Moving to Singapore

[Louisejp]

Hi there has anyone recently moved to Singapore? Planning a move there from UK in the New Year so just wanted to make contact with anyone out there already or planning to move. I have 3 kids (6,4 and 2) so lots of burning questions to ask the pros!! thanks in anticipation Louisejp

Louise - and anyone else - Tootsie?

If you want to meet up when you're here, I'd be happy to. We've only been here since May and always happy to meet more friends with children (mine are 4 and 2).

Re relocation packages: my DH works for a small company and we moved independently, so zero package for us! We thought we'd have plenty to live on until we fell in love with a condo a bit outside our budget and added up the school fees and deposit, not to mention the exorbitant price of food. I heard recently that Singapore is the second most expensive city in Asia after Tokyo!

But, in many ways it's a great place to live. People are very friendly. Just to give an example, the other day my DCs and I were hanging round in a shopping mall waiting for my DH when a Singaporean mum and little girl came along, watched them for a minute, then handed them a party bag each of Christmas goodies!

snotexpectinsnow, well I'd have to recommend......me!

Not sure it's ethical posting my professional address here?

Hi would love to meet up Flimflammum - mine are 6 4 and 2. Still trying to work out where to live! Eldest two will be at SJI on Upper Thomson and husband will be in CBD. Slim22 feel free to drop me your email address if you got any hot times!!

Snotexpectingsnow - thanks for the tips on cat - he will have to stay in cattery until we are ready for him to come out. Hell hate it! but had a feeling that places wont take cats!!

All adds to the fun and games we are going through!

Slim that's what I thought but if you have no objection to me using your personal email?!

Louise no problem.

Maybe we should have a Singapore MN meet up anyway?

[email protected]

Louise, have 2 DC in same age group, so def. do get in touch for meet up.

we did have a meet up almost 3 years ago. Have not heard from the oldies for a very long time on singapore threads.

Meet up for the newcomers (and others) around chinese new year?

Yes let's have a MN Singapore meet-up at Chinese New Year (14/15/16 Feb).

Hope your move goes smoothly Louise, post again if you've got any more questions.

Hello all again!
Congrats Louisejp! Hope the move goes safely Just in time to experience all the Chinese New Year hype as well! Would love your views on SJI when your children start - I've been making enquiries about it too.

Well, my DH had his second interview today, and it's looking promising. Thanks for all your help re. work permit. I'm going to call Contact Singapore tomorrow to ask their advice. I suppose it will be a little easier if I supported his application for an EP as the Singaporean wife....we shall see

DS only has a UK passport, so he'll have to have a dependant pass of some description, but DD shouldn't be a problem as she has dual nationality for now.

Meetup: definitely, if I'm in the country around CNY which I'm sort of planning to, depending on whether SQ decide to have a Christmas sale! I still have 4 weeks of annual leave to burn before the next UK tax year and can't bring anything over

Slim thanks

Tootsie that's great too. Hopefully they'll be able to help. Your situation is a bit different but I'm guessing DS will be no problem if he's treated as your dependant but might need to consider whether that would mean he has to do NS - not sure of your thoughts on this but just mentioning it anyway!

Any one had any experience of asthma in the tropics? 4yr old has it - hopefully mild but wondered whether humity has any effects? Busy getting our jabs now! mmmm lovely!?

Louise: My mum has asthma, and she was born and bred in Singapore. My brother in law visited Singapore 4 years ago when he was 14y, and said that he felt the weather helped his asthma a lot. In fact he forgot to bring his inhaler out a few times but didn't need it anyway.

Just my experience from 2 people I know with asthma I suppose it depends on what triggers it?

Well, Contact Singapore were of little help to be honest The whole issue is because DH will be working as a UK contractor seconded to Sg (hence he doesn't have and 'employer' as such to make his application for him).

Does anyone know if contracting/freelancing is popular in Sg, and if there are any umbrella/ Ltd company agencies that DH may be able to tap into for the initial few months?

snotexpecting snow : Yes, the NS issue is a topic of great contention between DH and I - we agree to disagree on this matter! The reason for DS not getting an Sg passport is due to the NS liability.

Tootsie I don't think freelancing/contracting is that common in Singapore (at least not for expats). A friend of mine who was made redundant then wanted to do some freelancing basically had to set up her own company and get an Entrepass.

snotexpectingsnow: There is snow in the UK today Thanks for the comment about your friend - that was one of the lines we were thinking along. Did your friend find it easy to get an Entrepass, i.e. how long did it take for that to happen and were they already in Sg at the time of application?

Tootsie - I know am most especially as DH is there for work at the moment.

