Relocating, travelling or planning to make Singapore home? Discuss the criterias, passes or visa that is required.
-
ryan_roxx
- Newbie
![Newbie Newbie]()
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:14 am
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by ryan_roxx » Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:08 am
I'm an American that works in Indonesia and Malaysia, and am thinking of getting an apartment here in Singapore to have a "home base" on this side of the world. I know there are restrictions on foreigners buying
property in Singapore, but are there any specific restrictions regarding renting here? I would not be working in Singapore and entering on a tourist visa only.
-
jpatokal
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 3004
- Joined: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 9:38 pm
- Location: Terra Australis Incognita
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by jpatokal » Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:13 am
Not possible legally on a tourist visa -- you can either lease a
Service Apartment, which get pretty expensive in the long term, or try to find some dodgy sublet deal which doesn't make you a legal tenant.
Can't the company you work for sort out a Sg visa for you, or are you freelancing?
Vaguely heretical thoughts on travel technology at Gyrovague
-
guruvishwanath
- Chatter
![Chatter Chatter]()
- Posts: 227
- Joined: Wed, 03 Aug 2005 12:05 pm
- Location: Braddell
-
Contact:
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by guruvishwanath » Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:14 pm
Actually its the other way around. Foreigners buying
property is pretty much ok, as long as you fulfil some conditions. You can only buy private apartments which are listed as Freehold and foreigner's eligible. I know several foreigners have shelled out bucket sums of money to procure property. If you are buying in the Sentosa Cove (upwards of 6Million), then be prepared your financial and personal life to be scrutinized with a Electron Microscope. The Finance ministry does not want triads, mafia and other ill-gotten wealthy people to shovel money here to procure property. There was even an article of an experience related by a buyer on how he was checked before being approved. But that's for a landed property or a bungalow. for apartments? I dont think there are stringent checks, but there are some checks.
-
jpatokal
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 3004
- Joined: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 9:38 pm
- Location: Terra Australis Incognita
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by jpatokal » Sat, 16 Jan 2010 2:45 pm
guruvishwanath wrote:Actually its the other way around. Foreigners buying
property is pretty much ok, as long as you fulfil some conditions. You can only buy private apartments which are listed as Freehold and foreigner's eligible. I know several foreigners have shelled out bucket sums of money to procure property. If you are buying in the Sentosa Cove (upwards of 6Million), then be prepared your financial and personal life to be scrutinized with a Electron Microscope. The Finance ministry does not want triads, mafia and other ill-gotten wealthy people to shovel money here to procure property. There was even an article of an experience related by a buyer on how he was checked before being approved. But that's for a landed property or a bungalow. for apartments? I dont think there are stringent checks, but there are some checks.
That's all well and good, but the OP was specifically asking about renting, not buying property

Vaguely heretical thoughts on travel technology at Gyrovague
-
sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 40533
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
-
Answers: 21
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by sundaymorningstaple » Sat, 16 Jan 2010 3:05 pm
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
-
guruvishwanath
- Chatter
![Chatter Chatter]()
- Posts: 227
- Joined: Wed, 03 Aug 2005 12:05 pm
- Location: Braddell
-
Contact:
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by guruvishwanath » Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:29 pm
MAJOR! Ooops!!! But I distinctly remember my head processing as buying. Not sure why I thought so. Oh, well! Then its a no go. Cant rent on tourist visa.
-
mekanoid
- Newbie
![Newbie Newbie]()
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat, 02 Mar 2013 5:09 am
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by mekanoid » Wed, 11 Mar 2020 8:22 am
Interesting topic, are visitors allowed to rent an AirBNB room for 3+ months?
-
Pal
- Site Admin
![Site Admin Site Admin]()
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 2:44 am
-
Answers: 2
- Location: Singapore
-
Contact:
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by Pal » Wed, 11 Mar 2020 10:39 am
-
martincymru
- Reporter
![Reporter Reporter]()
- Posts: 701
- Joined: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 3:54 pm
- Location: out & about
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by martincymru » Wed, 11 Mar 2020 3:37 pm
mekanoid wrote: ↑Wed, 11 Mar 2020 8:22 am
Interesting topic, are visitors allowed to rent an AirBNB room for 3+ months?
"Yes" was the reply I received from 2 AirBnB landlords.
But, is the renter an "occupant" or a "resident". If not then what?
