Qatar to Singapore Visa & Work Guide: Homejourney Expat Playbook

Qatar to Singapore: Visa and Work Permit Guide – Quick Answer

If you are moving from Qatar to Singapore, most short stays (up to 30 days) for Qatar passport holders are visa-free, but any form of work requires an approved work pass from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) before you arrive.[3][4] For longer-term stays, you will typically need an Employment Pass, S Pass, Work Permit, Dependant’s Pass, or Long-Term Visit Pass, depending on your role, salary, and family situation. Always verify your exact status using the official ICA “Check if You Need an Entry Visa” tool and MOM’s pass eligibility checkers before booking tickets.[3]

This cluster guide focuses on Qatar to Singapore: Visa and Work Permit Guide and supports Homejourney’s broader expat and property pillar, complementing Moving to Singapore from Qatar: Complete Expat Guide | Homejourney and Life in Singapore for Qatar Expats: Homejourney’s Safe Living Guide . Here, we go deep into entry, visa, and work regulations specifically for Qatar-based travelers, expats, and investors, then connect you to safe housing options through Homejourney’s verified ecosystem.

1. Entry and Visit Visas from Qatar to Singapore

The first step in any Qatar to Singapore journey is understanding if you need a visa, what documents to prepare, and how that affects later work or property plans.

1.1 Do Qatar citizens need a visa to enter Singapore?

Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) maintains the definitive list of nationalities that require an entry visa.[3] You must:

Check ICA’s “Check if You Need an Entry Visa” page before travel.[3]
Confirm if your Qatar-issued travel document is exempt or requires a visa.
Note that a Singapore visa is not a guarantee of entry – the final decision is at the border by ICA officers.[3]

For travelers applying from Doha, the Singapore Embassy in Doha explains that applications must be submitted via authorised visa agents, not as walk-ins at the Embassy.[2] Typical requirements include a completed form, recent photo, passport copy, flight booking, and a Letter of Introduction (LOI) from a local Singapore company or relevant authority.[2]

1.2 General entry requirements for Qatar-based travelers

Regardless of whether you need a visa, all visitors to Singapore must generally:[4]

Hold a passport with at least 6 months’ validity from time of departure.[4][6]
Have a confirmed return or onward ticket.[4]
Show sufficient funds for the duration of stay.[4]
Hold necessary documents for onward destination (if applicable).[4]

In practice, when you land at Changi Airport (Terminals 1–4), officers may briefly ask about your accommodation (hotel or serviced apartment), purpose of visit (tourism, business meetings, exploring relocation), and length of stay. Having your booking confirmation (PDF or app) ready on your phone makes entry smoother.

1.3 SG Arrival Card – mandatory for almost all travelers

All travelers entering Singapore (except those purely transiting without immigration clearance and land checkpoint residents) must submit an SG Arrival Card with health declaration up to 3 days before arrival.[4][6] This is not a visa but a separate digital form.

Submit via the official ICA website or mobile app – avoid third-party sites that charge unnecessary “service fees”.[3][4]
Have your passport and flight details ready; it usually takes under 5 minutes if you’ve done it before.

Insider tip from the ground: I usually complete the SG Arrival Card the night before my Doha–Singapore flight. If you wait until you land, airport Wi‑Fi is strong, but you may end up doing it at the arrival hall while others move ahead in the queue.

2. From Visitor to Worker – Key Singapore Work Pass Routes

To legally work in Singapore, you must have an approved pass from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) before starting any employment. A visitor visa or visa-free entry does not allow work.

2.1 Main work pass types Qatar expats use

For Qatar expats and Qataris in Singapore, the main work-related passes are:

Employment Pass (EP) – For professionals, managers, and executives with a job offer in Singapore and a minimum qualifying salary (which varies by sector and age). Common for finance roles in Raffles Place or tech positions near one-north.
S Pass – For mid-skilled workers in fields like engineering, operations, and specialized services, subject to quotas and minimum salary levels.
Work Permit – For semi-skilled work in sectors such as construction, marine, and process; usually not tied to property buyers.
EntrePass – For entrepreneurs starting venture-backed or innovative businesses.

Your Singapore employer usually applies on your behalf through MOM. You should never pay a "job agent" in cash in Singapore for a guaranteed pass – MOM repeatedly warns this is a common scam. Always verify with the hiring company directly and rely on MOM’s official resources.

2.2 Family and long-stay passes for Qatar-based families

If you relocate Singapore from Doha with family, these passes are relevant:

Dependant’s Pass (DP) – For legally married spouses and children (under 21) of eligible Employment Pass or S Pass holders, subject to minimum main salary thresholds.
Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) – For common-law spouses, step-children, or parents in certain cases.

These passes impact your housing timeline. For example, once your EP is issued and your family’s DPs are in-principle approved, you can confidently sign a longer-term private condo lease in areas like River Valley, East Coast, or Bukit Timah, many of which are popular with Middle Eastern families because of larger unit sizes and proximity to international schools.

3. Step-by-Step: Planning a Qatar–Singapore Work Move

Below is a practical, experience-based sequence that many Qatar expats follow when moving to Singapore for work and potential property investment.

3.1 Before you apply for jobs

Review MOM’s pass information and salary requirements (EP/S Pass) on the official site.
Check ICA’s visa requirement page for your nationality and passport.[3]
Estimate your housing budget using Homejourney’s property search Property Search and typical rents for areas like Doha-like lifestyle equivalents: West Bay–style waterfront feel in Keppel Bay, family villas replaced by landed enclaves in Serangoon Gardens or Bukit Timah.

3.2 When you receive a job offer

Ensure the employment contract includes your role, salary, allowance structure, and whether housing is provided or subsidised.
Confirm that the company will apply for your work pass before you resign in Qatar.
Once the In-Principle Approval (IPA) is issued by MOM, keep a soft copy on your phone – you may be asked for it at check-in in Doha or on arrival in Singapore.

3.3 Arriving in Singapore from Doha

On your first entry:

Enter either visa-free or with an entry visa, depending on your passport.[3]
Show your IPA letter if your employer asks you to – this is usually required later at the MOM Services Centre for fingerprinting and card registration.
Submit your SG Arrival Card before leaving Hamad International Airport or during your flight, if Wi‑Fi is available.[4][6]

Many Qatar expats initially stay in a hotel around Bugis, Orchard, or Tanjong Pagar for 1–2 weeks while viewing apartments. From Bugis MRT to Raffles Place (CBD), for example, it’s about a 6–7 minute train ride – helpful if you plan viewing slots after work.