3. Military Service Might Be A Point Of Discussion

One thing to note, however, about becoming a Permanent Resident is the National Service Liability. Any Permanent Resident who is a Male and is at least 16 and a half years old is required to enlist and will then begin their mandatory service at age 18.

However, a first-generation Permanent Resident, that is to say, the one who was given Permanent Resident status, is not required to do service. But, if you have a family or plan on having children, your son will be required to fulfil the mandatory national service.

This might be something you should discuss, as mandatory military training has not been in effect in Australia since the 1970s, and you might have strong opinions on the matter.

You should also note that deferment options are available in certain cases, such as studies. More information is available on the website of the Central Manpower Base for you and your family to discuss.

4. If You’re A Fan Of The Outdoors, Singapore Also Has A Lot To Offer When It Comes To Natural Wonders

Compared with the island city-state of Singapore, the Land Down Under is the sixth largest country in the world. With vast landscapes, rolling hills, sandy deserts, lush forests, snow capped-peaks, thousands of miles of beaches, and the world-famous wilderness that is the Australian Outback, Australia has a lot to offer when it comes to natural resources.

It’s not surprising that many Australians enjoy outdoor activities when they have all that room to have fun in. So, if you are more outdoorsy, and are worried you’ll be stuck in a concrete jungle with no greenery and wildlife in sight, then don’t fret. Singapore has a lot more natural attractions than you might think.

In fact, Singapore has a tropical rainforest. Add to that the Singapore Botanic Gardens, one of only three botanical gardens with a UNESCO World Heritage status, and you’ll have lots of greenery to admire.

On your off days, if you’d like to explore and get some fresh air, here are some places you can visit and get your green on.

• Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
• Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
• Labrador Nature Reserve
• Chestnut Nature Park
• Dairy Farm Nature Park
• Singapore Zoo

Whether you’re looking for educational centres to take your kids to, forest trails where you can hike or bike, or to feel the ocean breeze on your face, Singapore has got it all.

5. Ride The Train To See The Rest Of The World

As a continuation of the previous entry, there’s also another factor about the size of Australia that you might miss. Long drives or land travel.

Of course, you could always fly, but some people enjoy long drives. The many stopovers in between major cities. Just looking out the window and appreciating the space there is.

Travelling by land from major city to major city in Australia can easily take 12 hours at least. Melbourne to Sydney is around 12 hours, and Sydney to Brisbane is another 14 hours. The train industry in Australia is very much alive with some trails going through some parts of the outback. Meanwhile, these trains’ service is excellent, offering maximum comfort.

As a small country, you might think Singapore won’t have similar services available. Well, you’d be wrong.

There are several trains that you can ride. You can start in Singapore and go to nearby countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and even all the way to Europe! Although there will be some transfers along the way, if long train rides and land exploration are your cup of tea, many choices are available.

However, you’ll have to make adjustments when it comes to drives. In Singapore, people are legally required to have a certificate of entitlement to own a carfor the next ten years. Thanks to limited roadways, the Singaporean government created this scheme to avoid traffic and congestion.

You should also note that the certificate and the purchase of a vehicle itself are very expensive in Singapore, thanks to these restrictions. So, public transport is the way to go if you need to commute. No need to worry, though–public transport in Singapore is some of the best and cheapest in the world.

To go around the city you can opt for Basic Bus rides, the North East Line (NEL), and Downtown Line (DTL) which start at only 0.99 SGD for the first 3.2 Kilometres. Even cheaper are the LRT and MRT lines which are only 0.49 SGD for the same 3.2 Kilometres. Prices then increase for every kilometre increment of roughly around 0.10 SGD.

Although, you should note that these prices are what you would get if you use fare cards. They offer great discounts for your daily travels which can really add up in the long run. If you pay in cash, that 0.99 SGD becomes 1.70 SGD, so, it’s always better to get the card and be sure that it’s topped up.

In addition to bus and railway systems, there are also a lot of taxis available throughout the city. Fares start anywhere between 3 to 3.4 SGD as the flag down rate, which also includes the first kilometre. 0.22 SGD is then added to the bill for distance travelled or for every 45 seconds of wait time.

This pricing might be a bit of a shock as taxi rates in Australia are quite high. Using Sydney as an example, the flag down rate for regular hours is 3.6 AUD (3.36 SGD) which is more or less the same, but for every kilometre thereafter, Sydney taxis charge 2.19 AUD (2.04 SGD). The per kilometre charge is almost ten times more! So, in Singapore you won’t have to worry as much when going around the city or having to wait for a while in traffic, it won’t burn a hole in your pocket!

6. Housing In Singapore Is More Or Less The Same As In Australia’s Capital, Sydney

Singapore has one of the highest population densities in the world. With 7,800 people per square kilometre. Thanks to this fact, housing in Singapore can get expensive. That’s why most expats will live in urban housing units such as condominiums or apartments. Santa Fe’s customised pre-move consultation and household survey can help you plan for what to bring with you.

These are very attractive properties, especially to younger urban professionals, thanks to amenities such as pools, gyms, and playgrounds and their proximity to restaurants, shopping centres, and other establishments.

Due to Singapore’s very heavily regulated housing market, there are several rules and regulations on who can own property. That’s why renting is the most common choice for expats.

As a point of comparison, Singapore’s rental prices are very close to that of Sydney’s, which is considered to be Australia’s most expensive housing market. If you are looking for a one-bedroom near the city centre, it will cost around 2,600 SGD. For a small family of four in search of a four-bedroom apartment, it can go as high as 6,000 SGD, depending on how close you are to the city centre.

Another thing that you should prepare for is banking in Singapore. Having access to your money from a safe and accessible platform is essential. It will be easier for you to budget and keep track of your finances and use several online services to make payments.

Banks like DBS Bank, OCBC, Citibank Singapore, Maybank, United Overseas Bank and HSBC are all excellent choices. You should also check your local bank in Australia and see if you can open an international bank account or connect your Australian bank account with your Singaporean bank account. This way, it is easier to transfer funds if and when necessary.

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