Singapore is an island city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. At just 710.2 km2 (274.2 sq mi), it is the smallest nation in Southeast Asia.
The climate is generally warm, humid and rainy, with average daily temperatures between 25.0 – 32.0 degrees Celsius.
Formerly a British colony, Singapore achieved independence in 1963 and merged with Malaya, Sabah, and Sarawak to form Malaysia. However, this merger proved unsuccessful, and Singapore seceded from the federation two years later, to become an independent republic within the Commonwealth of Nations on 9 August 1965.
Singapore is a parliamentary republic, with the People's Action Party (PAP) holding power.
Singapore’s population, including non-residents is approximately 4.99 million, with Chinese people forming an ethnic majority, together with large populations of Malay, Indian and other people.
The official languages are English, Malay, Tamil, and Chinese.
Singapore's standard of living is high, thanks to foreign investment and a state-led drive for industrialisation based on plans drawn up by the Dutch economist Albert Winsemius.
Singapore is one of the world’s busiest ports, and its highly developed market-based economy depends heavily on exports and the refining of imported goods such as petroleum.
The state’s diverse manufacturing industry includes mechanical engineering, electronics, chemicals, and biomedical sciences sectors.
Singapore is also the world's fourth largest foreign exchange trading centre after London, New York City and Tokyo.
Singapore is the 5th wealthiest country in the world in terms of GDP (PPP) per capita, with official reserves of US$170.3 billion as of January 2009.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit it is the tenth most expensive city in the world to live in.
Foreign professionals wishing to work in Singapore can apply for an employment pass. To be eligible you must:
- Earn a fixed monthly income over $2,500
- Have recognized qualifications
To find out more and apply for an employment pass visit www.mom.gov.sg
Healthcare in Singapore is of a high standard and is not overly expensive.
However, if an accident did happen, costs could easily build up, so it is important to check that your existing health insurance includes travel coverage.
Atmospheric pollution is carefully monitored by the Singapore authorities so the air quality is generally good.
Rabies is kept out of the country by the compulsory quarantining of imported animals, and Malaria, Yellow Fever, Cholera and Typhoid are very rare.
Even so, you should still visit your doctor four to six weeks before you leave and ensure that you are up-to-date with all routine immunisations.
If you are coming from a yellow fever-infected country, you will need to show certification of yellow fever vaccination.
To find out more about healthcare in Singapore visit www.moh.gov.sg
The following link is for a foreign exchange website : www.xe.com
1. Passport and appropriate visa
2. A copy of your birth certificate
3. Photo ID
4. Driver's licence
5. Debit/credit card for account you hold
6. Statements of other accounts you hold
7. A copy of your CV
8. Sample cover letter
9. Reference letters and contact details of your referees
10. Proof of qualifications
11. Academic transcripts
12. Ongoing prescriptions
13. Contact details of your local doctor
14. Relevant medical history or files
15. Travel insurance policy (including health option)
16. Vaccination certificate