The first month in Singapore is a whirlwind. Between finding accommodation, setting up your life admin, and actually starting your new job or studies, it's easy to miss important steps. This checklist is built around the real sequence of events most new arrivals go through — whether you're here on an Employment Pass, S Pass, Work Permit, Student Pass or Dependant's Pass.
Before You Arrive
4–6 Weeks Out
- [ ] Secure your accommodation — whole unit, room, or corporate/hall housing
- [ ] Confirm your pass has been approved. Whatever your pass type — Employment Pass (EP), S Pass, Work Permit, Student Pass or Dependant's Pass — check your In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter, or your status on the MOM or ICA website
- [ ] Arrange temporary accommodation (serviced apartment or hotel) if your permanent place isn't ready
- [ ] Open a bank account if possible (DBS, OCBC, UOB and Standard Chartered all have newcomer account services)
- [ ] Check if your phone plan includes Singapore, or arrange a local SIM
- [ ] Store belongings if needed — but think twice about shipping bulky furniture; it's often cheaper to buy fresh here
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1–2 Weeks Out
- [ ] Confirm your move-in date with the landlord in writing
- [ ] Book your movers (note: condo MCSTs usually require 7–14 days' advance notice and a refundable deposit of $100–$500)
- [ ] Arrange travel/relocation insurance for the move
- [ ] Prepare a documents folder: passport, IPA / pass approval letter, tenancy agreement, and your employer or school letter
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Week 1: Land and Settle
Day 1–2: Complete Your Pass and Collect Your Card Your pass card is your primary ID in Singapore. If your card hasn't been issued yet, your IPA letter usually lets you start work or studies while you wait. EP, S Pass and Work Permit cards are completed through MOM; Student Pass holders complete formalities with ICA. Book your appointment and check the exact location on mom.gov.sg or ica.gov.sg — don't just turn up.
Day 1–3: Register Your Address Once you have your card and a rental address, make sure your residential address is registered with ICA. Keep it updated via the MyICA portal whenever you move — this is mandatory and other services rely on it being correct.
Day 2–5: Set Up Utilities
- SP Group handles electricity and gas. Register at spgroup.com.sg. You'll need your NRIC/FIN (from your pass), tenancy agreement, and a deposit (~$300–$500 depending on property type).
- Water is handled by PUB, usually billed together with SP.
- Internet: Sign up with Singtel, StarHub, M1 or ViewQwest. Fibre is widely available and very fast (1 Gbps plans from ~$40/month). Installation typically takes 3–7 working days.
Day 3–5: Get a Local SIM Singtel, StarHub, M1 and MVNOs like Giga, Circles.Life and simba (TPG) all have competitive prepaid and postpaid plans. A basic postpaid plan with 20–30GB data runs $20–$35/month. You'll need your pass card or passport to sign up for a postpaid plan (prepaid SIMs are quicker if you've just landed).
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Week 2: Financial Setup
Open a Singapore Bank Account If you haven't already, open an account at one of the major local banks. DBS, OCBC and UOB are the most common. You'll typically need:
- Passport
- Your pass card (EP, S Pass, Work Permit, Student Pass or Dependant's Pass)
- Proof of residential address (tenancy agreement)
- Employer's or school's letter
Many banks can open an account same-day. DBS and OCBC have particularly good mobile apps.
Set Up PayNow Link your Singapore phone number or NRIC/FIN to your bank account via PayNow. Almost all payments in Singapore — from rent to hawker food — can be made via PayNow QR. This is essential.
Register for Singpass Singpass is Singapore's national digital identity. You'll use it to access government services, sign documents and file taxes. Pass holders can register at singpass.gov.sg once your FIN is active. This unlocks a huge range of services instantly.
Sort Out Transport Payment (SimplyGo) Singapore's MRT and buses now run on SimplyGo — just tap any contactless Visa/Mastercard, or your phone's wallet, directly at the gate. No separate card needed. If you prefer a dedicated card, you can still buy an EZ-Link/SimplyGo card at MRT station machines (~$10 including stored value).
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Week 3: Life Admin
Skip the Car Don't bring or buy a car unless you really must. Between the Certificate of Entitlement (COE, often ~$100,000+ before the car itself), import duties and additional registration fees, Singapore is one of the most expensive places in the world to own a car — and shipping in your own is rarely worth the cost or hassle. The MRT, buses, Grab and cycling cover almost everything, far more cheaply.
Find Your Nearest Hawker Centre This is not optional. Singapore's hawker culture is UNESCO-recognised and offers the best value food in the city (meals from $3–$6). Explore your neighbourhood's hawker options — you'll likely be eating there several times a week.
Stock Your New Home
- IKEA (Alexandra or Tampines) for furniture and basics
- Giant, NTUC FairPrice or Sheng Siong for groceries
- Lazada / Shopee for household items delivered next day
- Carousell for second-hand furniture — great for short leases
- Don Don Donki (Japanese superstore) for interesting imported goods
Set Up Aircon Servicing If your tenancy agreement makes you responsible for aircon servicing (most do), book your first quarterly service within the first month. A standard 3-unit service costs $80–$150 depending on the company.
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Week 4: Healthcare and Community
Register with a GP Clinic Singapore has excellent healthcare, but you'll want a General Practitioner for day-to-day needs. Government polyclinics are cheapest for citizens and PRs; foreigners pay unsubsidised rates (roughly $50+ per visit) and waits can be long. Private GPs cost $30–$80 per visit and are quick — most people use these.
Check Your Health Insurance This depends on your pass:
- Work Permit and S Pass holders: your employer is legally required to provide medical insurance for you — confirm the coverage and how to claim.
- EP and other pass holders: there's no such requirement, so check whether your employer's plan includes hospitalisation, and top up with your own cover if not.
- MediShield Life (Singapore's national health insurance) covers only citizens and PRs — as a foreigner you can't rely on it.
Explore Your Neighbourhood
- Use OneMap for detailed local maps
- Find your nearest wet market for fresh produce
- Identify the closest community centre — many offer sports facilities, language classes and social events open to all residents
Understand CPF (If Applicable) Foreigners do not contribute to CPF — that includes EP, S Pass, Work Permit and Student Pass holders. Only Singapore citizens and PRs contribute, in which case your employer handles it from your first payslip.
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30-Day Milestone Check
By the end of your first month, you should have:
- [x] Permanent accommodation sorted and lease signed
- [x] Pass card collected
- [x] Residential address registered with ICA
- [x] Bank account open and PayNow linked
- [x] Singpass registered
- [x] Utilities (power, water, internet) active
- [x] Local SIM card with a working number
- [x] Aircon servicing booked (if your TA requires it)
- [x] GP clinic identified
- [x] Transport payment sorted (SimplyGo / contactless)
Singapore is one of the most liveable cities in the world precisely because these systems work. Once you're set up, daily life runs very smoothly.