate Living Costs in Singapore. For more information visit www.sicc.com.sg and www.contactsingapore.org.sg |
| Currency |
| The local currency unit is the Singapore Dollar which is divided into 100 cents. Notes are issued in denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $50, $100, $500 and $1,000. Coins are in denominations of 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents and $1. |
| Dining Out |
| Singapore offers a variety of cuisine from all over the world at food courts, hawker centres, restaurants, and hotel dining. Visit www.expatsingapore.com and www.visitsingapore.com for food tips and helpful links. |
| Domestic Help |
| Either part-time household help or full-time and live-in maid/housekeeper. |
| Driving in Singapore |
| Employment and Dependant Pass holders must obtain a Singapore Drivers Licence. Social visitors are allowed to drive on their valid home drivers licence or International Drivers Licence. For more information visit websites www.lta.gov.sg and www.ecitizen.gov.sg |
| Drugs |
| Singapore has very strict drug laws. The importation, sale, or use of illegal narcotics is forbidden and punishable by severe penalties, up to and including the death penalty. |
| Electrical |
| Singapore uses the British electrical system of 220-240V. Frequency is 50Hz. Television system is PAL-B (VHF) and PAL-G (UHF). |
| Electronic Road Pricing |
| Following the introduction of the ERP system in 1997, all cars are outfitted with an in-vehicle unit (IU), into which a smart card or cash card is inserted for the purpose of paying a road toll for using the Central Business District and expressways during peak hours. Visit www.lta.gov.sg for more information |
| EZ-Link |
| The EZ-Link Farecard can be used on the MRT, LRT and public buses. It can be purchased and topped up at all MRT and LRT stations. |
| Festivals and Holidays |
| Most of Singapore's holidays and festivals are based on the Chinese, Hindu or Muslim lunar calendars, and Christian holidays are based on the Roman calendars. Website providing useful information about Singapore festivals include : http://www.visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/index.html |
| Goods and Services Tax |
| The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was increased to 5 per cent in 2004. |
| Horse Racing |
| The Singapore Turf Club, at Kranji, holds on-site racing, as well as live broadcasts of Malaysian races. Visit the website at www.turfclub.com.sg |
| Housing – Temporary and Permanent |
| Hotels, serviced apartments, condominiums, detached, semi-detached and terraced houses, and black and white houses. |
| Income Tax |
| Singapore Income Tax is assessed on a sliding scale for residents, flat rate for non-residents and director’s fees on earned income, from the preceding year. More Singapore tax information can be obtained from the Inland Revenue Authority’s website at www.iras.gov.sg |
| Internet Services |
| There are several choices for telecommunications and internet services. Some websites are : www.singtel.com.sg; www.starhub.com.sg; www.M1.com.sg; www.pacific.net.sg |
| Languages |
| Official languages are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. |
| Library |
| National Library, and neighbourhood libraries, as well as most large social clubs also have library facilities. Check the National Library Board website for the locations of neighbourhood libraries www.nlb.gov.sg |
| Medical |
| Singapore’s health standards are among the highest in the world. There are no mandatory innoculations required to enter Singapore. For more information, refer to our Medical Information section or visit the Ministry of Health (MOH) website at www.moh.gov.sg |
| MRT |
| The Mass Rapid Transit train system serves much of Singapore's business, industrial and residential areas. Trains run from 6.00am to 12.00am daily and fares are inexpensive. Smoking, eating and drinking are not allowed on the MRT or in the stations. |
| Museums |
| Including Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore History Museum, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore Philatelic Museum, NUS Museums and Changi Prison Chapel and Museum. |
| NETS |
| Network for Electronic Transfers (S) Pte Ltd or NETS, operates and manages an on-line debit payment system in Singapore. |
| Newspapers and Magazines |
| There are a great number of local, Asian, and international newspapers and magazines available in Singapore. Singapore publications in English include, The Straits Times, The Business Times and The New Paper. Also, most major publications are now available online. |
| Parking |
| Carparks in Singapore have different methods for parking payments. Some building carparks or parking garages issue tickets automatically as you enter and payment is made by using cash card or cash as you exit. For public carparks, drivers display prepaid parking coupons on their dash-boards to indicate how much parking time they have purchased. |
| Pets |
| Singapore is rabies free and has strict importation regulations, licensing and innoculations requirements, and a leash law. There is a minimum thirty day quarantine period for animals coming from countries other than the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. |
| Population |
| Just under 4.02 million comprising : 76.8% Chinese 13.9% Malay 7.9% Indian 1.4% Others |
| Postal Services |
| Mail service is very reliable. The Singapore Post Office offers a One Stop Shopping for postal services, applications for utility and telephone services, GIRO payments, parking coupons sale. |
| Schooling |
| A choice of International and Local Schools. For more details on local schools, you can visit the Ministry of Education website www.moe.gov.sg |
| Shopping |
| Singapore is the shoppers’ paradise. There are many large shopping malls in the Central Business District, and town centres in the local neighbourhoods. Shopping hours are usually around 10.00am to 9.00pm seven days a week. |
| Smoking |
| It is illegal to smoke in any premises classified as non-smoking and if you are below 18 years of age. |
| Sports and Recreation |
| There is a range of fitness and sport activities available for both adults and children offered by private clubs and public community centres. Refer to the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) at www.ssc.gov.sg |
| Street Directory |
| The website for an on-line version of the street directory is : www.streetdirectory.com |
| Telecommunications |
| Singapore has one of the most modern and efficient telecommunication networks in the world today. Singapore Telecom provides basic and value added telephone services, public pay phones, international direct dialing, phone cards, directory assistance services, Internet access, and mobile phone services. Website : www.singtel.com |
| Television and Radio Licence |
| The Media Development Authority (MDA) requires registration of all broadcast receiving equipments, including televisions and your car radio. An annual licence fee is payable at most post-office. Website : www.mda.gov.sg/licences/l_residentialtv.html |
| Temperature Range |
| Night and day time temperature ranges between 24 – 34 degrees Celsius. |
| Transportation |
| Singapore has a very efficient public transportation system which includes the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Light Rapid Transit (LRT), buses and taxis. |
| Utilities |
| Electricity and gas services are reliable and efficient. Tap water is fully treated and complies with World Health Organization standards. Visit the website for Power Supply at www.singaporepower.com.sg for the one-stop utilities service. |
| Vandalism and Mischief |
| Causing damage to property, public or private, can be classified as vandalism or mischief. Vandalism is punishable by mandatory caning and a fine or imprisonment. |
| Visas |
| Visitor Pass, Employment Pass, Dependant Pass, Student Pass, Professional Visit Pass, Long Term Social Pass. You can check visa requirements with Authority of Foreign Affairs www.mfa.gov.sg and Ministry of Manpower www.mom.gov.sg |
| Weapons |
| Possession of any weapon listed on the “Scheduled Weapons List” is punishable with imprisonment not exceeding five years and mandatory six strokes of the cane. |
| Weights and Measures |
| Metric system. |
| Wet Markets |
| Our local version of the modern day supermarket. Vendors sell from individual stalls and accept only cash payment. Go early in the morning for the best and freshest selection. Many vendors close by early afternoon and on Mondays. |
| Worship |
| Most religions and many denominations have places of worhip in Singapore. These include Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, Muslim mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples. |