Thinking of moving to Singapore

[smfriesen]

Hey folks,
My husband and I are Canadians living in the USA currently. We have an opportunity to take a 3year delegation to Singapore. Both of us have been there and really liked it. Our questions are many, but here are a few:
We have an 18m old and currently are expecting our second. What happens to expat children born in Singapore? Do they get Singaporian citizenship or do you need to go to your home country's embassy to get citizenship? What about OB/Gyn's? Are there any good recommendations?

We have decided to bring our dog, a sweet beagle mix. She was chipped here already when we adopted her. Do I need to re-chip her with the recommended ISO chip?

Is it better to get a partly furnished rental or just bring all our own stuff?

This is all I can think of at the moment, but if any other young families have any other suggestions please send them on.

[beppi]

There are many enquiries similar to yours in this forum. Use the search function and you'll find answers.
Here are mine in brief:
- The level of medical care is excellent here and there are plenty of OB/Gyns. Just note that most health insurances here do not cover pregnancy and childbirth.
- Singapore citizenship is not acquired by place of birth alone. You'd have to contact your embassy.
- Importing a pet is difficult and expensive. Expect at least a month-long quarantine under dubious conditions, and lots of paperwork.

Good luck,
Frank

[mariehp]

Hello fellow canadians.

I dont live in Singapore (though thinking about it) but for having moved many times in my life:

1.dont embarass yourself with earthly goods such as furniture: buy local ones! You can always store or sell your current funiture and do the same when you arrive Singapore.

2.if you company is paying the rent, get an all furnished or semi-furnished

3.pets are required a lot of paper work- fairly easy obtained- and quarantaine but you can visit them everyday...

4.you baby will be canadian but you will have to apply for his/her passport

5.hospitals are very good but make sure your pregnancy is covered by your insurance.

6.Singpore often work on weekends so make sure your contract states you dont have to work Saturdays: otherwise you will never get the chance to get away and visit the surrounding contries.

7.it is not easy for wives/husbands to find work there so be prepared! but with the new born, that hsould busy you for a while.

8. when choosing a house/ apart- be aware of traffic!!! a short distance can take you a very,very long time to drive... inquire before renting.

Good luck.

[smfriesen]

Moving overseas is not new to either of us. We have both lived in Europe for 5 years. Neither of us brought much with us either.
I DO plan on working after the baby is born and am not worried about finding work as an International School teacher. I was in Singapore a while ago and have already started networking.
The dog coming with is a MUST. She is my buddy and our daughter's.
I have taken the first persons advice and looked at the family message board here and found some great tips and advice.

[road.not.taken]

Hello fellow canadians.

I dont live in Singapore (though thinking about it) but for having moved many times in my life:

1.dont embarass yourself with earthly goods such as furniture: buy local ones! You can always store or sell your current funiture and do the same when you arrive Singapore.

Some of us have carefully selected our furniture and don't want to just toss it aside or we may not have the funds to buy new, let alone store the old items for an undetermined amount of time.

2.if you company is paying the rent, get an all furnished or semi-furnished

This is good advice if you are a vision-impaired, have sustained a profound head injury, in the soon-to-be-retro formica collecting business or have a kinky fetish for unnatural shades of orange and purple vinyl.

3.pets are required

Pets may not be required, but certainly a deal breaker for all my potential match.com hook-ups

a lot of paper work- fairly easy obtained- and quarantaine but you can visit them everyday...

Oh! That's what you meant. But sorry... false ~ you can not visit them everyday.

4.you baby will be canadian but you will have to apply for his/her passport

No matter where you live, this is the stone cold reality if you wish to enjoy the privilege of international travel (unless of course you are the Queen of England, who is not bound by such pedestrian constraints and carries no passport)

5.hospitals are very good but make sure your pregnancy is covered by your insurance.

...and your maternity blouse, Singapore is very conservative

6.Singpore often work on weekends so make sure your contract states you dont have to work Saturdays: otherwise you will never get the chance to get away and visit the surrounding contries.

It doesn't work like that. You are hired to do a job. If the job isn't finished, then guess? you're working on a weekend. The surrounding contries (apparently only available on weekends) will have to wait

7.it is not easy for wives/husbands to find work there so be prepared! but with the new born, that hsould busy you for a while.

No, I'd plan to busy for the next 18 years or so

8. when choosing a house/ apart- be aware of traffic!!! a short distance can take you a very,very long time to drive... inquire before renting.

Enquire until Dolly Parton wears an 'A' cup, but no real estate agent will tell you the truth about traffic.

Good luck.

That part I agree with.

[scarbowl]

One more person's opinions:

1 - If you've lived in Europe then the traffic here is wonderful. Despite what you hear from those who have mostly lived here (it's all comparative, right?) you'll be delighted with driving here. Cars are expensive, though, and public transportation is cheap and (mostly) easily accessible.
2 - Yes, you can visit your pet at the quarantine. You also have a choice between a/c and non-a/c for your dog. Recommend paying for a/c. Our experience with them was wonderful.
3 - You might bring a few pieces of furniture to get you started and which you particularly like. If you can be patient, buy furniture from departing expats - it takes a bit of work but you can get nice pieces for little $$. For some inexplicable reason, a bbq/grill is quite pricey here so consider that - the gas kind rather than the briquettes.

[x9200]

If you've lived in Europe then the traffic here is wonderful. Despite what you hear from those who have mostly lived here (it's all comparative, right?) you'll be delighted with driving here.

Yeah, sure. Would you reveal this special European country that gave you such unique perspective? Italy? To be driving delighted in Singapore you would need your whole driving experience limited to the places like Bali or Cambodia only.

[SGBoyxxx]

in fact is convient to travel around in singapore taking public transports..

ya sometime you do encounter funny , rude..mad commuters..well

that is happen everywhere.