Confused about Singapore immigration & business startup rule

[Lord Mo]

Hi everyone,

I am a 33 year old Ghanaian currently living in UAE. I am looking at moving to Singapore to start my own business. (clothing and fashion accessories retail, money remittance and outsourcing business)

I plan to employ Singaporeans / PR's on a commission basis ( I have a good payment structure)

I also plan to get citizenship in the nearest future and to bring over my mother and child.

Here are my problems. I am confused about what route to follow in relocating, I have seen so many agents promising to help for huge fees (is there a more affordable approach and is this recommended?)

I would appreciate any help, suggestions and information.

Thanks

[x9200]

Google out for Entre Pass. This is your only route but judging from your business profile you may not be able to get it.

[Lord Mo]

Google out for Entre Pass. This is your only route but judging from your business profile you may not be able to get it.

I appreciate your comment, but may I ask to know why in your opinion I may not get it?

I have googled alot about the whole thing, hence my source of confusion.

Suggestions about how and where to go or better still what to do to prove self and business plan would be appreciated.

[Mad Scientist]

In the nuthshell

MOM for employment, Entrepass etc
ICA for immigration, LTSVP , SVP etc
Acra for business set up

There are a number of agencies that will cost you an arm and a leg but IMHO you can do it yourself once you go to these websites

A visit under Social Visit is the first step to many of your questions

BTW no , I am not able to recommend you any agencies nor sponsor your visit.

[JR8]

Based upon what you have said I think your route is the Entrepass.
http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... fault.aspx

Out of interest why do you specifically identify Singapore as potentially offering you business opportunities unavailable elsewhere? (Just my curiosity as a fellow business-man, feel free not to discuss this if you do not wish to!).

[x9200]

Google out for Entre Pass. This is your only route but judging from your business profile you may not be able to get it.

I appreciate your comment, but may I ask to know why in your opinion I may not get it?

I have googled alot about the whole thing, hence my source of confusion.

Suggestions about how and where to go or better still what to do to prove self and business plan would be appreciated.

Please, don't feel offended, but the answer is, you don't sound like a billionaire and to get the required information it is pretty easy and straight forward what you kind of failed to do. If you are not very rich you will need to convince the authorities to grant you Entre Pass. To do this you will need to make a case and have a capital of at least 50k.
Besides, for the money changing you need a license and this is given to Singapore Citizens (SC) or companies with majority of the partners being SC.
To become SC quickly we are getting back to money sou you would need to be a rich (as per SG standards) person. Otherwise it will take long years if it will happen at all.

[Lord Mo]

I really appreciate everyone's input and I am not offended by any as I fully understand your point of views.

However for clarity sake, if I have S$60K, a good and convincing business plan (which I think I do have) would I have a better shot at the entrepreneur pass? or is there a better way to go about it.

I am able to get a 30 day visit visa on arrival. I also have 3 yrs working experience here in the UAE and a previous 2+ years in the Philippines.

I would like to have a rough idea of how much chances I stand considering Singapore seems a bit harder to reside in now.

Thanks all.

[Wd40]

60k is not a big amount by SG standards. There are lots of people here who can easily garner much higher amount and love to stay back in this country with whatever visa possible.

If 60k was enough, there would be way too much abuse of the entrepass.

[Lord Mo]

60k is not a big amount by SG standards. There are lots of people here who can easily garner much higher amount and love to stay back in this country with whatever visa possible.

If 60k was enough, there would be way too much abuse of the entrepass.

I have read and heard that S$50K was the minimum amount stipulated by the government. If its not enough, how much do you think would be a good start? I am trying to be above average because even if everyone gets in at 50K its not always the case for us African passport holders.

Thanks

[JR8]

Just as an aside.

You have a good and positive attitude Mo.

That alone will take you very far.

Good luck to you.

[Lord Mo]

Just as an aside.

You have a good and positive attitude Mo.

That alone will take you very far.

Good luck to you.

Thanks JR8, I appreciate that.

