Moving to Singapore from Thailand: Visa, Etiquette and Safety Expat Guide
If you are moving to Singapore from Thailand, the key steps are to secure the right visa or work pass, understand Singapore’s safety and cultural norms, and plan your housing and daily life with trusted, verified information. Homejourney brings together visa basics, safety tips, and property guidance so Thai expats and Thailand-based investors can relocate with confidence.
This article is a focused cluster guide that supports our main Singapore Expat & Property Relocation pillar (). Here, we zoom in on the specific needs of people coming from Thailand—whether you are a Thai citizen, a long-term expat in Thailand, or an investor familiar with Thai real estate, and now considering Singapore.
1. Life in Thailand vs Singapore: Why Many Move
If you are used to life in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or Phuket, you will find some similarities in Singapore: tropical climate, strong food culture, and a mix of traditional values with modern city life. But Singapore is denser, more regulated, and significantly more expensive, especially for housing and cars.
Many people currently based in Thailand consider Singapore for three main reasons:
- Career progression: Singapore is a global hub for finance, tech, logistics, and regional HQ roles.
- Stable, transparent regulations: Property, tax, and immigration rules are clear and generally predictable, which appeals to investors used to Thai regulations like the 49% foreign quota for condos.
- Safety and education: Lower street crime, strict law enforcement, and strong international schools make it attractive for families.
Compared to popular Thai expat areas like Thonglor or Nimman, central Singapore districts such as Orchard, Tanjong Pagar, and River Valley feel familiar in terms of amenities—but with cleaner streets, safer late-night commuting, and higher living costs. Homejourney’s role is to help you navigate these trade-offs safely, with verified listings and transparent guidance.
2. Visa and Work Options When Moving from Thailand
Moving from Thailand to Singapore is not a simple visa run—it requires proper long-term planning. Entry rules depend on your passport, not where you are coming from. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)[7]
2.1 Short stays from Thailand to Singapore
If you are visiting Singapore from Thailand for scouting trips—viewing properties, meeting employers, or exploring schools—you will usually enter as a short-term visitor. Check your passport against the ICA visa list before flying.[7]
For short trips (up to 30 days in most cases), you should prepare:
- A passport with at least 6 months’ validity
- Return or onward ticket from Singapore
- Proof of accommodation (hotel reservation or address of a friend/serviced apartment)
- Sufficient funds to support your stay
If you are unsure whether you can view properties or open a bank account on a short-term visit, consult official guidance or a licensed immigration professional. Homejourney focuses on providing safe, compliant property information and will always recommend you follow ICA and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) rules.
2.2 Working and living long-term in Singapore
To relocate from Thailand and actually live in Singapore, you will typically need one of these passes (issued by MOM):
- Employment Pass (EP) – for professionals, managers, executives with a qualifying salary and recognised qualifications.
- S Pass – for mid-skilled roles, with a lower qualifying salary than EP but subject to quotas and levies.
- Work Permit – for specific sectors (e.g., construction, marine, process); more common for Thai blue-collar workers brought in by employers.
- Dependant’s Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass – for spouses, children, or specific family members of a main pass holder.
If you are based in Bangkok or Phuket and negotiating a regional role that shifts you to Singapore, clarify with your HR team which pass they will apply for, and what housing benefits (if any) they will provide. Many Thai professionals in banking, logistics, and hospitality move through internal transfers and arrive with corporate lease arrangements—Homejourney can still help you benchmark fair rental prices using Projects Directory and Property Search .
2.3 Cost of living: Thailand vs Singapore
If you are coming from Thailand, expect:
- Rent: Central Singapore rents can be 3–4 times higher than equivalent condos in Bangkok; even heartland HDB rentals can exceed prime Thai city rents.
- Food: Hawker food is affordable (SGD 4–7 per meal), but restaurants and alcohol are significantly more expensive than in Thailand.
- Transport: MRT and buses are cheap and reliable; owning a car is dramatically more expensive than in Thailand due to COE.
- Healthcare and education: Public healthcare and schools are high-quality but subject to eligibility; international schools are comparable in price to premium international schools in Bangkok or Phuket.
To go deeper on costs, you can cross-reference our comparisons in Canada vs Singapore: Cost of Living Comparison | Homejourney and apply the same framework to Thailand vs Singapore.
3. Property for Expats Coming from Thailand
Whether you are a Thai national or a foreigner currently based in Thailand, Singapore’s property rules as a foreigner will apply to you. Homejourney prioritises safety and transparency by clearly explaining what you can and cannot buy—and what extra taxes you will pay.
3.1 What foreigners can buy in Singapore
In general, foreigners can freely buy:
- Private condominiums and apartments – including new launches and resale units.
- Commercial and industrial properties – subject to typical commercial considerations.
Foreigners usually cannot buy the following without special approval:
- HDB flats (public housing) for owner occupation, except under specific schemes (e.g., with a Singapore citizen spouse).
- Landed residential property (e.g., bungalows, terrace houses) without Singapore Land Authority approval.
If you are used to the Thai rule where foreigners can buy condos (but not land beyond 49% of a building), Singapore will feel stricter on landed property but very straightforward on condo ownership. Homejourney’s Projects and Projects Directory let you filter by condo projects, tenure, and location—similar to how you might compare Bangkok condos by BTS line.
3.2 ABSD (Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty) for foreigners
Foreign buyers in Singapore pay ABSD on top of Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD). ABSD rates are higher for foreigners than for Singapore citizens or Permanent Residents. These are periodically updated by the Singapore government, so always verify the latest rates through official sources or trusted platforms like Homejourney before committing.
If you already own investment property in Thailand and are now diversifying into Singapore, ABSD can significantly impact your yield calculations. Use Homejourney’s tools and guides to model scenarios and speak with qualified tax or legal professionals for complex structures.
3.3 Popular Singapore neighbourhoods for people coming from Thailand
Based on patterns we see among Thai expats and Thailand-based investors, some popular areas include:
- Orchard / River Valley – Comparable to central Bangkok (Chidlom, Asok) with luxury condos, malls, and easy access to international schools.
- Tanjong Pagar / CBD – Favoured by finance and tech professionals used to Sathorn/Silom lifestyles; walkable to offices and nightlife.
- East Coast / Katong – Coastal vibe that may appeal to those from Phuket or Pattaya; good food, parks, and family-friendly condos.
- Serangoon / Kovan / Hougang – More suburban, with larger family units at relatively lower psf rents.
Use Homejourney’s Property Search to filter rentals or sales by MRT line, school, or office location. We vet listings to minimise fake or duplicate ads so you can plan viewings with confidence even from Thailand.
3.4 Renting vs buying: practical starting strategy
Most expats moving from Thailand to Singapore start with a rental
