Each year, a significant number of finance professionals make the move from London to Singapore — drawn by the combination of lower personal income tax, a thriving regional financial hub, and access to the fast-growth economies of Southeast Asia. The London to Singapore relocation 2026 calculus has only become more favourable: Singapore’s top marginal income tax rate sits at 24%, against the UK’s 45%, and Singapore imposes no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, and no wealth tax. For a mid-to-senior finance professional in asset management, private banking, or investment banking, the tax reset alone can be transformative.
This guide covers the practical end of that move: the Employment Pass for financial services, how to manage your UK tax departure, housing, schools for British children, and the timelines you need to plan around.
Why Singapore Attracts Finance Professionals from London
Singapore is MAS-regulated, FATF-compliant, and home to the regional headquarters of most global banks, asset managers, and private equity firms. The financial services sector here — asset management, private banking, corporate finance, risk, treasury, and increasingly digital assets and family office work — is one of the deepest talent markets in Asia. For professionals whose careers follow the flow of Asian capital, Singapore is the natural base.
Beyond the sector, the lifestyle proposition resonates with families. Singapore is compact, safe, and English-speaking. The healthcare system is world-class and private insurance is affordable. The food culture is remarkable. The transit network is efficient. For British professionals accustomed to London’s size and cost, Singapore’s proximity — everything is within 45 minutes — comes as a relief.
The tax differential is significant but not the only reason to move. It is, however, the one that prompts people to do the maths.
The Singapore Employment Pass for Financial Services: 2026 Thresholds
Most finance professionals moving to Singapore will require an Employment Pass (EP). The complete Singapore Employment Pass guide for 2026 covers the framework in detail, but the financial services sector has its own qualifying salary that is higher than the general threshold.
As at 1 July 2026, per the Ministry of Manpower’s EP eligibility page:
- General sectors: Minimum qualifying salary of SGD 5,600 per month for most applicants.
- Financial services sector: Minimum qualifying salary of SGD 6,200 per month.
From 1 January 2027, these thresholds rise to SGD 6,000 (general) and SGD 6,600 (financial services) for new applications. The threshold also increases with age — a 45-year-old applying for an EP will be benchmarked against a higher salary percentile than a 28-year-old. Your Singapore employer will run the COMPASS points assessment before making an offer, and COMPASS scores depend on salary, qualifications, the firm’s nationality diversity, and the firm’s local hiring record.
If your fixed monthly salary in Singapore will exceed SGD 22,500 and you have at least a decade of professional experience, you may also be eligible for the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP), which is employer-independent and gives you six months to switch roles between jobs without losing your pass status. Many senior finance professionals prefer the PEP for exactly that flexibility.
The London to Singapore Tax Reset
Singapore operates a territorial tax system: only income sourced in Singapore is taxable here. There is no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, and no dividend withholding tax on distributions from Singapore companies. Foreign-sourced income — dividends, interest, capital gains from overseas investments — is generally not taxable in Singapore if it is not remitted here.
For a finance professional earning SGD 250,000 per year (approximately £150,000), the Singapore income tax bill under resident rates is roughly SGD 30,000–35,000. The equivalent UK bill on £150,000, including National Insurance, would be in the region of £60,000–65,000. The difference is substantial. Per IRAS, you are a Singapore tax resident if you are present or employed in Singapore for at least 183 days in a calendar year.
On the UK side, HM Revenue and Customs will consider you a UK resident until you satisfy the Statutory Residence Test that you have left the UK permanently or indefinitely. From your first year of non-UK residence, most UK-source income ceases to be taxed at UK rates. UK CGT continues to apply to UK residential property even after you become non-resident; it does not apply to gains on non-UK assets once you are non-resident for a tax year. The UK-Singapore Double Taxation Agreement ensures you are not taxed twice on the same income stream — speak to an international tax adviser before you leave to sequence your departure correctly.
Housing in Singapore: What Finance Professionals Typically Choose
Most finance professionals renting in Singapore on an EP live in condominiums. Singapore does not restrict foreigners from renting any residential property. Popular areas for finance and banking professionals include the Central Business District (Marina Bay, Raffles Place), the Orchard/River Valley corridor, and the East Coast for families who want proximity to international schools and a more suburban feel.
