Singapore Expats

Hello All

I have been following this forum for about 2 years now and i must say it really contains a wealth of information and gives one a good understanding of the current trends.

I moved to Singapore last year Feb 2011 on LTVP of 1 year and just got my LTVP renewed for another one year. Please find below my profile.


Sex: Male

Race: Arab

Nationality: UAE Citizen

My Age: 28

Martial Status: Married to a Singaporean Chinese (Age: 24, UN-employed)

Duration of Marriage: 1 Year

Pass: LTVP (Expires Feb 2013)

Education: Diploma in Tourism

Properties: I own 1 Heritage House and 1 Private condo in Singapore since 2011. Total investment= Approx SGD6 Million (Don't Know If this helps the application)

Cars: I own 2 Cars.

Income: Approx. SGD180,000 per month. Source of Income: I own a Hotel and other properties in Dubai. (Inherited from my Father)

Savings: USD15 Million+ (Have it in a Singapore bank and I can show this money in cash at any time requested)


One of my friends suggested me to apply PR through the GIP Scheme which requires me to invest 2.5 Million dollars in Singapore. To be honest i do not want to invest any money in a local business here in Singapore. I already have an established business back home. I only want to be able to stay in Singapore indefinitely because i like it more here. And also my wife is a Singaporean and she prefers to stay close to her parents.

For anyone who will comment that i want to milk the system here will not be correct as i already own properties and do not need subsidized HDB Flats. My sole purpose to obtain a PR is to stay here indefinitely with my wife and have children here (i know that PR is valid for 5 years), and also pursue a bachelors degree here in Singapore.

Please advise if i have any chance of getting PR if i apply.

Thanks for the help in Advance.

lucky84 wrote: and also pursue a bachelors degree here in Singapore.

Please advise if i have any chance of getting PR if i apply.

No chance I suspect, as your wife has no documented income in Singapore.

Also, I laughed a bit because at first glance I read "pursue" as "purchase"

No chance.

You've only been married for 1 year. ICA will view this as a "marriage of convenience."

Although you have income to support you and your wife, your wife needs to have documented income. Additionally, the PR guidelines states that you need 6 months pay slips PLUS 3 years of tax returns in Singapore.

Your assets abroad aren't going to get you a Singapore PR either, unless you decide to invest in Singapore (local business).

I suspect that as a high net worth individual, you'll get your PR. I'd say the prime questions would be: how much money will you keep in Singapore banks, and where will you report your income? If paying taxes in SG, I'd say it's a go.

if we go according to the writings, the simple rule to apply for PR is to proof your intentions of living in Singapore permanently. You need to proof it by living here for 2-6 years, earning salary, paying tax or invest in Singapore, if your spouse is a local - her income tax, etc
Just saying I have property in UAE won't help, you have to benefit the country also.

Your marriage is also for 1 year only, which can look upon as a contract marriage.

BTW I lived in Dubai for 8 years, its a nice place for locals.

jasbier wrote:Your marriage is also for 1 year only, which can look upon as a contract marriage. .

Thing is, he's loaded (there's a good Emirati stereotype). There's no commercial incentive for him to get Singapore PR.

I'm with SE: if Singapore sees him as someone who'll bring in a lot of money, his chances are pretty good.

Strong Eagle wrote:I suspect that as a high net worth individual, you'll get your PR. I'd say the prime questions would be: how much money will you keep in Singapore banks, and where will you report your income? If paying taxes in SG, I'd say it's a go.

+1. Fair play to him if he wants to make SG home and transfer the wealth to these shores.

In a Country that is so money and material-centric, I'd have thought he stands a good chance.

Thanks for all the replies.

My wife is a full time student at MDIS doing her graduation from there at the moment.

One of my friend suggested me to open a sole proprietor company in her name and start contributing CPF for her to show that she has a job. I don't mind doing that but i don't think that serves any purpose as i can show my yearly income and prove that it is sufficient for both of us in any court (As they say Papers Talk). And to be honest i do not want to do anything which is wrong/false/dummy. I better donate that money to some orphanage in the name of God.