[Lord Mo]

Based upon what you have said I think your route is the Entrepass.
http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... fault.aspx

Out of interest why do you specifically identify Singapore as potentially offering you business opportunities unavailable elsewhere? (Just my curiosity as a fellow business-man, feel free not to discuss this if you do not wish to!).

Just noticed this:

I have done a lot of researches about the best place to situate my business.

My findings are based on simple but logical factors. Provided you have a good knowledge about the business you are doing, have a good amount to start, the right source for your products and services backed with the right business plan.

I can say that between 60-90 percent of what we use worldwide have Asian origin.
My business is majorly fashion, 90 percent of my inventory come from Asia.

I wont do Europe because you sell your items at a higher price,hence lots of profit but you give a huge part of back in taxes and high cost of operation (If we want to ignore the tight immigration paths)

The Americas is a great place for business, difficult immigration rules turns away prospective entrepreneurs.

Africa. Vibrant economy, very broad juicy market. But with high levels of corruption, very poor infrastructures and prominent political instability wont let new business flourish.

Hence Asia, developing, big and competitive environment, readily available products, good infrastructure to mention a few. These and many more is why Singapore (Asia's USA) is the place to be now for me.

Thanks

[x9200]

The problem lays not in your rationale for running the business but in having the authorities convinced to grant you a proper visa. Few years ago it would be probably easier but what could be observed and clear also from reading different posts on this forum is that the SG government tightens the immigration criteria. My personal feeling is that without substantial investments you may not be granted the visa as probably, forgive me again, it's really nothing personal, you have not much to offer. I guess there must be hundreds of people applying every month with similar resources and targets.
If you managed to establish a successful and blooming businesses in the two places you mentioned (UEA and Philippines) this would probably help.

As for how much of the starting capital, I don't really know. 50k indicates that you just want to fulfil the basic requirements. 60k is that you just want to create an impression of being more serious in establishing the business here than these who paid only 50k , 200-300k?
I really don't know. The problem is there is not too much it can be suggested to do, you probably just need to try. Come over here for a start (if you have not been to Singapore before) and get the feeling of the place. Maybe go to MOM/ICA and try to talk to an officer to get some more feeling? They will not tell you what your chances are but you know, you may sometimes learn a lot reading between the lines.
One advice: people generally say the agencies arranging visas and such are useless. If you can not do it by yourself, they will unlikely help you. You will just waste your money.

Good luck from me too.

[Lord Mo]

The problem lays not in your rationale for running the business but in having the authorities convinced to grant you a proper visa. Few years ago it would be probably easier but what could be observed and clear also from reading different posts on this forum is that the SG government tightens the immigration criteria. My personal feeling is that without substantial investments you may not be granted the visa as probably, forgive me again, it's really nothing personal, you have not much to offer. I guess there must be hundreds of people applying every month with similar resources and targets.
If you managed to establish a successful and blooming businesses in the two places you mentioned (UEA and Philippines) this would probably help.

As for how much of the starting capital, I don't really know. 50k indicates that you just want to fulfil the basic requirements. 60k is that you just want to create an impression of being more serious in establishing the business here than these who paid only 50k , 200-300k?
I really don't know. The problem is there is not too much it can be suggested to do, you probably just need to try. Come over here for a start (if you have not been to Singapore before) and get the feeling of the place. Maybe go to MOM/ICA and try to talk to an officer to get some more feeling? They will not tell you what your chances are but you know, you may sometimes learn a lot reading between the lines.
One advice: people generally say the agencies arranging visas and such are useless. If you can not do it by yourself, they will unlikely help you. You will just waste your money.

Good luck from me too.

Wow ! Thanks a lot X9200 and everyone who has contributed. I really appreciate the opportunity this forum provides, I will prepare my documents, make my case strong, make a visit to try it myself and see if God will smile on me again.

Thanks a lot folks, you all are wonderful.

[sundaymorningstaple]

http://www.tnp.sg/content/kiwi-boss-cla ... -illegally

Always do your homework. There are no shortcuts.