List Of Jobs Nigerians Can Do In Singapore And How To Apply

Singapore is one of the countries that has always topped the list of destinations for international migrants wishing to migrate to other parts of the world to start a new chapter, work and live with their family.

The country has a strong economy, low cost of living, high quality of life and has always maintained an open-door policy towards migrants and continues to do so. The number of immigrants in the country continues to rise every year.

Working in Singapore, like most cosmopolitan cities, will feel strangely familiar and foreign all at once. Its fast-paced, culturally diverse economy is filled with vibrant businesses and opportunities.

Presently, Singapore faces a shortage of technology workers and this means that the country relies on foreigners to fill the gap.

Tech giants such as Facebook and Alphabet's Google have their Asian base in Singapore while ByteDance and Zoom are hiring aggressively in the country of 5.7 million people in the city.

The minimum wage for workers in Singapore is $386 (N158,472.30) per month. Employees also receive a 13th and the 14th salary in Singapore. If you are looking for jobs that Nigerians can get in Singapore, you should consider some of these jobs.

List of Jobs in Singapore Nigerians Can Get

•             Construction jobs

•             Agricultural sector

•             Marketing and sales jobs

•             The health sector

•             Teaching jobs

•             Hospitality jobs

•             Engineering jobs

There are two options you can explore in your desire to live and work in Singapore.

1. The Direct Employment  or

2. Study to Stay

The Direct Employment Approach

To get a job in Singapore, it’s possible to search and apply for employment directly from your current country of residence. It is not advisable to travel to Singapore with a visiting visa and expect to get a work permit.

To get a job, ensure you are qualified for one of the possible jobs listed above. Ensure you are eligible to work and the avenue to do this is through the Ministry of Manpower of Singapore. This is called Self Assessment Tool for Employment. It can be obtained through their Web page ‘online self-assessment tool’ It contains all you need to measure your eligibility as a prerequisite for applying for a job.

When you successfully scale the hurdle of getting g a job offer, the next step is to apply for a work visa.

There are two general work visas that is open to migrants workers:

1. S PASS: This type of visa is most popular for migrants workers. It’s generally obtained by mid-level professionals earning about 2,200 Singapore Dollars (N682,826.76) per month, and who have passed the mandatory assessment.

2. EMPLOYMENT PASS: This type of visa is issued to high skilled workers earning about 3,300 Singapore Dollar (1,024,240.14) per month.

How to apply for a Singapore work Visa

If you’re a professional and have a job offer from a company in Singapore, it is wise to let the company apply on your behalf.

These are the requirements for a work visa:

1. Your International passport with more than 6 months validity.

2. Original job offer from a company in Singapore.

3. All the credentials used in processing the job application.

4. Photocopy of the data page of your passport.

5. Photocopies of the company’s business registration.

6. Two recently acquired passport-sized photographs with white background.

7. Evidence of flight booking.

8. Evidence of health clearance certificate.

9. Evidence of Basic travelling allowance.

The Study to Stay Approach

This approach entails investing in the right education which you believe can enable you to secure employment easily after graduation in Singapore.

Unlike some other countries such as the United Kingdom where an international student must exit the country after graduation, the Singapore system allows an international student who studied in the country to stay and work provided it is done the right way.

The study to stay approach involves: Commencing the processing right from your current country of residence, by:

1. Search for an accredited Singapore Institute of Higher Learning.

2. Process an admission to a University located in Singapore.

3. Obtain acceptance of an offer of admission from the university.

4. Pay the required fees.

5. Process and obtain a student visa to study in Singapore.

6. Study and obtain a degree in your area of specialization

Obtain Long Term Social Visit Pass

After graduation, you’re at liberty to apply for a long-term social visit pass which authorised you to continue to stay in the country for a period of one year. This automatically qualifies you to search for a job.

The advantage of study in Singapore including passing the eligibility procedure of the long-term social visit pass.

Furthermore, the employment pass is available to all foreign students regardless of their nationalities, provided they’re eligible.

Because you studied in Singapore you’re familiar with the system and knowing where to search for a job will be very easy due to your understanding of the terrain.

Getting a work permit

Due to the fact that you can not get a work permit without a job offer, the only approach is to be sure you complete your studies successfully and towards the tail end, apply for the Long Term Social Visit Pass which will authorise you to stay for a period of one year.