-
sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 40533
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
-
Answers: 21
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by sundaymorningstaple » Wed, 11 Mar 2020 6:44 pm
https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-ar ... -singapore
Martin, the sticky point is the URA and HDB with their minimum rental clauses of 3 & 6 month. You have to have a residency tenure at the time the contract is signed of at lease three month to make it a valid contract. As a western visitor who can get a automatic 90 visa on entry, unless it is perfectly timed, it is almost impossible to get a pte
property 90 day (3 month) contract unless they are waiting for you at the airport on a morning arrival to get your deposit and signature so they can get it down to lodge it with the relevant authority. (HDB is out of the question with 6 months minimum). So for all intents and purposes, if you try to rent id for less than 90 days, it is illegal (but the LL may well rent it to you anyway) but it's a gamble for both them and you.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
-
smoulder
- Editor
![Editor Editor]()
- Posts: 1423
- Joined: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 11:05 pm
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by smoulder » Thu, 12 Mar 2020 9:43 am
Airbnb is not legal.
-
martincymru
- Reporter
![Reporter Reporter]()
- Posts: 701
- Joined: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 3:54 pm
- Location: out & about
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by martincymru » Thu, 12 Mar 2020 2:58 pm
Thus,
"In May 2019, URA announced that despite extensive consultations with stakeholders about a proposed regulatory framework for short-term accommodation, the minimum stay duration of three months will continue to apply for any accommodation in private residential properties. URA will continue to enforce the requirement of a minimum stay duration of three months in private residential properties.:"
Source:
https://www.airbnb.com.sg/help/article/ ... -singapore
So, I agree SMS, that AirBnb (as an agent) or a private owner (as landlord) are not breaking any law in Sg as long as 3+ months. Your point noted about practical reality though.
Lastly, pending the term "Occupant/Resident" being defined, I intend to use the term "stayer" since URA refer to renting as a "stay" (not a lease or a licence).
-
sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 40533
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
-
Answers: 21
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by sundaymorningstaple » Thu, 12 Mar 2020 3:05 pm
I reckon, knowing Singapore, any term you use will be irrelevant if you spend the night there. But, you buys your ticket and takes your chances.

SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
-
-
Renting apartment from company from Virgin Islands
Replies: 3
First post
Asking on behalf of a friend, is it safe as jurisdiction might fall under the Virgin Islands? And getting deposits back might be difficult since...
Last post
Asking on behalf of a friend, is it safe as jurisdiction might fall under the Virgin Islands? And getting deposits back might be difficult since...
- 3 Replies
- 3187 Views
-
Last post by Lisafuller
Sun, 14 Jul 2024 6:04 am
-
-
EP visa application time/ visitor visa option
Replies: 10
First post
Hi all,
Has anyone had recent experience applying for an EP visa? How long did it take?
I booked a flight to enter Singapore as I thought it would...
Last post
FYI just got EP approved......... 6 working days from application.
- 10 Replies
- 6910 Views
-
Last post by musical box
Sat, 22 Jan 2022 1:11 pm
-
-
Census; is a tourist an "occupant"
Replies: 1
First post
I took out a 12m lease on private apartment starting 01 Jan 2020. Rec'd census form ........... how to complete if do not possess valid IC/FIN or...
Last post
I took out a 12m lease on private apartment starting 01 Jan 2020. Rec'd census form ........... how to complete if do not possess valid IC/FIN or...
- 1 Replies
- 2471 Views
-
Last post by x9200
Fri, 21 Feb 2020 8:30 am
-
-
Tourist shops
Replies: 1
First post
Even if retail shops are allowed to open but borders are still closed, I do think tourist shops could be looking into selling other stuff otherwise...
Last post
Perhaps the pandemic will serve as a wake-up call for them to improve on the quality of their wares. I'm sure there will still be demand for tacky...
- 1 Replies
- 2107 Views
-
Last post by Haruki
Wed, 27 May 2020 7:25 pm
-
-
Spending majority of year in Sing as a Retired Tourist?
Replies: 116
First post
Hi, I was wondering if you guys know if it's feasible to spend the majority of the year (6-8 months per year lets say) in Singapore on multiple...
Last post
Every Friday we claim our 3$ paylah cashback for our hawker food breakfast, so it's extra cheap :)
- 116 Replies
- 600880 Views
-
Last post by jalanjalan
Fri, 31 Mar 2023 8:12 pm
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests