Can I live here and work elsewhere?

bluenose · Post by **bluenose** » Thu, 06 Aug 2009 1:32 pm

What is necessary for me to live here and work elsewhere?
Do I require a visa? If I work offshore on a 28/28 rotation, can I live in Singapore legally?

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Thu, 06 Aug 2009 2:30 pm

I did just that for almost 11 years. I worked offshore in the Oil Industry and worked a 2 & 1 schedule. As I was only back in Singapore for 28 days at a time I'd come in on a 30 day visa and was gone before it ended. The problem is you cannot rent anyplace without a proper visa and now days it gets harder and harder to to banking here unless you have some sort of resident status. Haven't done it now since the early '90's when I took up PR. Otherwise you can live here with no problem unless you try doing visa turnarounds to JB or Batam. Then they get a little antsy and will eventually just tell you you get 3 days to collect your stuff and leave.

bluenose · Post by **bluenose** » Thu, 06 Aug 2009 2:50 pm

I have a singaporean partner and already have a bank account, so that should help?
If I apply for PR...that menas paying tax?

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Thu, 06 Aug 2009 3:37 pm

Sure does.

littlegreenman · Post by **littlegreenman** » Thu, 06 Aug 2009 4:34 pm

bluenose wrote:I have a singaporean partner and already have a bank account, so that should help?
If I apply for PR...that menas paying tax?

The bank account does make your life easier but it doesn't change anything about your residential status.

Brief question, what do you mean with partner? If you are married to a Singaporean, then yes you can apply for PR. Rule of thumb (as it is in all dual taxation agreements) you do pay income tax on income from employment where you live, not where you work regardless of your residential status. In your case that is not that straight forward as you spend most of the year off-shore. So it would boil down to whether it is in international waters or on Singapore waters. For some guidance on taxation in Singapore (if you stay there 61 days a year or more, resident or not) pls refer to http://www.iras.gov.sg/irasHome/page.aspx?id=232.

bluenose · Post by **bluenose** » Sat, 10 Oct 2009 7:33 am

I have the forms for PR, but if accepted can I date it to start after my expat contract finishes in July or am I better leaving it till nearer the time?

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Sat, 10 Oct 2009 9:02 am

First of all, you still have not confirmed your marital status. If "partner" mean legal wife of Singaporean citizenship, provided she is working and earning sufficient income to support the both of you, then you can apply for PR (but your chances may be diminished somewhat as you are not working in Singapore). However, if you are also working here in Singapore then you shouldn't have any problems like academic qualifications.

On the other hand, if your 'partner' is of the 'just living together' or a 'same gender' type of arrangement, then PR is out of the question. You have to have a legal relationship (under Singapore law) in order to obtain PR using the family ties method. Otherwise, you would have to have either an Employment pass of some type (working IN Singapore) OR apply for and obtain landed PR. But that would mean you only have 12 months to take up employment IN Singapore and would have to be a degree holder from selected universities which can be found on the MOM website.

sms

ryan_roxx · Post by **ryan_roxx** » Tue, 23 Feb 2010 4:37 am

Hi guys,

I'm posting to this thread instead of starting a new one, since I am in a similar situation. I'm an American working offshore in the oil industry, primarily in Indonesia, and have a Singaporean girlfriend. I have just been entering Singapore on a tourist visa on my time off and staying at hotels or Serviced Apartments (which can be quite expensive). However, we're looking at options for something a little more "permanent".

Since it seems that it's impossible for me to legally rent here, I was looking at renting an apartment under her name. Do you foresee any legal problems with this arrangement? ie, problems from the landlord with me staying there when I am in town or problems with immigration authorities if I list the apartment as the place I will stay while on my vist.

The other option is buying an expensive place in SG. However, that's a pretty big commitment financially and not sure I would be able to swing that.

Any advice is appreciated.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Tue, 23 Feb 2010 6:59 am

I did just that for 11 years. Only I married my Singapore Girlfriend. I still lived here for 11 years on tourist visas. It was a lot easier back in those days. It's really not practical but it can be done. You have to be careful of having to do visa runs though. I really don't advise it though, not today anyway.

bluenose · Post by **bluenose** » Tue, 23 Feb 2010 1:32 pm

I have started my own company and will apply for a new EP through that company and hopefully it will be successful. Then I use some of my offshore salary to pay myself an income into that company and hopefully it will allow me to live in Singapore legally!
One day maybe we will get married....but not before we both get divorced! Also marriage is not a reason to stay in a country!
I use a company called . to help me process all the details and they have a good success rate....

reliable1 · Post by **reliable1** » Sat, 22 May 2010 12:54 am

Hi bluenose,

Did your EP go through? Interested coz I am going the same route

Rajiv

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Can I live here and work elsewhere?

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