Yes she was already in Singapore but on a Long Term Social Visit Pass as she's not married so couldn't get a DP. It was fairly quick once she'd made the application. She had to have a business plan but it wasn't particularly elaborate.

Hi everyone! I just wanted to jump in to say that we may also be moving to Singapore in the new year. DH has been offered a job out there. (I have another thread on this).

We are visiting in early January to see what we think. If we agree we'll move in the spring, with our DD who is 2 (and our cat). Thanks for all the helpful information. I'll be following closely to see how everyone finds it.

Well, contract signed and we need to be in Singapore by March 1 (but aiming to be there the w/c 22nd Feb). Still rolling through all the visa apps, other docs etc via the various companies that DH's new employer has engaged...

Slim22, could you answer a question that is bugging me? DH's contract includes a "property finder" company for us. It seems from my reading that you are strongly discouraged from having more than one agent assist you in finding a property in Singapore? Why is that? What is their incentive then for getting you the best match? How do you know you are seeing a good range? (Okay, a few questions then )

Hi Lyrebird, sorry never saw your message.

Going through the listings and shortlisting properties through propertyguru or iproperty is fairly simple.
But making all the appointments and driving around is very taxing for a newcommer.
A sole agent will organise all this for you and drive you around and its a good way to ensure you don't make double bookings.

I would say that company appointed agents are generally just protecting their turf.

Any good agent will try and match your criteria and find the property that's best suited for you BUT most of the company appointed agents do receive kickbacks (albeit perfectly legit - nothing dodgy) from the big corporate landlords like Far East/Capitaland/Pontiac etc....
So they will of course push these properties at the expense of maybe more suitable or cheaper options.

Do find out from your company why they "force" you to use their appointed agent because really that is likely to be restrictive in scope.
Generally it is a good intention (one stop person) but if you feel they are not listening to you, you should be free to move on.

Hi, I'm a NZ Mum relocating with her English hubby to Singapore in a few months time. We have a 3 year old boy. I guess I'm wanting to know as much as I can from any other Ex-pat Mum's and also if there are any social networks for Ex-pat Mum's to learn as much as possible before we move. The Nursery/Pre-Schools and best locations to live, what to bring (yes our relocation is covered by the company), infant shots (MMR) etc, Doctors, Shopping for groceries and clothing for my Son. Just any information or contacts would be greatly appreciated.

expat.sg is a useful directory for a variety of things.

Rents vary with location and type of housing. It really depends on what you're looking for, whether you want to live in prime property (condominium, houses) which will be a lot more expensive than government apartments (HDB), which can cost as little as $2000 a month in 'heartland' areas.

Schools also vary - I found it challenging looking for a suitable kindergarten for my DC (4 and 2) as I live in a non-expat area. Local kindergartens and nurseries are really rather rigid, IMHO, very academic minded and not particularly creative or play-based. There are a number of kindergartens that cater to the expat population depending on where you live, and it'd be worth giving them a call or visiting before you make your mind up. Other singapore-based mumsnetters may be able offer better insight on this

Things to bring: Kids' clothing here can be expensive, so it may be worth stocking up on your summer clothing now. www.nir.hpb.gov.sg will give you details of the immunisation schedule in Singapore.

Hope this helps for now - Singaporean mumsnetters are a friendly bunch

Kiwi you should have no problem following the NZ immunisation schedule if you are planning on going back. Provided the your DS has had the mandatory jabs for Singapore it shouldn't be a problem. We are following the UK schedule as we will go back at some point. e.g. DS has also had his Meningitis C jab although it is not required here.

For doctors will depend on where you are living and also your medical insurance. For instance for general GP visits I tend to go to the panel doctor as I don't have to worry about paying then filing in a claim form to be reimbursed.

For things to bring we didn't bring much at all in the way of furniture as the humidity may affect some items. We also came out here pre DS. I would say bring toys & books as these are also expensive here.

For nursery's there was an earlier thread on this that you might find quite helpful if you haven't already seen this. You might want to think about school as your DS is 3 already? This 'may' influence where you live.

I think ANZA supposed to have quite a few groups for Mums that might be worth looking into.

Thanks Guys, will definitely check up on everything said in the threads. I'm going a little 'google eyed' by all the information out there (and have always felt it's nice to talk to someone face to face).

DS started on the NZ immunisation schedule then when we moved to the UK we started on the immunisation schedule here. I will definitely have him up to date before we leave and then jump on the Singapore schedule etc.

We're not sure of the area of where we'll be staying but should know before the end of next week, that will probably give me a clearer picture as far as schools and accommodation are concerned. I would prefer a montessori or a creative/play-based setting but hope DS will settle in with whatever they have available.

The whole move sounds scary but I guess I'll start making lists now