Working in Singapore: Employment Pass, salaries and the sectors that are hiring

◆What Singapore actually offers

Let me put it plainly: Singapore works as the entry point to the whole of Asia. The city-state hosts the regional headquarters of major groups, it rests on rare political stability, and its business environment ranks regularly among the most favourable in the world. For a French speaker, the advantage is concrete — English is the working language, so you don't need Mandarin to start a career here.

I'd rather be honest with you: people don't come here to slow down. The pace is demanding and meritocracy is openly the rule rather than something hidden. That said, the safety, the cleanliness, the connectivity — the rest of Asia is just a few hours away — and a dense international community make it a solid starting point for a first move abroad. Keep one thing in mind, because it comes back in every section of this guide: visa thresholds and rules change often, and the only source that truly counts is the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

◆The visa, and who sponsors you

To work legally, you need a work pass, and it's your employer who sponsors it — a detail that matters, because it shapes almost everything else. The most common for skilled profiles is the Employment Pass (EP). It requires a minimum monthly salary, which rises regularly and varies by sector and age, and it now goes through the COMPASS points system, which scores things like salary, qualifications, the team's nationality mix and in-demand skills.

Depending on your profile, other doors exist: the S Pass for mid-level roles, with employer quotas, the Tech.Pass for experienced tech talent, and the ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass) reserved for very high earners and exceptional profiles. The point I really want to stress: most of these passes are tied to your employer. If you change jobs, the new employer has to file a fresh application. The exact figures move fast, so treat them as ballpark numbers and always confirm on the MOM website.

◆The net salary, once everything is subtracted

Executive salaries are high, but the gross figure tells you almost nothing until you've subtracted the rest, and in Singapore the item that weighs most is housing. According to indices like Numbeo or Mercer, the city regularly ranks among the most expensive in the world to live in, and a central studio or small condo can swallow a big share of an expat salary. You quickly understand why a spectacular number on the contract can translate into a tighter lifestyle than you'd hoped.

Taxes, on the other hand, work clearly in your favour. Income tax is progressive but stays moderate compared with France, and there is no capital gains tax. One detail that often surprises newcomers: the CPF, the mandatory local retirement savings scheme, does not apply to foreigners on an EP, so there's no contribution on that front. The exact amounts depend on your own situation: I'd advise running a simulation and checking with IRAS, the tax authority, or an advisor.

◆How French professionals get there

There are several ways in, and almost all of them go through an employer who sponsors you. From what I've seen, these are the routes that work most often:

• Intra-group transfer: you're already in a company present in Singapore and you negotiate an internal move. It's often the simplest route visa-wise.
• Direct hiring, from France or on the ground, via job ads and Asia-focused recruitment firms.
• The V.I.E. (French international internship programme) through Business France: a format I'd recommend for a first step, structured and recognised.
• Networking: many roles are found through referrals, within the French and international community.
• Asia job fairs and forums, plus the chambers of commerce, which post openings and organise networking events.

◆The local hiring codes

The Singaporean CV is concise, in English and results-driven: one to two pages, quantified achievements, nothing superfluous. A photo is not expected. In interviews, recruiters value efficiency, punctuality and clear, factual communication — a register you'd do well to prepare for in advance.

References genuinely matter: line up professional contacts your future employer can call. The process can move fast once they like you, even if obtaining the pass then adds an administrative delay. One last piece of advice I'll happily repeat: tailor every application to the role, because a generic CV won't cut it in such a competitive market.

◆The network and the French community

The French community in Singapore is large and well organised, which changes a lot when you first land. The French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore is almost a mandatory stop: events, a company directory and job listings. French schools and expat associations, for their part, make settling in with family noticeably easier.

Media such as lepetitjournal.com, in its Singapore edition, are valuable for following local news, housing tips and listings. I'd encourage you to activate your network even before you arrive: a virtual coffee with a French expat already on the ground is often worth ten applications sent blind.

◆Settling in, in practice

On housing, you move between two worlds: HDB flats, the public housing that is more affordable and often shared by expats, and private condos, with pool and services but noticeably pricier. Expect a sizeable security deposit and plan that budget ahead, because it arrives faster than you'd think.

Open a local bank account as soon as your pass is approved, take out health insurance — the system is high quality, but private and expensive — and look into transport: the MRT network is excellent, to the point that many expats do without a car. Finally, take time to understand the local rules, strict but clear. This is my impression after watching how things work: Singapore rewards those who play by them fairly well.