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foreigners buying insurance in singapore

Can Foreigners Buy Life Insurance in Singapore?

It is extremely common for life insurance policies to be purchased by foreigners in Singapore from all woks of life. In this article we will group the type of life policies the type of foreigners is able to purchase from Permanent Residents all the way to Leisure travelers or Passer by (a lingo for foreigners that comes to Singapore just to buy life Insurance)

We know that Singapore is a cosmopolitan city, today, it has one of the highest population densities of foreigners living here whether is it for work, holiday, medical or visitation of relatives. Be-known to many, Singapore is also a financial hub, it has one of the most robust financial structure in the world and many financial institutions set up shops and even headquarters here as a springboard into the South East Asian or even the whole Asian region.

Singapore has also ranked extremely well in terms of governance, safety, human development and cleanliness. It leads in being one of the least corrupted countries in the world and is often ranked top in competitiveness in recent time.

In the life insurance sector, it is a heavily regulated industry with many enforcement to protect customers. The Monetary Authority of Singapore also known as MAS has implemented thorough legislation, regulations, directions and notices. Guidelines have also been formulated to encourage best practices among financial institutions.

financial hub singapore and MBS
Business photo created by lifeforstock – www.freepik.com

What Life Insurance Can Permanent Residents Buy in Singapore?

Singapore permanent residents are equivalent to Singaporeans when it comes to purchasing insurance in Singapore. Not only can they buy all the available cash only products in the market they are also able to utilize their CPF monies to pay for insurance like HPS (Home Protection Scheme) which is a mortgage insurance for HDB Flats. PR will also be able to purchase DPS (Dependent Protection Scheme) as a low sum assured term insurance coverage payable using their CPF Ordinary Accounts. Singapore PR can also purchase Integrated shield plans (An upgrade of the compulsory Medishield life scheme initiated by the Singapore Government) using their medisaves.

It will also be compulsory for PRs to purchase the Careshield life which is a long-term care scheme payable by CPF Medisave to provide a lifetime monthly income benefit in the event the insured is diagnosed with severe disabilities (inability to do 3 out of 6 activities of daily living). Permanent Residents will also be able to utilise their medisave of up to $600 each year to upgrade their Careshield life, this will provide higher monthly payout and a more lenient claim definition (inability to do 2 out of 6 activities of daily living).

Can Buy
  • All Life & Health Insurance Products Payable by Cash
  • All Life insurance Products payable by SRS
  • All Life & Health insurance products payable by CPF OA/SA/Medisave
Limitations
  • PR from certain nationalities which are high risk e.g. Iran may be barred from purchasing life insurance plans from certain insurers.
  • US Citizens may be barred from buying life insurance products with cash value e.g. Endowment, Investment linked products and Whole life plans, due to potential tax complication.

What Life Insurance Can Work Pass Holders Buy in Singapore?

Similar to a Permanent Resident, a work pass holder will be able to purchase any type of insurance that can be payable by Cash in Singapore. Some work pass holders e.g. Employment Pass and S Pass, will be able to create an SRS account for tax saving purposes and purchase a life insurance plan using their SRS account.

Most work pass holders will also be able to purchase life insurance products with and without cash value. Some limitation for Work pass holder will be the inability to purchase certain products that can be payable using CPF accounts as work pass holders do not contribute to CPF in Singapore.

Such plan includes but are not limited to DPS, Careshield Life and HPS. Certain insurers allow work pass holders to purchase their integrated shield plans with certain restrictions. E.g. a work pass holder will not be able to utilise any medisaves to fund such plans and will be required to pay in full using cash. Insurers may also require Work pass holders to purchase a higher-grade hospital ward coverage with riders at a slightly higher premium than PR and Singaporeans

Can Buy
  • All Life & Health Insurance Products Payable by Cash
  • All Life insurance Products payable by SRS
Limitations
  • Work passholders may not be allowed to purchase certain CPF enabled life and health insurance policies
  • Work passholders are not eligible to purchase Careshield life and its supplement
  • Work passholders from certain restricted nationalities are also barred from purchasing life insurance plans
  • US citizen work passholders will also not be able to buy or invest into life insurance policies with cash values due to tax complications

What Life Insurance Can Dependent Pass/Student Pass/ Long Term Visit Pass Holders Buy in Singapore?

Dependent pass and passholders not working in Singapore are also as eligible to purchase any life insurance plans as much a work pass holder. Typically, the challenge of such pass holders will be the requirement to proof the source of funds for their purchase, such requirement is not much of a concern if their spouse or family member is holding a work pass, citizenship or permanent residence id in Singapore.

Non-working pass holders can also purchase the integrated shield and medishield life program using cash with some of the insurers. If their family members are local or permanent residents, they will be eligible to more options in the integrated shield plan space and will enjoy rates similar to PR and Singaporeans.

Due to their status as a non-working resident, they are not eligible to contribute to SRS and will not be able to purchase any SRS related life insurance plans. These pass holders are also not eligible to purchase DPS, Careshield Life and HPS as they do not contribute to CPF even if their spouse does.

