Moving to Singapore as a freelance business consultant

[John Black]

Hello, I'm (Western) European and live with my Indian wife in India. We would like to move to another country and Singapore is on top of our list. After moving I will be the only person working to generate income for both of us. I'm a freelance business consultant and would like to continue building up my own company. It's small, only 1.5 years old, but getting more professional. At the moment it is registered in Europe, but I have no problem with establishing it in Singapore. Is there any chance for us to actually move there based on these variables, or is it simply impossible to get the necessary visas/permits without securing an actual full-time job? Eventually I'm willing to take on a part-time job and work on my own company the other days. I have several graduate degrees from Western universities, including a PhD, and about 6 years of work experience. Any advice, including negative answers about the possibility, are more than welcome!

[sundaymorningstaple]

Do a search of these threads. There's been heaps of discussions on this subject in the past 6 months or so. Unfortunately, the short answer is it's not going to happen. The long answer, as to the whys and reasonings, I'll leave to the results of your search......

Start your search with the word EntrePass

sms

[John Black]

Hmmm, that's not very promising. I have looked already for the Entrepass (and have seen many of the other links), but couldn't find anything that steered me in exactly the direction I was looking for... or I was maybe naively hopeful about the possibilities. So, it seems that getting a full-time job is the only way to get into Singapore...

[Strong Eagle]

Hmmm, that's not very promising. I have looked already for the Entrepass (and have seen many of the other links), but couldn't find anything that steered me in exactly the direction I was looking for... or I was maybe naively hopeful about the possibilities. So, it seems that getting a full-time job is the only way to get into Singapore...

It seems that way. I have written to MOM asking for a more detailed explanation of the new Entrepass rules. In particular I asked them if it was their intent to lock out one man shows who have been running successful business elsewhere and want to bring them here (like traders, financiers, independent consultants with a known client base, etc).

It's been about 6 days since I wrote and I suspect that my query is generating lots of discussion before I get an answer.

[John Black]

It's good to know I'm not the only one with this problem. I really like Singapore, was there again a month ago (for the GP) and can really see myself living there. My wife thinks the same. Not immediately, but maybe somewhere next year we may take the decision. Hence the preparation. I'm now working on my own firm. It's just me and my computer and phone for now, but it's slowly picking up and I expect to have a very decent income soon... an income that is also nice in terms of tax-S$. Besides I may build up something else next to it as well. In other words, I think I have potentially much to add to Singapore. Please keep me updated.

[ksl]

While you are in India, you may wish to look at the possibility, of finding a several distributors, you can rely on.

My suggestion is that you need to come to Singapore with something, like an established sales channel for Singapore Companies, network within the Indian trade office and Singapore so they can expand their reach.

Export grants are available for Singapore Companies and you will be setting up a stepping stone for your future. You can start with me

I did have several contacts from India that we met at the International Trade show, though they slowly lost communication or maybe changed their mind on importing for some reason.

I'm an export consultant for Taiwan on a freelance basis, and I have guided my wife in a start up the last 5 years which is very successful and

I am considering another business set up in the near future with a need to leverage in other markets.

I probably started the same way as you are wanting to do, with next to no money, I started with computer components company back in the 90's, by offering myself as free labour in a brand new start up business in return for the knowledge of the business, I stayed there for 18 months and by that time it went from just a man/wife and myself team, to a brand new factory building with 30 employed in Denmark...through that business i made contact with Taiwan and moved their, after marriage in 2000.

It was easy to get freelance work in Taiwan, because i offered my service based on productive results and a percentage of revenue.
, though my mornings were occupied by stock trading.

If you are also looking for innovative thought and a sparring partner let me know. If you have a PhD I would drop Singapore Management University a line to see if they are recruiting.

You can also get familiar with http://www.iesingapore.gov.sg/wps/portal lots to digest.

http://www.business.gov.sg/

It's all about what you can bring to the table, and you have a head start if you are connected in India to some channels.


After 5 posts you can PM me.

[John Black]

Wow that is an encouraging answer! Thank you very much. Just to give a quick update. I've spoken with a gentleman from the Singapore Economic Development Board. He told me that it would be possible to simply set up shop in Singapore, so just start a company, and then invite myself as an employee. It would require some hurdles, e.g. finding a second director, but it's all doable and won't be too expensive. Btw, my business is already going. I still consider it to be in the starting phase, but i've already had some good revenues. So it's not that I can't bring anything to the table. In fact, the gentleman said it would certainly help if I could 'invest' a sum of anywhere between 25-100k s$ in the company. The lower end is certainly not going to be a problem, but of course it's best to put as much on the table as possible. About teaching, that may be interesting, but only on a part time basis. The same goes for academic research projects. I'm just wondering if it is possible to do that on the same visa. As a freelancer it's just great if you can hop from one thing to the other, and the academic world is certainly still very attractive. We will be in touch and I'll pm you after a few more answers.

[ksl]

Wow that is an encouraging answer! Thank you very much. Just to give a quick update. I've spoken with a gentleman from the Singapore Economic Development Board. He told me that it would be possible to simply set up shop in Singapore, so just start a company, and then invite myself as an employee. It would require some hurdles, e.g. finding a second director, but it's all doable and won't be too expensive. Btw, my business is already going. I still consider it to be in the starting phase, but i've already had some good revenues. So it's not that I can't bring anything to the table. In fact, the gentleman said it would certainly help if I could 'invest' a sum of anywhere between 25-100k s$ in the company. The lower end is certainly not going to be a problem, but of course it's best to put as much on the table as possible. About teaching, that may be interesting, but only on a part time basis. The same goes for academic research projects. I'm just wondering if it is possible to do that on the same visa. As a freelancer it's just great if you can hop from one thing to the other, and the academic world is certainly still very attractive. We will be in touch and I'll pm you after a few more answers.

Unfortunately if you get EP to teach, you cannot be active in your business, but you can set a business up.

This Country is quite flexible and the government departments are what they are and will try to help those they think can contribute, however bureaucracy is what it is. I would go ahead and make your plans, and keep networking in both Countries.

I'll send you a contact I have in India to see if he is still interested in our products. Many Indians here drink our products and we are just tapping new markets, at the moment, but education in the product is a must, otherwise it stands very little chance. Though we are prepared to do the product education.
The website is done by a novice me, it has served its purpose and time for a facelift now we have established our selves, I'm looking at more interactivity and educational features.

The re branding is also on the menu before going international. We should keep in touch, I'm sure i can tap your academic brain

[ksl]

MOM phoned me up and said they will not be relaxing the entrepass rule at the present time so the criteria must be met just now. They do not know, if it will be changed in the future!