Singapore Relocation and Permanent Residence (PR) Requirements [2026]: GIP, Family Offices, Costs and Pitfalls

Singapore permanent residence (PR) is not something you are guaranteed simply by investing a set amount. The investor route, the Global Investor Programme (GIP), requires a business investment of at least S$10 million, and the applicant must also, among other things, own a company with revenue of S$200 million or more. Only about 450 people obtained PR through the GIP between 2015 and 2025. For business owners who do not meet the GIP criteria, the realistic sequence is to obtain a work pass through their own company or employer, start living in Singapore, build a track record in business and daily life, and then apply for PR. In addition, the re-entry permit (REP) rules were changed in December 2025: a permanent resident who is outside Singapore with an expired REP now loses PR unless they apply for an REP within 180 days, and the procedure for restoring lost PR has been abolished. Written for business owners and high-net-worth individuals, this article uses information published by government agencies and other sources to cover the following:

• The GIP's three investment options and the applicant criteria
• Tax incentives for family offices (13O and 13U)
• How to apply for PR from a work pass
• Obligations after obtaining PR (re-entry permit, Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions, National Service)
• Taxes in Japan and Singapore
• Costs of housing, schools and cars, and common regrets after moving

*Amounts and rules are as of September 24, 2026. This article is an English version of our Japanese guide, adapted for foreign residents of Japan and international investors. It is a general explanation based on published information (Singapore Economic Development Board, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Ministry of Manpower, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Ministry of Home Affairs, Central Provident Fund Board, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, Japan's National Tax Agency, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and school websites). Rules and costs change. Before acting, confirm your individual eligibility and tax position with a professional and the relevant authorities.

Conclusion: Singapore PR depends on your business and residence record, not the amount you invest

There are three main routes to living in Singapore long term: (1) applying for PR from the outset through the GIP, (2) starting to live in Singapore on a work pass (such as an Employment Pass) and then applying for PR, or (3) using the family office tax incentives. Route (3) is not itself a residence status, so to live in Singapore you need the same separate procedure as route (2), such as obtaining an Employment Pass through the family office's management company.

Singapore has granted PR to just over 30,000 people a year recently: 35,352 in 2025 (35,264 in 2024). In Parliament in February 2026, the government said it expects around 40,000 a year over the next five years. However, each application is assessed individually. ICA says it considers "family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency" as a whole, and reasons for rejection are not disclosed. Since the outcome is not decided by the amount invested alone, the realistic approach is to choose the route by which you will start living in Singapore.

There are 33,397 Japanese nationals living in Singapore (Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as of October 1, 2025). To compare the costs of permanent residence and long-stay visas across countries, see our overview of permanent residence and long-stay visa costs worldwide (in Japanese); for the differences between permanent residence, citizenship and tax residence, see our guide to permanent residence, citizenship, visas and tax residence (in Japanese).

GIP (Global Investor Programme): can you meet the applicant criteria before the investment amount?

The GIP is a permanent residence scheme for investors run by a unit of the Economic Development Board (EDB). It was substantially revised on March 15, 2023, when the minimum business investment (Option A) was quadrupled from S$2.5 million to S$10 million. The current requirements are set out in the EDB fact sheet (updated May 5, 2025) as follows.

The three investment options

For all options, REP renewal requires that "the investor, or all dependants who obtained PR through the GIP, have lived in Singapore for more than half of the period." If the investor continues to live in Japan, all dependants must be living in Singapore. For Option C, the requirement was changed for new applicants from February 21, 2025 so that the S$50 million must be invested in shares listed on an approved exchange in Singapore, and Singapore real estate investment trusts (S-REITs) were excluded.

Applicant criteria: you must fit one of four profiles

Even if you can provide the investment, you cannot apply unless you personally fit one of the following profiles. This is the real hurdle of the GIP.

To apply as an Established Business Owner, you need a track record of owning and running a company with revenue of at least S$200 million. Even entrepreneurs who have built a business themselves will find that, if their company is below this size and they do not qualify as a Founder of a Fast-Growth Company, the realistic route is not the GIP but applying from a work pass, explained in the section "From a work pass to PR".