Can Buy
  • All Life & Health Insurance Products Payable by Cash

Limitations

  • Non-work passholders may not be allowed to purchase certain CPF enabled life and health insurance policies
  • Non-work passholders are not eligible to purchase careshield life and its supplement
  • Non-work passholders from certain restricted nationalities such as Iran or Myanmar are also barred from purchasing life insurance plans
  • US citizen non-work passholders will also not be able to buy or invest into life insurance policies with cash values due to tax complications
  • If they are unable to proof any source of income, these passholders may also not be allowed to purchase any Insurance in Singapore

What Life Insurance Can Short Term Visit Pass/Passer-By Buy in Singapore?

Short term visit pass/passer-by’s in Singapore are more restricted than the other categories, the reason is because these individuals do not reside in Singapore and are usually here for leisure, work or family visits. Due to the current pandemic situation, there are even more restriction impose especially for visitors from countries that badly manages the pandemic situation such as some parts of India, United States and the Latin America region. Short term visit pass are often regarded as just a passer-by, meaning they do not have a permanent residence in Singapore.

That being said, there are some products that are still available that can be purchased by passer bys depending on the country and cities they originated from. E.g. if you are a short term visitor from a developed city you are able to purchase some life products e.g. Universal Life and Term insurance plans. Certain insurers also allow the purchase of participating policies such as endowment and whole life insurance if they come from non-restricted countries. However, there may be some discrimination imposed by insurers, such as, if the residency of the individual is from a certain countries or certain cities of a huge country, loading may be imposed on their premium even if the individual has a clean health.

There are also restrictions on the sum assured for this group of buyers, e.g. coverage for death, disability and critical illnesses will be limited on the total sum assured. Another requirement for this group is that they have to be in Singapore to purchase the life insurance. As such, such individuals may have to reside in Singapore for a few days to weeks to have their policies incept before they can travel back to their country. These individuals are also subjected to more scrutiny as their source of funds are not readily traceable in Singapore and thus more documented proof need to be shown during their application.

None of the CPF and SRS Eligible products are available to short term pass holders and most cash plans are also not eligible e.g. Investment linked policies and participating policies.

Can Buy
  • Some life insurance products like term insurance and universal life are readily available.
Limitations
  • Even though there are available life products, the life insurance may be subjected to higher premium depending on which country the individual originates from, not all countries will be eligible to purchase any life insurance plans in Singapore
  • Passer-by and Short-term visit pass holders are not eligible to purchase any; CPF approved life insurance plans, Medishield life and integrated shield plans; careshield life and its supplement.
  • Limit on sum assured are imposed for passer bys
  • Most individuals will also not be able to buy or invest into life insurance policies with cash values
  • If they are unable to proof any source of income, these group may also not be allowed to purchase any Insurance in Singapore
  • This group has to be present in Singapore to make any life insurance purchase

Pros and Cons for foreigners to buy Life insurance plans in Singapore

As above, we have identified the type of foreigners and what type of plans they can purchase in Singapore. We also know that the main limitation is not so much on the pass they hold but on the status of their residency in Singapore as well as their nationalities. Despite that, Singapore is still an attractive place for a foreigner to purchase life insurance plans because of its stable governance and its robust and highly developed financial system.

In this section we will identify the pros and cons for all foreigners if they are to purchase and hold a life insurance policy from Singapore.

PROS
  • Singapore status as a global financial hub.
  • Strong regulation of the financial sector, especially the life insurance space.
  • No insurance companies have ever went bust in Singapore.
  • Highly competitive products and strong currency.
  • A safe haven for many affluent and HNW individuals that comes from unstable countries and would like to protect their wealth.
  • The potential to get treated and cared for within Singapore health care system.
  • If you purchase any life insurance product in Singapore, you will continue to be covered world wide at the initial agreed premium wherever you migrated to in future.
CONS
  • Exposure to the SGD Currency forex risk for foreigners if premium paid in SGD
  • Method of payment without a Singapore bank account may be challenging and incur higher cost
  • Certain products purchasable by foreigners’ example those CPF approved plans will not be able to provide coverage once foreigner renounce their residency or work passes in Singapore
  • Subjected to Singapore stringent international monetary and local laws
  • Subjected to Singapore Intestacy laws when it comes to claims especially when no nomination or will is done.
  • Higher premium may be charged on non-Singapore residents and from higher risk countries.
  • Potential future tax implication from the individual’s home country for overseas wealth.

We have concluded the pros and cons of foreigners with the intention to purchase life insurance in Singapore, however we would like to emphasize that as the world becomes more globalised, certain restriction may be lifted or further imposed. It is a great idea for any foreigners to purchase a life insurance plan especially when the financial system in your country is not as stable and robust to protect your family’s asset and wealth.

If you are a foreigner regardless of residency and wish to purchase a life or health insurance plan

Let us know if you need any clarification by filling in the form below. We prefer communication via whatsapp over email, so please leave your international number with the necessary prefix e.g. +65 for our partnered licensed representative to contact you to answer your queries. Over the years Moneyline.SG we have helped many foreigners residing in Singapore and passer bys get their desired coverage and till date we have been receiving many referrals from these individuals.

Our MAS-Licensed Partner will provide you with objective advice and help you compare insurance quotes from different providers. 100% Free & No Commitment. Retrieve your info using your Singpass App or Manually fill in the forms below.

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