Please note that it’s advisable to apply well ahead before your student’s pass expires.

These are the standard requirements for applying for Long term social visit pass.

1. A dully filled Immigration Form (Form 14),

2. One recently acquired passport-sized photograph. (To be attached to the Form 14)

3. All credentials acquired in Singapore.

4. Your International passport with more than 6 months validity (Attach the photocopy of the data page of the passport)

5. Your current student’s pass.

6. Proof of disembarkation card when you arrived in Singapore.

7. Payment of application fee of SG$30

All the above-mentioned documents must be submitted to allow the authority between 6-7 weeks for application processing.

GETTING A JOB

Getting a job may not be difficult because:

1. You studied in Singapore,

2. There are a lot of industries currently performing well in Singapore and ready to employ. Area such as Manufacturing, Medical and healthcare, Information technology, Buildings and building maintenance, Road construction, and maintenance, etcetera.

When you secure a job offer, your employer will surely process a work permit for you.

The Long Term Social Visit Pass is not renewable

Please bear in mind that the long-term visit pass is non-renewable, therefore it’s advisable you utilise your time well and be sure you secure employment before its expiration.

Visa Processing Time: The application process for the Singapore visa may take up to three days (excluding the date of submission). Take note that some applications may take longer to process.

Visa Fees

The Singapore tourist visa costs ₦7,910.22.

Visa application fees are non-refundable. The consulate-general accepts payments by Visa or MasterCard. Online payments are also accepted by Visa or Mastercard through the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

Singapore Visa Requirements

•             A completed 14A form

•             2 recently taken passport-size photo (35mm x 45mm, taken within the last three months, with even exposure)

•             Your passport (with at least six months validity from the date of entry into Singapore)

•             A copy of your passport’s biodata page

•             Police clearance certificate

•             Tax clearance certificate

•             Bank account statement for the last six months, signed by your bank

•             Evidence of accommodation or booking, indicating the location and date of arrival

•             Proof of flight booking indicating departure and arrival dates

•             Evidence of basic travelling allowance to cover your entire stay in Singapore

•             Letter of introduction from your employer (stating your position and your leave dates)

•             Your company’s identity cards

•             A completed V39A form (this is a letter of introduction for the visa application)

Where to Apply

You can submit your application for your Singapore visa at the Honorary Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore in Lagos.

Address:              No. 81-A, Younis Bashorun Street, Off Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria

Telephone:         001-234-1-4610818 / 001-234-1-4619088

E-mail:  [email protected]

Homepage:        http://www.mfa.gov.sg/nigeria

Hours:   Weekdays, 09:00 – 16:00

Submissions, 09:00 – 11:00

Collections, 15:00 – 16:00

Alternatively, you can have a local contact in Singapore (a Singaporean or a permanent resident, at least 21 years old, who has a Singpass account) submit your application to the ICA.

Applying in Nigeria

1.            Have your documents printed and your photos taken.

2.            Complete the two forms.

3.            Submit your documents to the Honorary Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore in Lagos.

4.            Pay the application fee.

When collecting your visa at the consulate-general, make sure to have your receipt and any other documents provided to you when you submitted your application.

Requirements for Singapore Work Visa

Foreign workers who work in Singapore need to fulfill the requirements mentioned below:

   The applicant must hold a valid passport.

   The applicant must be of at least 18 years of age

   The applicant can only work within the scope of work mentioned in the work permits issued by the authorities.

Apart from the above-mentioned points, foreign workers working in Singapore must also comply with:

   Take no part in any other business or start their own business.

   Work only in the occupation and for the employer specified in the work pass or work permit.

   Do not marry a Singapore citizen or permanent resident in or outside Singapore without having approval from the Ministry of Manpower.

   Reside only at the address set by the employer at the start of the employment.

   Carry the original work permit at all times and produce it for inspection on demand by any public officer.

What Is Attractive About Working In Singapore

In Singapore, the welfare of employees is taken very seriously. Any employee whose wage is below SGD 2,000 per month is given extra protection under the Singapore Employment Act. Such areas of protection include hours of work, rest days, overtime, annual leave, sick leave, public holidays, retirement, and retrenchment benefits.

There are certain non-statutory benefits companies and employers provide for their employees. Such benefits include the following:

• Relocation packages: Some companies bear the cost of the relocation of their employees to another location.

• Stock Purchase Plans: In Singapore, certain companies also provide their employees with stock purchase options.