Application process, fees and family

• Application fee: S$20,000, non-refundable regardless of outcome
• Processing time: about 12 months. For Options A and B, the investment must be made within 6 months of Approval-in-Principle (AIP) before final approval; for Option C, the qualifying investment must be made within 12 months of final approval
• Family: a spouse and unmarried children under 21 at the time of application can be included as dependants. Parents and children aged 21 or over are not covered; parents can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) tied to the investor's REP period
• REP: a 5-year REP is issued together with PR. Renewal applications can be made from 3 months before expiry. The EDB fact sheet states that if you apply for renewal after the expiry date, the REP is treated as having lapsed, so even with the 180-day rule described below, GIP renewals should be submitted before expiry

According to a parliamentary reply by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (February 27, 2026), about 450 people obtained PR through the GIP between 2015 and 2025, split roughly 50% Option A, 40% Option B and 10% Option C (the reply did not state whether this figure includes family members). This period includes applications made under the pre-March 2023 criteria (a minimum of S$2.5 million for both Options A and B). Over the same period, GIP permanent residents made about S$500 million of direct investment in business entities and S$430 million of investment in GIP-select funds.

Family offices (13O and 13U): a tax exemption on investment income, not a residence status

One reason wealthy individuals choose Singapore is the tax incentives for family offices. Under sections 13O, 13OA and 13U of Singapore's Income Tax Act, investment income of qualifying funds is tax-exempt. Section 13O covers companies incorporated in Singapore, section 13OA covers limited partnerships registered in Singapore, and section 13U covers funds regardless of place of incorporation or legal form. According to a parliamentary reply by the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), more than 2,000 single family offices were receiving these incentives as of the end of 2025.

An MAS circular of July 31, 2026 (FDD Cir 05/2026) revised the requirements for single family office funds, effective August 1. The table is based on MAS's scheme page; check the latest MAS circular for the conditions that apply when you apply.

These tax incentives do not confer a residence status or PR. MAS's description of the schemes contains no residence provisions, so for the wealthy individual to live in Singapore, a separate residence status is required, such as an Employment Pass with the family office's management company. If you want a single path through to PR, the relevant scheme is GIP Option C (assets under management of at least S$200 million) described in the previous section. Note also that from June 15, 2026, a newly established single family office must notify MAS within 14 days of starting business (existing offices must notify by June 15, 2027).

From a work pass to PR: getting an Employment Pass through your own company

Business owners who do not meet the GIP criteria set up a company in Singapore, have that company pay them a salary, and start living there on an Employment Pass (EP). The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) allows EP holders to be shareholders of companies registered in Singapore.

Employment Pass (EP): minimum salary and the COMPASS points system

In addition to the minimum salary, you need at least 40 points under the COMPASS points system, which scores four criteria: salary, qualifications, the company's nationality diversity and its support for local employment. A fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or more exempts you from COMPASS. Companies with fewer than 25 PMETs (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) receive a flat 10 points each for the diversity and local employment criteria, so the deciding factor is whether you can score a combined 20 points on the remaining two criteria, salary and qualifications.

ONE Pass, EntrePass and passes for family members

Applying for PR: fees, processing time and assessment criteria

Holders of an EP or S Pass (the work pass for mid-skilled workers) can apply for PR online to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). These are the two passes ICA explicitly lists as eligible; check with ICA on how ONE Pass and EntrePass holders are treated. The application fee is S$100, and if approved, you pay S$120 in total: S$20 for the Entry Permit, S$50 for a 5-year REP and S$50 for the identity card. ICA says it processes applications within 6 months if all required documents are submitted.

There is no official minimum period for which you must hold an EP before applying. The factors ICA cites are family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications and work experience, age, family profile and length of residency. Reasons for rejection are not disclosed, and appeals are allowed only within 12 months of rejection. The basic approach is to build up a substantive business (local revenue, employment and tax payments) and a record of living in Singapore with your family before applying.