Typical rental ranges as at mid-2026 for an unfurnished condo:
- One-bedroom, CBD or Orchard: SGD 3,500–5,500 per month
- Two-bedroom, mid-central: SGD 5,000–8,000 per month
- Three-bedroom, family-sized, Orchard/East Coast: SGD 7,000–12,000 per month
More detail on rental costs is in our cost-of-living guide for expats 2026. If you intend to purchase property, note that foreigners face a 60% Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty on most residential purchases — see the full stamp duty guide for foreign buyers before committing. Most finance professionals arriving on an EP rent for at least their first three years.
Schools for British Children in Singapore
Singapore has a well-developed international school sector, and several schools specifically cater to the British curriculum or are popular with UK-origin families.
British Curriculum Schools
Tanglin Trust School (Holland Road) follows the British national curriculum through to A-Levels. It is the most established British-curriculum school in Singapore and is heavily oversubscribed — the waitlist for primary-age places can run two to three years. Apply before you accept your job offer if your children are primary-school age.
Dulwich College Singapore (Buona Vista) offers a British-based curriculum alongside IB, with an excellent reputation for sport and the arts. Waitlists are shorter than Tanglin but still competitive at popular year-groups.
IB Schools
UWCSEA (Dover and East campuses) is one of the most academically rigorous IB schools in the world and is popular with families who want genuinely international education. British children adapt well; the campus community is diverse and the pastoral care is strong.
Stamford American International School offers both IB and the American curriculum and has a large UK cohort. Its East campus near Woodleigh is relatively newer and easier to get into than some of the established schools.
The Waitlist Reality
For primary and junior secondary year groups at established international schools, waitlists of one to two years are normal. Begin the application process as early as possible — ideally when you start interviewing for your Singapore role, not after you have accepted the offer. A full breakdown of school options, costs, and the AEIS process for local schools is covered in our Singapore family relocation guide.
Bringing Your Family: Dependant’s Pass and Work Rights
As an EP holder earning SGD 6,000 or more per month, you are eligible to sponsor a Dependant’s Pass (DP) for your spouse and children under 21. The Dependant’s Pass guide for 2026 covers the full eligibility rules and what DP holders can and cannot do.
Spouses holding a Dependant’s Pass do not have an automatic right to work in Singapore. They must apply for their own work pass if they wish to take up employment. DP holders can, however, study, volunteer, and run a business if incorporated as a company (on a separate EntrePass or EP through that entity). Parents who wish to join you in Singapore will typically apply for an LTVP through MOM or ICA, subject to financial sponsorship requirements.
Practical Pre-Arrival Checklist
Finance professionals making the London to Singapore relocation 2026 typically work through the following sequence:
- Months 6–4 before arrival: Accept the job offer; employer initiates EP application; apply to international schools simultaneously; begin UK Statutory Residence Test planning with a tax adviser.
- Months 3–2 before arrival: Secure rental accommodation remotely (Singapore landlords routinely accommodate remote viewings and LOI signing); ship or store UK household contents.
- Month 1 before arrival: Open a Singapore bank account (DBS, OCBC, or HSBC Singapore all offer pre-arrival account opening for new EP holders in certain cases); notify UK employer of departure date; finalise HMRC departure paperwork.
- Arrival week: Collect EP card from MOM; open local banking if not done remotely; register for SingPass; set up utilities.
- First three months: Establish Singapore tax residency; register children at school; apply for supplementary work pass for spouse if needed.
If your move also involves corporate structuring — for example, setting up a Singapore family investment vehicle or a holding company alongside your employment — Raffles Corporate Services provides end-to-end incorporation and structuring advice for professionals relocating to Singapore.
Making the Move
The London to Singapore move for a finance professional is one of the most well-trodden relocation paths in Asia, and for good reason: the employment market is deep, the tax regime is significantly more efficient, and the quality of life for families is consistently high. The key is preparation — particularly on school applications, the EP timeline, and UK tax departure sequencing.
Singapore Employment Agency (Little Big Employment Agency Pte Ltd, MOM Licence 19C9790) assists finance professionals with Employment Pass applications, family pass sponsorship, and pre-arrival employment planning. For incorporation, tax residency structuring, and ongoing corporate support in Singapore, contact Raffles Corporate Services.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency