Your first 90 days in Singapore: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Your pass is your status and it belongs to the employer — losing the job cancels it, with a short grace period to find another sponsor or leave. Do not sign a two-year lease on the assumption that the pass is yours; understand the cancellation and short-term visit-pass rules before you commit to fixed costs.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Complete Employment Pass / S Pass / ONE Pass formalities with MOM, then register for the pass card and FIN with ICA
Within the in-principle approval's validity — typically you must enter and complete registration within 6 months, and the medical and card issuance follow within weeks
The pass is applied for by the employer through the Ministry of Manpower before you arrive; ICA then issues the card. Since 2023 Employment Pass applications are scored against the COMPASS points framework, which changed who actually qualifies.
Get your FIN (Foreign Identification Number), used as your tax reference with IRAS
It is your identifier for tax, CPF where applicable, banking, healthcare, government digital services and Singpass.
Issued by ICA with your pass card; Singpass registration follows from the FIN and is the key to almost every online government and banking service.
Open a bank account
DBS, OCBC and UOB open accounts on the pass and FIN, usually same-day and often entirely in-app once you have Singpass. Singapore is one of the smoothest banking jurisdictions in the world for legal residents, and PayNow makes domestic transfers instant and free.
Enrol in healthcare
Foreign pass holders are not in the CPF Medisave system in the way citizens and PRs are — employers are legally required to provide medical insurance for Work Permit and S Pass holders, and Employment Pass holders typically get corporate cover. Public hospital care at unsubsidised foreigner rates is expensive, so the insurance is what makes the system affordable.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is valid for up to 12 months from arrival; after that residents must convert by passing the Basic Theory Test at a Traffic Police-approved centre. Driving is on the left. Car ownership requires a Certificate of Entitlement that routinely costs more than the car itself.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Singapore: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Singapore?
Complete Employment Pass / S Pass / ONE Pass formalities with MOM, then register for the pass card and FIN with ICA — Within the in-principle approval's validity — typically you must enter and complete registration within 6 months, and the medical and card issuance follow within weeks. The pass is applied for by the employer through the Ministry of Manpower before you arrive; ICA then issues the card. Since 2023 Employment Pass applications are scored against the COMPASS points framework, which changed who actually qualifies. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the FIN and do I need one?
FIN (Foreign Identification Number), used as your tax reference with IRAS is Singapore's personal tax/ID number. It is your identifier for tax, CPF where applicable, banking, healthcare, government digital services and Singpass. Issued by ICA with your pass card; Singpass registration follows from the FIN and is the key to almost every online government and banking service.
Can I drive in Singapore on a US license?
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is valid for up to 12 months from arrival; after that residents must convert by passing the Basic Theory Test at a Traffic Police-approved centre. Driving is on the left. Car ownership requires a Certificate of Entitlement that routinely costs more than the car itself. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Singapore?
Foreign pass holders are not in the CPF Medisave system in the way citizens and PRs are — employers are legally required to provide medical insurance for Work Permit and S Pass holders, and Employment Pass holders typically get corporate cover. Public hospital care at unsubsidised foreigner rates is expensive, so the insurance is what makes the system affordable. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Singapore's system treats foreign residents.