Steps when moving on a work pass

• 1. Sort out your Japanese tax position: before setting your departure date, work out with a tax accountant whether you are subject to Japan's exit tax (whether you hold securities, including listed shares, investment trusts and unlisted shares in your own company, worth JPY 100 million or more, and have lived in Japan for more than 5 of the 10 years before departure), when and how your Japanese address will change, and what to do about directors' remuneration and shares in any Japanese company
• 2. Exploratory visit: Japanese nationals do not need a visa for short visits (check the requirements for your own nationality). Submit the electronic SG Arrival Card within 3 days before arrival
• 3. Set up the company: foreigners must register a company through a corporate service provider. The company needs a director who meets the local residency requirement (a citizen, permanent resident or Employment Pass holder, etc.); before you obtain an Employment Pass, one option is to appoint a nominee director. A company secretary must be appointed within 6 months of registration
• 4. Apply for the Employment Pass: the company (employer) applies. Design a salary and position that meet the minimum salary and 40 COMPASS points. To bring your family, set your fixed monthly salary at S$6,000 or more
• 5. Family passes and schools: a Dependant's Pass for your spouse and unmarried children under 21, and a Long-Term Visit Pass for parents (your fixed monthly salary must be at least S$12,000). Apply to international schools in parallel with the Employment Pass application. If you have sons, decide at this stage whether to include them in your PR application (see the next section)
• 6. Housing: start by renting (foreigners pay a 60% additional stamp duty on home purchases)
• 7. Procedures before leaving Japan: if you will defer payment of the exit tax, appoint a tax agent before departure and provide collateral by the filing deadline. Moving-out notification from your Japanese resident registration and the decision on voluntary enrollment in the National Pension should also be handled before departure
• 8. Apply for PR: apply to ICA after building a business and residence record (processing takes about 6 months)

Is there an income threshold for PR? No minimum has been published

Singapore PR has no published minimum income. ICA says it decides by looking at family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency as a whole, and it publishes neither approval rates nor reasons for rejection. For applicants living in Singapore on an Employment Pass (EP), the EP minimum salary in the table above is effectively the starting point, but meeting the minimum salary alone does not mean you will obtain PR.

The number of grants offers a clue. In 2025, 35,352 people were granted PR, and the average for 2021 to 2025 was about 34,600 a year. The permanent resident population is about 547,000 (June 2026) and has been kept roughly stable (National Population and Talent Division, "Population in Brief 2026").

As for costs, the application fee is S$100, and if approved, the Entry Permit costs S$20 and a 5-year re-entry permit (REP) S$50. Processing takes up to about 6 months if all documents are in order (ICA).

Obligations after obtaining PR: re-entry permit, CPF and National Service

Singapore PR is not a status that is complete once obtained. It assumes that you continue to live in Singapore, contribute to the public pension scheme, and that sons serve National Service. These are points the whole family should check before moving.

Re-entry permit (REP): rules tightened from December 2025

Permanent residents need a valid re-entry permit (REP) when leaving Singapore. An REP is valid for up to 5 years, and the fee is S$10 per year. As a condition for issuing an REP, ICA requires applicants to "demonstrate a continued commitment to contribute to Singapore."

The Ministry of Home Affairs changed the procedure from December 1, 2025: a permanent resident who is outside Singapore with an expired REP loses PR unless they apply for an REP within 180 days. PR is also lost if the application is rejected, and the procedure for restoring PR once lost has been abolished. If you plan to live between Japan and Singapore, keep careful track of your REP expiry date and the renewal requirements.

CPF (Central Provident Fund): from the third year, 37% of monthly wages up to S$8,000

Foreigners on an Employment Pass are not covered, but once you become a permanent resident, contributions to the CPF (Central Provident Fund) are mandatory. Rates are graduated and lower for the first two years after obtaining PR, and from the third year they are the same as for citizens (for those aged 55 and under earning more than S$750 a month).

Contributions are subject to a monthly wage ceiling, which from January 1, 2026 is S$8,000 a month (with total annual wages capped at S$102,000). From the third year, the maximum contribution is S$2,960 a month, of which the employee pays S$1,600. Self-employed people must also contribute to their medical account (MediSave) if their annual trade income exceeds S$6,000. Permanent residents are automatically covered by the public health insurance scheme MediShield Life.

CPF balances cannot be withdrawn freely. Apart from specified cases such as partial withdrawals from age 55, you can receive the balance in full only when you renounce PR; once renunciation is complete, the account can be closed and the money transferred to your own bank account. Processing takes about 12 weeks on average.

National Service: sons are covered from age 13

Male Singapore citizens and permanent residents come under the National Service regime from age 13. From age 13, an exit permit is required to leave Singapore for 3 months or more, and those who will stay abroad for 2 years or more between ages 13 and 16.5 must also furnish a bond (bank guarantee) of S$75,000 or 50% of the parents' combined gross income in the previous year, whichever is higher. They register at age 16.5 and then serve full-time National Service (normally 2 years). This includes sons who obtained PR through their parents' application.

ICA states that renouncing PR before serving National Service may count against the person when they later seek to work or study in Singapore or apply for PR or citizenship, and may also affect the REP renewals of family members. According to a parliamentary reply by the Ministry of Defence, among second-generation male permanent residents who obtained PR through their parents' application in 2014 to 2023, an average of about 450 a year renounced PR before National Service (an average of about 1,900 a year served).

Families with sons need to decide whether to include them in the PR application, working back from the child's age and future plans (such as attending university in Japan). Note that the Dependant's Pass is for family members of work pass holders (Employment Pass, S Pass, ONE Pass, etc.), so it can no longer be used once the parent becomes a permanent resident. If sons are not included in PR, another residence status is needed, such as ICA's Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) for children under 21 of permanent residents, or a Student's Pass.

Citizenship: dual nationality is not permitted

After at least 2 years as a permanent resident, and if aged 21 or over, you can apply for citizenship. However, Singapore does not allow dual nationality for adults. For Japanese nationals: a Japanese national who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality loses Japanese nationality (Nationality Act, Article 11). Japanese nationals who wish to keep Japanese nationality should stop at permanent residence. How to live in Japan after changing nationality is explained in residence status after losing Japanese nationality (in Japanese).

Taxes: what is tax-free in Singapore and what Japanese tax remains

Personal taxation in Singapore

Income tax for Singapore residents is progressive, and from Year of Assessment 2024 (2023 income), the top rate was raised to 24% (on chargeable income above S$1 million).

• Foreign-sourced income: foreign-sourced income received in Singapore by resident individuals is tax-exempt, except income received through a Singapore partnership
• Capital gains: gains from the sale of assets of a capital nature are not taxed (whether domestic or foreign)
• Estate duty: abolished for deaths on or after February 15, 2008
• Corporate tax: 17%
• Tax residence: permanent residents are normally residents if they live in Singapore. Foreigners become residents if, for example, they stay or work in Singapore for 183 days or more in the year in which income arises (the year before the Year of Assessment), and people holding a work pass valid for at least 1 year are also treated as residents

A person with chargeable income of S$1 million pays income tax of S$199,150, an effective rate of about 19.9%. Comparing top rates, Singapore's is 24%, while Japan's combined income tax (including the special reconstruction income tax) and inhabitant tax is about 56%. However, the Japanese taxation that remains, described next, must always be taken into account.

Tax that remains in Japan: directors' remuneration, exit tax and the 10-year rule for inheritance tax

A Japanese company can file registration applications even if all of its representative directors live overseas (Ministry of Justice notice of March 16, 2015). However, if you continue as a director of a Japanese company while holding an Employment Pass in Singapore, check both the taxation of directors' remuneration in the two countries (including the application of the Japan–Singapore tax treaty) and the Employment Pass conditions individually with professionals.

In addition, Japan introduced an additional tax on extremely high incomes from 2025. It taxes the amount by which 22.5% of the reference income minus JPY 330 million exceeds the normal income tax; an amendment has been decided under which, from 2027, the deduction will be lowered to JPY 165 million and the rate raised to 30%. If this may apply to you, including the treatment of income in the year you leave Japan, check with a tax accountant. For details of the exit tax, see our guide to the exit tax and the JPY 600 million and JPY 3 billion thresholds (in Japanese); for tax on moving abroad in general, see taxes and resident registration procedures when moving abroad (in Japanese).

As for pensions, there is no social security agreement between Japan and Singapore (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, as of June 2, 2026). Once you become a permanent resident, CPF contributions are mandatory. On the other hand, after moving out of Japan, National Pension enrollment is no longer compulsory, and Japanese nationals can continue to enroll voluntarily. How to combine contributions in the two countries should also be decided before moving.

Costs: housing, schools, cars and property purchases

The largest items in the cost of living in Singapore are housing, children's school fees and cars.

Housing: family condominiums in central areas cost around S$5,600 to S$7,800 a month (median)

The table shows median transaction rents; newer luxury properties and high floors with good views cost considerably more.