I forgot to mention that i will be starting my Advanced Diploma in Travel and Tourism this year with MDIS as well (Part Time).

The sole purpose behind getting PR is to be free of the negative thoughts and have more rights in this country so if i intend to build a hotel here in the future (coming 3-4 years) i know i am spending in a country where i have some rights and am a permanent resident (though i know it is for 5 years).

Singapore being a tourism hub i definitely have plans to settle here for good and eventually in the future buy a Hotel here.

So what do you guys suggest? Should i apply next month or should i wait for something?

I think overall it's hard to say, as we don't have a lot of rich Emiratis (sp?) posting here about getting PR I think by the common written rules, it's tough, but as others (who are much more experiences in this than myself) point out, you're bringing a *lot* of money to the table.

Now once you go to build that hotel? I'd say as long as it's at least as "nice" as a hotel 81 you've got your PR and probably citizenship in the bag.

zzm9980 wrote:
Now once you go to build that hotel? I'd say as long as it's at least as "nice" as a hotel 81 you've got your PR and probably citizenship in the bag.

I definitely have plans to build a hotel here within the coming 3-4 years. To be honest i only want to be a PR and am not looking to take citizenship as i do not want to give up my Emirati Passport at any cost. Is that a negative point?

I wouldn't mention it

Why not go the entrepreneur route, and form a local company now with the intention of building that hotel? Hire the wife.

lucky84 wrote:Thanks for all the replies.

My wife is a full time student at MDIS doing her graduation from there at the moment.

One of my friend suggested me to open a sole proprietor company in her name and start contributing CPF for her to show that she has a job. I don't mind doing that but i don't think that serves any purpose as i can show my yearly income and prove that it is sufficient for both of us in any court (As they say Papers Talk). And to be honest i do not want to do anything which is wrong/false/dummy. I better donate that money to some orphanage in the name of God.

I forgot to mention that i will be starting my Advanced Diploma in Travel and Tourism this year with MDIS as well (Part Time).

The sole purpose behind getting PR is to be free of the negative thoughts and have more rights in this country so if i intend to build a hotel here in the future (coming 3-4 years) i know i am spending in a country where i have some rights and am a permanent resident (though i know it is for 5 years).

Singapore being a tourism hub i definitely have plans to settle here for good and eventually in the future buy a Hotel here.

So what do you guys suggest? Should i apply next month or should i wait for something?

You have no problem other than close scrutiny vetting of your life and family and there maybe restrictions!

Actually if you were able to purchase a heritage house as a foreigner by having to go through all the strict bureaucracies I don't see why applying for a PR is difficult.

lucky84 wrote: Properties: I own 1 Heritage House and 1 Private condo in Singapore since 2011. Total investment= Approx SGD6 Million (Don't Know If this helps the application)

sweetgazebo wrote:Actually if you were able to purchase a heritage house as a foreigner by having to go through all the strict bureaucracies I don't see why applying for a PR is difficult.

Well i know there are no such problems in applying for PR. After checking with a few sources i was advised to wait till next year where as some others advised me to go ahead and apply ASAP so i am a little double minded. The reason i posted this thread is to get suggestions from the experts if i should apply it now or should i wait a little more?

lucky84 wrote:

sweetgazebo wrote:Actually if you were able to purchase a heritage house as a foreigner by having to go through all the strict bureaucracies I don't see why applying for a PR is difficult.

Well i know there are no such problems in applying for PR. After checking with a few sources i was advised to wait till next year where as some others advised me to go ahead and apply ASAP so i am a little double minded. The reason i posted this thread is to get suggestions from the experts if i should apply it now or should i wait a little more?

Well, look... if you've read here or elsewhere, you know the number of PR's granted has been drastically cut... but it's still nowhere near zero.

Tightening up means slicing off the bottom end of the applicants, not the top. If you've made, or will make, a financial commitment in SG, and you don't have a history that would bar you as an undesirable, it is hard to understand why Singapore wouldn't want you. Money, experience... but hey... you are the guy with the money... you must know how it opens doors.