• Healthcare plans: Employees are also provided with medical insurance plans by their employers.

• Some companies also provide their employees with travel allowance or reimbursement of expenses incurred while traveling.

Living Costs & Relocation Tips

With its high standard of living, business-friendly climate and the ability to live and work in English, the city-state of Singapore is a very popular destination for both immigrants and expats. 43% of Singapore’s population was born abroad, which puts it among the top 10 cities globally in terms of the share of the foreign-born population.

Quick Facts:

1.  Population: 5.26 million (3.27 million citizens, 0.54 million permanent residents and 1.46 million non-permanent                         residents)

2.  Official Languages: English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil. (English is the language of business)

3.  GDP per capita (nominal): $52,888 USD (6th highest in the world)

4.  Drives on: Left

5. Currency: Singapore dollar ($S, SGD). As of early 2017, $1 USD = $1.42 SGD, £1 GBP = $1.77 SGD, €1 EUR = $1.51 SGD, $1 CAD = $1.08 SGD, $1 AUD = $1.09 SGD.

However, before you decide to move to Singapore it’s important that you fully understand how much it will cost to both move and live there.

Below, we've outlined some of the biggest costs you can expect to encounter when you move, along with some other tips provided with help from CupoNation.

Visa Costs

If you plan on working and/or studying in Singapore you will need to get the appropriate work visa or study visa. Singapore has a wide range of Work passes and permits to choose from along with the Student’s Pass for students.

Here are some sample costs:

VISA TYPE                                                    APPLICATION FEE          ISSUING FEE       TOTAL COST

Employment Pass (Job paying over S$3,300/month): S$70                     S$150                        S$220

S Pass (Jobs paying at least S$2,200.month):           S$60                       $S80                         S$140

Dependant's Pass (Spouses and children of Employment Pass or S Pass holders)                                                                                                                       S$60                      S$150                        S$210

EntrePass (for Entrepreneurs):                                    S$70                       S$150                       S$220

Training Employment Pass:                                          S$70                       S$150                       S$220

Work Holiday Programme (Valid for up to 6 months for those aged 18-25):

                                                                                     NA                            $S150                      S$150

Student's Pass:                                                            S$30                        S$60                         S$90

To learn more about VISAs and their associated costs you’ll need to check with the Singapore Ministry of Manpower.

Housing Costs

Housing in Singapore is among the most expensive in the world and is likely to be your single biggest expense when living there. Below are some sample rent and purchase prices, but keep in mind the market is shifting all the time.

Rental Prices

•             1 bedroom apartment in City Centre: S$2,000-S$4,500 ($1,477-$3,324 USD)

•             1 bedroom apartment outside of centre: S$1,500-S$2,600 ($1,108-$1,920 USD)

•             3 bedroom apartment in City Centre: S$4,500-S$8,000 ($3,324-$5,910 USD)

•             3 bedroom apartment outside of Centre: S$2,600-S$4,500 ($1,920-$3,324 USD)

Apartment Purchase Prices

•             Price per square meter (10.7 sq ft) to buy in City Centre: S$17,222-S$32,000 ($12,726-$23,646 USD)

•             Price per square meter (10.7 sq ft) to buy outside of Centre: S$7,534-S$15,400 ($5,567-$11,379 USD)

Housing Cost Comparison

Here’s how housing costs in Singapore (based on rent), match up against other major world cities:

•             London is 3.93% cheaper

•             New York is 24.42% more expensive

•             Toronto is 49.87% cheaper

•             Sydney is 19.65% cheaper

•             Paris is 42.59% cheaper

•             Dubai is 4.35% cheaper

Keep in the mind the above are based on averages only and your mileage may vary.

Bonus Tip

•             Renting suggestions: Renting in Singapore is expensive, but you can search in some areas outside the center that are

relatively cheaper: go for places like Bedok, Changi, Pasir Ris, Woodlands, Jurong, etc.

Food, Grocery & Restaurant Costs

Since Singapore is an island city-state, it has to import the vast majority of its food. This means grocery prices, on the whole, tend to be higher than in other surrounding countries. However, compared to other major world cities restaurants are relatively cheap.