Schools: international schools cost S$38,000 to S$56,000 a year

Sending two children to Tanglin Trust School in Years 3–6 and Years 7–9 costs S$101,025 a year in tuition alone. In the first year, one-off fees (S$20,000 for two children) are added.

Cars and property purchases: heavy surcharges for foreigners

• Certificate of Entitlement (COE): to own a car, you must buy a 10-year entitlement at auction separately from the price of the vehicle. In the second bidding exercise of September 2026, Category A (cars up to 1,600cc, etc.) closed at S$131,890 and Category B (larger cars) at S$133,000
• Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) on homes: since April 27, 2023, foreigners pay 60% of the purchase price from the first property; permanent residents pay 5% on the first, 30% on the second and 35% on the third and subsequent properties; citizens pay 0% on the first. Japan is not among the countries (such as the United States) eligible for relief under a free trade agreement
• Landed housing: foreigners do not need approval to buy a condominium, but buying landed housing such as a detached house requires government approval, which generally requires at least 5 years as a permanent resident and an exceptional economic contribution (properties in Sentosa Cove may be eligible on condition of owner occupation)

For example, buying a S$5 million condominium as a foreigner incurs S$3 million in ABSD alone. As a permanent resident buying a first property, it is 5%, or S$250,000, so renting until you obtain PR is the rational sequence.

Benefits of moving to Singapore and six common regrets

The main benefits of moving to Singapore are these four:

• Taxes: the top income tax rate is 24%, capital gains are not taxed, and estate duty was abolished for deaths on or after February 15, 2008 (see the tax section for details)
• You can live in English: English is one of the official languages, and government, banking and school procedures can be handled in English
• A large Japanese community: there are 33,397 Japanese nationals living there (as of October 1, 2025, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), with a Japanese school and medical facilities where Japanese is spoken
• A base for your assets: more than 2,000 single family offices are based there, and the GIP and family office schemes offer a path towards PR

On the other hand, the following six points are often felt as burdens after moving. All of them can be checked before you move.

• (1) Applying for PR does not guarantee you will get it: assessment is holistic and reasons for rejection are not disclosed. If PR is not granted after you start living on a work pass, you continue living there by renewing your work pass, and you remain a foreigner for the 60% ABSD on home purchases and for family pass conditions
• (2) Even with PR, "continuing to live there" is a condition: REP issuance requires continued contribution, and the GIP requires residence for more than half of the period for renewal. Since December 2025, if you are outside Singapore with an expired REP, you lose PR unless you apply for an REP within 180 days, and there is no procedure for restoring it
• (3) National Service for sons: sons who obtained PR through their parents' application face exit restrictions from age 13, register at 16.5, and normally serve 2 years full-time. Renouncing PR before National Service may count against them when they later seek to work or study in Singapore or apply for PR
• (4) Housing, school fees and car costs exceed expectations: family housing in central areas costs around S$5,600 to S$7,800 a month (median), international schools S$38,000 to S$56,000 a year per child, and a car around S$130,000 for the entitlement alone
• (5) Japanese tax does not end when you move: if you hold securities worth JPY 100 million or more and lived in Japan for more than 5 of the 10 years before departure, unrealized gains are taxed on departure, and for Japanese nationals, inheritance tax covers overseas assets until both the deceased and the heir have been away from Japan for more than 10 years
• (6) Funds are locked up in the CPF: from the third year, permanent residents contribute 37% (20% employee, 17% employer) of monthly wages up to S$8,000, and the balance cannot be received in full until PR is renounced, apart from partial withdrawals from age 55 and similar cases

While more than 2,000 single family offices are based in Singapore, the assumption that "once you have PR you can keep it while living in Japan" does not hold. If you want a long stay with lower living costs, the requirements and costs of moving to Malaysia and the requirements and costs of moving to Thailand are also worth comparing.

FAQ

Is there an income requirement for Singapore PR? Is it difficult?

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) does not publish a minimum income or approval rate for PR applications. ICA says it looks holistically at factors such as family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency in Singapore to judge whether an applicant can contribute and sink roots in Singapore. Processing takes up to about 6 months if all documents are in order. The minimum salary for the Employment Pass (EP), which makes you eligible to apply, starts at S$5,600 a month and rises with age to S$10,700 a month for those aged 45 and over. Although there is no income threshold, the assessment criteria and approval rate are not published, so it is hard to predict the outcome in advance.

