How to Move to Singapore as a High Net Worth Individual: All Pathways (2026)

Singapore has built one of the world’s most attractive environments for high net worth (HNW) individuals seeking to relocate, grow their wealth, and establish a long-term base in Asia. With no capital gains tax, no wealth tax, no inheritance tax, a territorial income tax system, and a world-class living environment, the city-state draws entrepreneurs, family office principals, investors, and senior executives from across the globe.

But navigating the pathways to Singapore residency as an HNW individual requires clarity — there are multiple routes, each with distinct requirements, timelines, and long-term implications. This guide covers every viable pathway available in 2026.

Why Singapore? The HNW Case

Before examining the pathways, it is worth understanding what draws HNW individuals to Singapore. The key attractions include:

• Tax efficiency: No capital gains tax, no dividend tax, no estate duty, and a maximum personal income tax rate of 24% on income above S$1 million
• Political and legal stability: Consistent rule of law, strong property rights, and one of the lowest corruption indices in Asia
• Access to Asia: Singapore sits at the heart of ASEAN’s 680 million consumer market, with direct connectivity to China, India, and Southeast Asia
• Family office ecosystem: A growing community of family offices, supported by MAS tax incentives under Section 13O and 13U of the Income Tax Act
• Education and lifestyle: Top international schools, English as the primary business language, and consistently high quality-of-life rankings

Pathway 1: Global Investor Programme (GIP) — PR by Investment

The Global Investor Programme (GIP), administered by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), is the primary route for established business owners, family office principals, and investors to obtain Singapore Permanent Residency directly through investment. It targets individuals with a proven track record in business, investment, or wealth management.

GIP Investment Options (2026)

Eligibility Profile

GIP targets founders and owners of operating businesses with substantial turnover (typically S$200 million+ annually), family business principals, family office founders, and investors with verifiable wealth and investment track records. The EDB conducts a substantive interview and detailed due diligence on the applicant’s business background and proposed investment plan.

Timeline and Process

The GIP application process typically takes 9 to 12 months from submission to approval. Upon approval, an Approval-in-Principle (AIP) is issued, valid for six months, during which the investment must be made. PR status is then granted, usually initially for five years, subject to meeting conditions. For more detail on the GIP process, see our article on How to Get a Singapore PR Through the GIP.

Pathway 2: ONE Pass — For Exceptional Earners and Talent

The Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass (ONE Pass), launched in 2023, is Singapore’s flagship pass for world-class individual talent. It is designed for senior executives, outstanding researchers, and established founders who either earn — or will earn — a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000.

Key advantages of the ONE Pass include:

• Five-year validity (renewable in five-year blocks)
• Ability to work for multiple employers simultaneously or hold multiple board directorships
• Freedom to start your own company without needing a separate EntrePass
• Spouse may work under a Letter of Consent — without needing their own work pass

For HNW individuals who are not primarily investors but who hold senior roles or advisory positions across multiple businesses in Asia, the ONE Pass is often the most flexible entry route. See our detailed EP vs ONE Pass vs PEP comparison guide for full eligibility details.

Pathway 3: EntrePass — For Entrepreneurs and Founders

HNW individuals who wish to set up and operate a start-up, scale-up, or innovative business in Singapore — rather than an investment holding structure — should consider the EntrePass. This is MOM’s work pass for foreign entrepreneurs who are incorporating a Singapore private limited company and want to live here while building the business.

Eligibility requires the applicant to hold at least 30% of the company, with the business qualifying under one of three tracks: funded by a recognised investor (S$100,000+), holding qualifying IP or research collaborations, or having a strong investor track record. The EntrePass has no minimum salary requirement, but renewal depends on the business’s employment of local staff and demonstrated commercial progress.

For HNW individuals who are primarily building an operating business (as opposed to deploying investment capital through a family office structure), the EntrePass is the appropriate instrument — not the GIP.

Pathway 4: Employment Pass — For Senior Executives

Senior HNW executives taking up a role with a Singapore-based company or establishing a presence as a regional headquarters employee can apply for the standard Employment Pass (EP). The 2026 qualifying salary is S$5,600 per month (S$6,200 for financial services), and candidates must also satisfy the COMPASS framework — a points-based assessment covering salary benchmarking, qualifications, diversity contribution, and employer profile.

For most HNW individuals at the C-suite level, the salary threshold is easily met. The EP is particularly relevant for those joining a regional HQ, taking up a board appointment with executive duties, or serving as an MD of a family business’s Singapore entity. See our Singapore Employment Pass 2026 and COMPASS Guide for full details.

Pathway 5: Permanent Residency via the Professional, Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers (PTS) Scheme

HNW individuals who have been working or living in Singapore on a valid work pass (EP, ONE Pass, EntrePass) may apply for Permanent Residency under the PTS scheme administered by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). There is no prescribed eligibility threshold — PR applications are assessed holistically, taking into account economic contribution, ties to Singapore, family circumstances, and integration.

Most HNW applicants apply after two to four years of continuous residence. The PR approval rate is selective — Singapore granted approximately 34,500 PR approvals in 2024 — and family office principals or senior executives with demonstrable economic contributions, local employment, and community ties tend to fare better. For a comprehensive guide, see our Singapore PR Application 2026 Guide.

Pathway 6: Singapore Citizenship

Singapore citizenship is the final step in the relocation journey. PR holders may apply for citizenship after a minimum of two years as a PR, though in practice most applicants wait longer. Singapore does not permit dual citizenship — applicants must renounce their existing citizenship upon naturalisation. The ICA assesses citizenship applications on economic contribution, family ties in Singapore, degree of integration, and intention to make Singapore a permanent home.

For HNW individuals, the decision to pursue Singapore citizenship is typically driven by lifestyle and long-term planning considerations, as Singapore’s tax and legal protections are already available to PRs on substantially equivalent terms.

Choosing the Right Pathway: A Decision Framework

Family Office Considerations for HNW Individuals

Many HNW individuals relocating to Singapore also establish a family office to manage their global wealth from Singapore. The MAS Section 13O and 13U tax incentive schemes provide exemptions from Singapore income tax on qualifying investment income generated by the family office fund, subject to minimum asset under management thresholds, local spending requirements, and local hiring conditions. Singapore is now home to over 1,000 single family offices, many of which were established by HNW individuals who initially relocated via the GIP or ONE Pass.

For a detailed comparison of the 13O and 13U incentive schemes, see our article on Section 13O vs 13U: Comparing Singapore’s Family Office Tax Incentives.

Conclusion

Singapore offers multiple well-designed pathways for HNW individuals to establish legal residence and build their Asia presence. The right pathway depends on your investment capacity, employment status, business stage, and long-term objectives. Each route has its own eligibility threshold, processing timeline, and ongoing compliance obligations — and choosing the wrong one at the outset can cost significant time and money to correct.

For personalised advice on your Singapore relocation strategy, Raffles Corporate Services works with HNW individuals, family offices, and corporate groups to navigate every aspect of the Singapore entry and establishment journey — from work pass applications and company incorporation to family office structuring and PR planning.

— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services