Below are sample costs for 10 common grocery items and restaurant meals:

1.            Inexpensive Restaurant: $S7.00-$S20.00 ($5.20-$14.85 USD)

2.            Takeout Coffee: S$4.50-S$6.00 ($3.35-$4.45 USD)

3.            Bottle of Coke: S$1.20-S$2.50 ($0.90-$1.90 USD)

4.            1L of Milk: S$2.50-S$4.00 ($1.90-$3.00 USD)

5.            Loaf of Bread: S$2.00-S$3.00 ($1.50-$2.25 USD)

6.            12 Eggs: S$2.16-S$3.50 ($1.60-$2.60 USD)

7.            1kg Chicken: S$6.00-S$10.00 ($4.45-$7.40 USD)

8.            1kg Beef: S$12.00-S$33.00 ($8.90-$24.50 USD)

9.            1kg Apples: S$3.00-S$6.00 ($2.25-$4.45 USD)

10.          1kg White Rice: S$2.00-S$5.00 ($1.50-$3.70 USD)

In terms of food here’s how Singapore compares to other major world cities:

•             London restaurants are 51% more expensive but groceries are 21% cheaper.

•             New York restaurants are 62% more expensive and groceries are 31% more expensive.

•             Toronto restaurants are 11% more expensive but groceries are 15% cheaper.

•             Sydney restaurants are 21% more expensive and groceries are about the same price.

•             Paris restaurants are 35% more expensive and groceries are about the same price.

•             Dubai restaurants are 5% more expensive but groceries are 25% cheaper.

Source: Numbeo

Bonus tips:

•             Visit wet markets: For fresh fruits and veggies, your local wet markets are less expensive than supermarkets. Visit Chinatown, Empress, Tiong Bahru,Tekka and the Jurong Fishery Port for seafood (having to wake up early to catch the best deals is kind of hard-ideal hours are from 2 am to 4 am) but both locals and expats confirm that it’s definitely worth it!

•             Hawkers for cheap eats: All locals go to food hawkers and you should also do it: A good variety of cuisines at low prices (prices start at 2.5 SGD per plate) is what makes hawkers so successful and allows you to have a glimpse of traditional Singapore.

Popular hawkers: Lau Pa Sat in the Central Business District, also known as Telok Ayer Market, Chinatown’s Maxwell Hawker Centre, Chinatown Food Street and Tekka Centre in Little India.

•             Closing hours are the best: This applies both to Supermarkets (for example the Japanese and grill sections) and wet markets: when it is closing time many products will be half the price or even less, as the alternative for vendors is to throw them.

•             Go shopping in Johor Bahru: If you have time, visit Johor Bahru in Malaysia for cheaper seafood, and to buy your groceries supplies-however stick to Singapore for your electronics and designer goods, as they are more expensive in Malaysia due to high taxes.

Alcohol Costs

Alcohol prices in Singapore are relatively high by world standards. Here are some sample prices:

1.            Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a restaurant: S$5.00-S$12.00 ($3.70-$8.90 USD)

2.            Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant: S$6.50-S$13.00 ($4.80-$9.65 USD)

3.            Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a supermarket: S$4.00-S$8.00 ($3.00-$6.00 USD)

4.            Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: S$4.00-S$10.00 ($3.00-$7.45 USD)

5.            Mid-range bottle of wine: S$23.00-S$40.00 ($17.10-$29.70 USD)

Bonus Tips:

•             Ladies nights on Wednesdays: Wednesday is ladies' night in Singapore, which means free entrance and drinks for women in many bars and clubs!

•             Happy Hour: Drinking Alcohol is expensive compared to western standards, but you can always visit the bars during happy hours: then you have more chances of getting buy-one-get-one-free deals.

•             Keep the Arts House in mind: Look regularly at the Arts House website to keep track of many international and local art exhibitions that can be either free or at very good prices.

Public Transportation Fares

Public transportation fares in Singapore are extremely low by world standards. They are calculated based on distance, so you only pay for the distance you travel. Moreover, you’re allowed up to 5 transfers within 2 hours on the journey.

This can include transfers between busses and the train network, although you can only enter/exit the train network once overall per journey.

Adults have 3 types of tickets/passes to choose from:

1.            New Standard Ticket: $S1-S$2.30 + $S0.10 deposit (refunded on 3rd trip).

2.            Adult Stored value Smartcard: $S10.00 + S$5.00 deposit (non-refundable)

3.            The Singapore Tourist Pass Unlimited Travel for S$10.00/day + S$10.00 deposit (refundable within 5 days)

Source: Land Transport Authority

Bonus tip:

•             MRT early commuters ride: MRT offers free morning rides in the city area for commuters using the network before 7:45 am, so set your alarm a bit earlier to avoid the crowds and move for free!