How much does Singapore PR cost?

There is no scheme under which PR can be bought for a fixed amount. Even the smallest GIP option, Option A, requires a business investment of S$10 million, and the applicant must also, among other things, own a company with revenue of at least S$200 million. If you apply from a work pass, there is no investment requirement, and the fees are the S$100 application fee and S$120 after approval (plus the cost of setting up and maintaining a company and paying yourself at least the minimum salary).

Can my family obtain PR with me?

Under the GIP, a spouse and unmarried children under 21 at the time of application can be included as dependants. Parents and children aged 21 or over are not covered; parents apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP). After you obtain PR, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can apply for PR as the spouse or child of a permanent resident. In either case, note that sons will be liable for National Service.

Can I keep PR while living in Japan?

In principle, assume it is difficult if both you and your family live in Japan. To leave Singapore you need a valid re-entry permit (REP), and issuance requires continued contribution to Singapore. Under the GIP, renewal requires that you or all your dependants live in Singapore for more than half of the period. Since December 1, 2025, a permanent resident who is outside Singapore with an expired REP loses PR unless they apply within 180 days.

For Japanese nationals: will moving to Singapore mean I no longer pay Japanese inheritance tax?

Moving alone does not remove it. For Japanese nationals, taxation is limited to assets in Japan only if both the deceased and the heir have had no address in Japan for more than 10 years. If the death occurs within 10 years of the deceased leaving Japan, or if the heir had an address in Japan within the past 10 years, assets in Singapore are also subject to Japanese inheritance tax. In addition, shares in Japanese companies and real estate in Japan remain subject to Japanese inheritance tax no matter how many years pass (Singapore has no estate duty). For a comparison with other countries without inheritance tax, see our list of countries with no inheritance tax and the 10-year rule (in Japanese).

Can I get PR by setting up a family office?

The tax incentives (13O and 13U) exempt investment income from tax and do not come with a residence status or PR. If you want to link it to PR, use GIP Option C (assets under management of at least S$200 million, of which S$50 million is invested in shares listed in Singapore). The applicant must also have at least 5 years of entrepreneurial, investment or management track record and net investible assets of at least S$200 million.

Do I need a visa for a short exploratory visit?

Japanese nationals do not need a visa for short tourist or business visits. The length of stay is decided on entry, and according to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a stay of 14 to 30 days is granted. You must submit the free electronic SG Arrival Card within 3 days before arrival (including the day of arrival). Other nationalities should check Singapore's visa requirements and their own government's travel advice. We have summarized visa requirements by country in our list of countries you can visit without a visa (in Japanese).

Summary

Singapore PR is not something you obtain by meeting an investment amount; it is a system premised on a business track record and on residence in and contribution to Singapore. Even Option A of the GIP requires, in addition to an S$10 million investment, applicant criteria such as owning a company with revenue of at least S$200 million, and only about 450 people obtained PR through the GIP between 2015 and 2025. For business owners who do not meet the GIP criteria, the realistic route is to set up a local company, start living in Singapore on an Employment Pass, build a business and residence record, and then apply for PR. For a comparison with permanent residence in other countries, see countries where Japanese nationals can obtain permanent residence more easily (in Japanese); for Hong Kong, which is often compared with Singapore, see the requirements and costs of moving to Hong Kong.

After obtaining PR, REP renewals, CPF contributions and sons' National Service continue, and on the Japanese side, the exit tax on departure (with up to 10 years of management if deferred) and the 10-year rule for inheritance tax come into play. Before deciding to move, we recommend settling three points: (1) the route by which you will start living in Singapore, (2) the residence status of your family (especially sons), and (3) how you will organize your assets, company and taxes in Japan. Point (3) also affects your departure date, so start there. If you are comparing countries based on children's schools and visas for parents, see also recommended countries for education migration (in Japanese).

