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Expatriates may find renting a hotel room for the entire duration of their stay in Singapore to be a truly costly predicament. The alternative answer to this problem is for the expats to purchase residential properties in the country.

In Singapore, expats are not restricted by government officials from acquiring their own residential properties.

The Residential Property Act of Singapore basically supports Singapore citizens in their acquisition of their own residential properties by providing reasonable rates. Moreover, this act encourages foreign nationals who are considered by the Singapore government to have made significant contributions to the economy of the city-state in their desire to purchase residential properties within Singapore.

Expatriates may purchase non-restricted residential properties even without prior approval from the Singapore government. The following are residential properties that belong to the non-restricted category:

- apartment flats within a structure that is not higher than six levels – condominium units in approved condominium development sites included in the Planning Act – a lease contract on a restricted residential property; the contract must not go beyond 7 years

An approval from Singapore’s Minister of Law is needed by foreigners who desire to own all units in an apartment or condo in an approved development property.

Furthermore, an expatriate who wishes to purchase residential properties that are classified as restricted cannot do so without prior approval from Singapore’s Minister of Law.

The following are considered restricted residential properties by the Residential Property Act of Singapore:

- a vacant residential lot – town houses, separate or semi-linked homes, or terraced houses built on residential lots – lands not authorised for condo development under the Planning Act

In applying for approval to be able to acquire a restricted residential property, the foreigner must fill out a form and, together with the required supporting papers, send this to the Singapore Land Authority. The bureau is responsible for evaluating the foreigner’s eligibility to purchase a restricted residential property and for granting the official sanction if it finds the expat’s qualifications satisfactory.

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