Living in Singapore during an internship

Are you wondering about life in Singapore ? How to do your internship there ? How to get your visa or what to visit ? Come & Go gives you all its advice so that your internship in Singapore is the best possible.

Singapore, a small country of less than 6 million people, has become in one century one of the richest countries in the world with a particularly high GDP per capita, to the point of being nicknamed the Switzerland of Asia. Its economy, based in particular on financial services, trade and tourism, attracts many students each year wishing to do an internship abroad.

Why do an internship in Singapore?

Singapore has a thriving economy, and one of the most modern and developed countries in the world. The country also has a very low unemployment rate. Singapore has become a major international trading and financial center. You will therefore find many internship offers in service activities (finance, marketing, R&D, tourism, etc). Unlike Europe, defined as the \”old\” continent, Singapore is considered as a \”new\” country and has developed very quickly with all of today\’s advanced technologies. In addition, the country is the ideal gateway to Asia since English is the main language, so the language barrier is lower compared to other Asian countries.

How to get a visa for an internship?

There are three options for an internship in Singapore : the Training Employment Pass, the Work Holiday Pass (under Work Holiday Program), the Work Holiday Pass (under Work and Holiday Visa Program) or the Training Work Permit.

• Work Holiday Pass (under Work Holiday Program) which is for students and graduates aged 18 to 25 who want to work and holiday in Singapore for 6 months.

• Training Employment Pass  which is for foreign professionals undergoing practical training. Candidates must earn at least $3,000 a month.

• Work Holiday Pass (under Work and Holiday Visa Program) is for Australian students and graduates aged 18 to 30 who want to work and holiday in Singapore for 1 year.

• Training Work Permit is for semi-skilled foreign trainees or students undergoing practical training in Singapore for up to 6 months.

For more information click here.

What to visit in Singapore ?

Little India 

The Indian community is very important here. It is the result of one of Britain’s colonial policies in which Indian labor was imported into Singapore in order to develop their colony. Little India is perhaps the most colorful district in Singapore. Little India is a small piece of India in the alleys of Singapore. It has colorful shophouses, rainbow facades, garlands, odds and ends of stacked jewelry and spicy cuisine. Since 1822 and the division of the city according to ethnic groups, the south of the city, and more precisely the east of the Singapore river, has smelled of incense. Located in the Chulia Kampong district, it is a sort of apartheid in a Singapore where order reigns, no other district in Asia is like it.

Chinatown 

Singaporean Chinatown is the most pleasant district of the city with a coexistence between old and modern. Here, the dominant color is red, the Chinese lucky color. Do not miss the Thian Hock Keng temple. This absolutely remarkable authentic temple, with a very traditional architectural style, in which one feels timeless and in deep harmony with their surroundings. Somehow this area continues to be relatively relaxed and calm while it is located close to the business center as you can see in the second picture !

Go through the Chinatown Buddha Tooth Relics temple. It is an imposing and majestic temple located in the heart of Chinatown. You can attend religious ceremonies between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (with discretion, of course), visit the museum of the relic of the tooth of Buddha, stroll up the 4 floors of the temple, and definitel go absolutely to the green and peaceful roof terrace. Within its center is this magnificent and small traditional temple which shelters a large prayer roller.

Kampong Glam 

Muslim quarter of the city, historical seat of the Malay community of the island. Kampong Glam organizes its multiple shops, restaurants and other hookah bars around the very famous Sultan Mosque.

Gardens by the Bay 

Singapore places great importance on nature. It is also often called a green city or a garden city. Inaugurated in 2012, Gardens by the Bay is made up of three parts. First, a giant greenhouse that recreates the biomes of different temperate climatic zones and related plants. Then, a second giant greenhouse that shelters a tropical forest and outside the Supertree Grove.

These 18 futuristic structures are linked by an air bridge located 22 meters above the ground. They host a variety of flora and fauna, and in particular include photovoltaic cells. The Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest shelter more than 250,000 rare and endangered plant species. The glass dome shelters a mountain 35 meters high. It is covered with lush vegetation and from which flows the highest indoor waterfall in the world ! Sacred \”construction of the year 2012\” by the World Architecture Festival, in March 2014 the Gardens by the Bay park won the jury\’s special prize, but also the first prize in the category of the most innovative ecological project, as part of the MIPIM fair (International Market for Real Estate Professionals) awarded to the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.

Some restrictions :

Before you leave, remember that there are some very specific prohibitions in Singapore. And do not expect leniency if you break the law :

– Throwing paper / litter / cigarette butts in the street: $500
– Urinating or spitting on the public highway: $500
– Smoking indoors: $500
– Shoplifting: $2,000
– Eat / Drink / Transport a durion in the metro: between $500 and $1,000

Also very important, zero tolerance is applied with regard to drugs (transport, traffic, consumption, etc.). The sanctions are very heavy and even go as far as the death penalty.

Are you ready for your internship in Singapore ? Find all our internship offers in the « internship » category of the Come & Go website and contact us at comeandgo.eu@hotmail.com to apply!

If you want to save time and book an excursion, an activity or a guided tour in Singapore, we recommend Civitatis, a website specialised in online reservations.