Under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement you could pay New Zealand's tax rates instead, right?PNGMK wrote:1. Tax. I have no interest in paying ATO tax rates.
OK, but that doesn't apply to Australia and her citizens with Australian Medicare. And which countries would those be, anyway? Even the United States fixed that problem -- mostly, anyway. It's not as if Singapore's medical system is that great. It's "OK," I suppose.2. Medical care. Some of us have no way to re-establish medical insurance in our home countries
OK, but this thread is discussing Singapore permanent residence (PR) which does require substantial physical presence in Singapore with Singapore's cost of living. Conceivably a Singapore PR could spend about 3 years out and 2 years in, in alternating fashion, and renew REPs. But there's still substantial physical presence required. It's also not clear to me why Singapore would be a particularly advantageous "base" versus, say, Darwin -- why hanging onto Singapore PR would matter if you're actually living in the Philippines or Thailand, as examples. Except for taxes, I guess, but why not Malaysia's M2HH program (for example)?3. Cost of living. Although debatable generally the COL in PI or Thailand is far cheaper than Australia or the UK. I'm in half a mind to say it's as cheap in some parts of the USA.
Darwin's weather (for example) isn't substantially different, is it? U.S. citizens have Hawaii, to pick another example. EU/EEA citizens have Guadeloupe and Martinique, as some more examples. Cyprus ain't bad either. Canadians...well, OK, Canadians wish they had vestiges of a colonial empire.4. Weather.
Australia has some, I've heard. Non-criminal alien spouses are eligible for immigration into Australia with their citizen spouses.5. For some - women.
It's a serious question. My comments abovePNGMK wrote:I'm going to assume this is a serious question and not just a stirrer...
1. Tax. I have no interest in paying ATO tax rates.
Pension are taxed to some extent, but since you are retired, there should no significant enough income to attract a tax?
2. Medical care. Some of us have no way to re-establish medical insurance in our home countries
Any one can get free health care in UK, and re-enrol medicare in AU should be straight forward?
3. Cost of living. Although debatable generally the COL in PI or Thailand is far cheaper than Australia or the UK. I'm in half a mind to say it's as cheap in some parts of the USA.
Assuming you have paid off your mortgage, cost of living is just food and entertainment?
4. Weather.
To each his own..
5. For some - women.
Well no comment..
I'm not with you on that one. Singapore is rather unusual in not taxing personal interest, dividend, and capital gain income. Many retirees have substantial amounts of that type of income. It is a factor, and there's a reason PNGMK listed that factor first. It's not necessarily the only or most important factor -- I don't think it is -- but it's a real factor.Aragorn2000 wrote:Pension are taxed to some extent, but since you are retired, there should no significant enough income to attract a tax?
It's after 5 years not 7, and it doesn't look all that hard. Assuming we're both talking about Australian Medicare, of course (and the latest, current enrollment processes). Regarding your foreign spouse, your spouse is eligible to enroll in Australian Medicare upon application for permanent residence and approval of temporary residence, not upon receipt of permanent residence. Or, to get more technical and more precise, upon approval of visa subclass 820. Subclass 820 approvals are taking about 13 months on average at present (according to the government). Your spouse does not have to wait for subclass 801 approval, which is where you might be getting that "2 to 4 year" (mis)estimate.PNGMK wrote:Medicare is actually NOT easy to restart after an absence of 7 years or more plus my yankee doodle spouse would have no coverage at all for 2 to 4 years.
I knew guy like that, about 70s, heavily involved in Volunteer work stuff, and won a few awards.Strong Eagle wrote:I offer one other story. I have a friend, into his 70's that has been retired for many years. He was the MD of a very well know MNC in Singapore, and has beaucoup dollars. He has not worked in many years, nor is involved in one of the investment programs that gahmen has. He is quite involved in many volunteer activities.
Did you mean ICA will allow you to renew your REP after you turn 55 and without a job (not gainfully employed lol)...?PNGMK wrote:BBCW - the problem is the policy is not at all clear in this grey area before 55... it is quite clear after 55. There has even been a minister speaking about how PR will not be forced out post retirement. I need to hang onto my job until 55 as well (52 this year I should make it although my REP runs until I am 54 and 3 months old - damn).
Yes. If you are retired and have the wherewithal to maintain your life in Singapore. It's one of the hidden benefits of PR that the Indians haven't stuffed up yet.edwardkk wrote:Did you mean ICA will allow you to renew your REP after you turn 55 and without a job (not gainfully employed lol)...?PNGMK wrote:BBCW - the problem is the policy is not at all clear in this grey area before 55... it is quite clear after 55. There has even been a minister speaking about how PR will not be forced out post retirement. I need to hang onto my job until 55 as well (52 this year I should make it although my REP runs until I am 54 and 3 months old - damn).
PNGMK wrote: Yes. If you are retired and have the wherewithal to maintain your life in Singapore. It's one of the hidden benefits of PR that the Indians haven't stuffed up yet.
PNGMK wrote:...yet.
is $ in CPF wherewithal?PNGMK wrote:Yes. If you are retired and have the wherewithal to maintain your life in Singapore. It's one of the hidden benefits of PR that the Indians haven't stuffed up yet.
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