Cost of Internet

Broadband fibre internet in Singapore is extremely fast by international standards. Here are some sample prices you can expect to pay for a 1 GBPS connection: (Prices as of July 2016; based on a 24-month contract):

•             ViewQuest: S$65.00/month

•             Singtel: S$59.90/month

•             MyRepublic: S$49.99/month

•             M1: S$39.00/month

Cost of Clothing & Personal Items

Given that Singapore is located just over 1 degree north of the equator, it should come as no surprise that its climate is hot and humid and is the equivalent of a tropical rainforest.

Since it’s so close to the equator, the temperature and humidity do not vary much from month to month. Typical day-time highs are around 31.0°C (87.8°F) and typical lows are around 24.1°C (75.4°C) with an average relative humidity of around 84%. So you can feel confident leaving your coat and winter boots at home as you won’t be needing them here.

Clothing is not cheap in Singapore with prices for many items well above what you’d find in the United States or even Europe.

Below are a few sample costs:

•             1 pair of Jeans: S$70.00-S$150.00

•             Summer Dress: S$40.00-S$80.00

•             Running Shoes (Trainers): S$90.00-S$150.00

•             Business Shoes: S$90.00-S$195.00

Bonus tips:

•             Buy or sell online on local apps: Buy second-hand things or sell things you no longer need on local applications and websites such as Carousel or SGSelling.

•             Prefer display sets: Big retailers like Best, Courts or Harvey Norman have appliances and gadgets at 20-30% lower prices when they have been used as a display set and most of the time they are in great condition. Make sure to ask if the warranty of the product is the same as a new product though.

•             Great Singapore Sale: Prefer to wait until the GSS for stocking up your clothes and accessories. You can start in June and still have a timeframe of 10 weeks to make the most out of it! Our advice? Do both the brand shops in Orchard Road and the smaller shops of Chinatown, Little India, or Kampong Glam.

•             Cheap medications: Some kinds of medication can be as much as 50% cheaper in Malaysia or Batam and many times they do not need a prescription; keep that in mind if you go for a visit or have family in one of these places!

•             Stay active on a budget: Don’t pay a fortune to keep in shape by signing up in a private gym. Did you know that an Active

SG facility costs 2.5 SGD per session for residents? That is a great alternative!

•             Get a massage at a great price while helping your fellow citizens: the Mobile Massage Team by the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped gives massages at very good prices, starting from SGD 10 for 20 mins.

Cost of owning a car

Singapore drivers, drive on the left, the same as the UK and Australia and the opposite of the United States, Canada and continental Europe.

If you plan on living and working and living in Singapore for any period of time you will have to convert your license over to a Singapore driving licence. You can learn more about How to convert a foreign driving licence here.

Singapore has among the lowest rates of car ownership anywhere in the developed world, with only 149 vehicles per 1000 people. In comparison, the US has 809 per 1,000 people and the UK has 519 per 1,000 people.

One of the reasons why car ownership is so low is due to the high cost of buying, registering and running a car. Here are some sample costs:

•             Volkswagen Golf 2.0: S$131,708

•             1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas (petrol): S$2.17

•             Registration fee (RF): S$140

•             Additional Registration Fee (ARF): up to 180% of vehicle value.

Sources: Expatistan.com, Land Transport Authority of Singapore Tax Structure For Cars

Just be aware that the costs above are only some of the fees and costs you will face when trying to register a car in Singapore. See the Land Transport Authority of Singapore website for full details.

Taxes

Taxes in Singapore are relatively low by international standards.

The top marginal income tax rate for residents is 22% and only applies to incomes above S$320,000 per year. If you live in Singapore for between 61 and 183 days per year, you are considered a non-resident and will the charged the higher of 15% or the marginal tax rate for your income level.

In addition, you will also have to pay 7% Goods and Service Tax (GST; aka sales tax) on most goods and services while living in Singapore.

If you plan on starting a business and/or buying a property you will face additional taxes.

Conclusion 

Singapore is one of the countries that doesn’t operate dual citizenship. However, you are guaranteed to live in a safe country and where you will not experience many discriminations and the salary is very attractive.