References (primary sources)

• Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB): Global Investor Programme
• EDB: GIP fact sheet (updated May 5, 2025)
• EDB: Media release on GIP changes (March 2, 2023, effective March 15)
• Ministry of Trade and Industry: Parliamentary reply on PR grants and investment under the GIP (February 27, 2026)
• Ministry of Trade and Industry: Parliamentary reply on excluding REITs from GIP Option C (April 8, 2025)
• Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS): Fund Tax Schemes for Family Offices (updated September 22, 2026)
• MAS: Parliamentary reply on the number of single family offices (August 5, 2026)
• [Private] CMS (law firm): Licensing exemption framework for single family offices (effective June 15, 2026)
• Ministry of Manpower (MOM): Employment Pass eligibility (minimum salary, COMPASS)
• MOM: Employment Pass overview (duration)
• MOM: Can EP holders be company shareholders?
• MOM: ONE Pass eligibility
• MOM: ONE Pass overview
• MOM: EntrePass eligibility
• MOM: EntrePass renewal
• MOM: Dependant's Pass eligibility
• MOM: Passes for family members of EP holders
• Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA): Applying for PR (eligibility, fees, processing time)
• ICA: PR overview (assessment factors)
• ICA: Applying for a re-entry permit (REP)
• Ministry of Home Affairs: Changes to the re-entry permit process (effective December 1, 2025, announced September 29, 2025)
• ICA: Conditions of entry permits and re-entry permits for permanent residents (National Service)
• ICA: Applying for citizenship
• ICA: Arrival procedures (SG Arrival Card)
• National Population and Talent Division: Population in Brief 2025
• National Population and Talent Division: Population in Brief 2026 (PR and citizenship grants in 2025)
• National Population and Talent Division: Deputy Prime Minister's Committee of Supply speech (February 26, 2026, outlook for PR intake)
• Central Provident Fund (CPF): Contribution rate tables (from January 1, 2026)
• CPF: Ordinary Wage ceiling
• CPF: MediShield Life
• CPF: Leaving Singapore
• Central Manpower Base (CMPB): National Service registrants living overseas
• CMPB: Exit Permit and bond
• ICA: Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) for children under 21 of permanent residents
• Ministry of Defence: Parliamentary reply on National Service by second-generation permanent residents (May 8, 2024)
• Singapore Ministry of Finance: Measures to promote a sustainable property market (ABSD, effective April 27, 2023)
• Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS): ABSD remission under free trade agreements
• Singapore Land Authority: Property ownership by foreigners
• IRAS: Individual income tax rates
• IRAS: Determining tax residency
• IRAS: e-Tax Guide on tax exemption of foreign-sourced income
• IRAS: e-Tax Guide on gains from the sale of assets
• IRAS: Abolition of estate duty
• IRAS: Corporate income tax rate
• National Tax Agency of Japan: Tax Answer No. 1478, special rules on capital gains on departure from Japan
• National Tax Agency of Japan: Tax Answer No. 4138, when heirs live abroad
• National Tax Agency of Japan: Measures on the tax burden on extremely high incomes
• Ministry of Finance of Japan: Outline of the FY2026 tax reform
• Ministry of Finance of Japan: List of tax treaties
• Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA): Residency requirements for foreigners registering a business
• ACRA: Appointing company directors and secretaries
• Japan Pension Service: Voluntary enrollment in the National Pension (living abroad)
• National Tax Agency of Japan: Tax Answer No. 2517, year-end adjustment and withholding for people transferred abroad (directors' remuneration from Japanese corporations)
• National Tax Agency of Japan: Tax Answer No. 2012, determining residents and non-residents (people with multiple places of stay)
• National Tax Agency of Japan: When assets are located abroad (shares are located where the issuing company's head office is)
• Ministry of Justice of Japan: Commercial and corporate registration procedures for foreigners and overseas residents
• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan: Status of social security agreements (as of June 2, 2026)
• [Private] EdgeProp: Median Rents (Q2 2026, Urban Redevelopment Authority data)
• Tanglin Trust School: Fees Schedule 2026/27
• Singapore American School: 2026-27 Scheduled Fees and Policy
• The Japanese School Singapore: Notice of tuition revision (December 23, 2025)
• Land Transport Authority (LTA): COE bidding results
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Annual report of statistics on Japanese nationals overseas (as of October 1, 2025, published December 25, 2025)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Overseas Safety website: Singapore entry procedures

The requirements and costs in this article are based on information published as of September 24, 2026 (the benefits section and the items on income thresholds, grant numbers and costs of PR are as of October 9, 2026).