Country guide — Asia-Pacific
Expat insurance and health insurance in Singapore
In short
Singapore does not require health insurance for a simple visitor, but since 1 July 2023 it has required minimum coverage of 60,000 SGD per year (hospitalisation and day surgery, including non-work-related) for any Work Permit or S Pass holder, paid for by the employer. The Employment Pass (professionals, minimum salary 5,600 SGD/month), by contrast, is not subject to any Ministry of Manpower insurance obligation. No social security agreement links France and Singapore. The public MediShield Life and MediSave schemes are reserved for citizens and permanent residents contributing to the CPF.
Key figures
- 11,498 French nationals registered with the consular register in 2025 (-5.72% year-on-year; 12,196 in 2024); actual community estimated at 25,000-30,000 people according to the ambassador (2025).
- Life expectancy at birth: 83.35 years in 2024 — among the highest in the world.
- Health spending: 3,921.60 USD per capita in 2023.
Local healthcare system
A system built on mandatory medical savings (MediSave, 8 to 10.5% of salary via the CPF) and low-cost basic insurance (MediShield Life), complemented by the MediFund safety net. These schemes are reserved for citizens and permanent residents contributing to the CPF; a non-resident foreigner does not benefit from them. According to the Ministry of Health, hospital subsidies for non-resident foreigners ceased from October 2007 (permanent residents saw their subsidy progressively reduced, with a further 5-point reduction applied in October 2008); emergency care (A&E) remains billed at a single flat rate, regardless of nationality. Access to care for a foreign resident therefore relies on the private sector or insurance taken out through the employer or individually.
Legal and visa obligations
- Work Permit and S Pass: minimum coverage of 60,000 SGD/year, paid for by the employer. The floor was raised on 1 July 2023 (from 15,000 SGD previously, with 75% insurer / 25% employer co-payment above that); exclusions were standardised on 1 July 2025.
- Employment Pass: no MOM health insurance obligation — only a minimum salary of 5,600 SGD/month is required.
- Dependant’s Pass and Student’s Pass: no minimum medical insurance obligation imposed by the MOM for these passes themselves (unlike the Work Permit/S Pass); a Dependant’s Pass holder does not need to take out separate cover if their Work Permit sponsor already has a policy including them, but in practice schools and some renewals require proof of private insurance.
- No confirmed working holiday visa agreement between France and Singapore.
Cost of some medical procedures
Orders of magnitude from specialised sources, not official fee schedules.
| Procedure | Public sector | Private sector |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation (private) | — | ≈30 to 80 SGD (excluding medication), 35-55 SGD for a standard short consultation |
| Specialist consultation (1st visit) | ≈221 to 288 SGD (non-resident rate, SGH public hospital) | Generally higher than in the public sector |
| Emergency care (attendance fee) | ≈155 to 180 SGD, flat rate regardless of nationality (excluding additional procedures) | — |
| MRI | ≈260 to 560 SGD if referred (subsidised, not accessible to a non-resident); ≈1,000 SGD at unsubsidised rate | ≈800 to 2,000 SGD depending on complexity |
| Childbirth (vaginal / caesarean) | ≈1,500 to 10,000 SGD / ≈7,000 to 15,000 SGD | ≈8,000 to 25,000 SGD / ≈12,000 to 30,000 SGD |
Social security agreements with France
Singapore is not among the countries with a social security agreement in force with France, nor among the signed agreements pending implementation (unlike Japan, South Korea, India or the Philippines). No coordination of schemes, no cross-border cover. A French national in Singapore must rely on private insurance or voluntary membership of the CFE.
Which insurance for my profile
General matrix — does not recommend any specific product or insurer.
| Profile | Regulatory constraint | Points of attention |
|---|---|---|
| Working holiday visa | No confirmed agreement | Not applicable |
| Student | No minimum medical insurance imposed by the MOM for the Student's Pass itself | Schools require proof of private insurance in practice; check exact conditions with the institution |
| Work Permit / S Pass employee | 60,000 SGD/year coverage mandatory (employer) | Check the policy meets the threshold in force since July 2023 |
| Employment Pass employee | No MOM obligation | Private insurance strongly recommended despite the lack of obligation |
| Retiree / family with no local employment | No access to MediShield Life/MediSave | International private cover essential; CFE as a complement |
Hospitals and care network
- Singapore General Hospital (SGH) — public, SingHealth cluster.
- Raffles Hospital — private, 380 beds, JCI accredited since 2008, international clientele.
- Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Gleneagles Hospital — private, Parkway Pantai/IHH Healthcare group, JCI accredited.
Practical steps
- Before departure: check which pass applies (Employment Pass vs Work Permit/S Pass) to anticipate the insurance obligation.
- Work Permit/S Pass employee: the employer takes out the mandatory 60,000 SGD/year coverage before the contract starts.
- Registration with the roll of French nationals living abroad is recommended.
- Voluntary membership of the CFE is recommended given the lack of a social security agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance mandatory for all French nationals in Singapore?
Not uniformly: mandatory and set at a fixed amount (60,000 SGD/year) for a Work Permit or S Pass, but no MOM obligation for an Employment Pass.
Does French social security cover me in Singapore?
No: no social security agreement links the two countries.
Can I benefit from MediShield Life as a foreign resident?
No: this scheme, like MediSave, is reserved for citizens and permanent residents contributing to the CPF.
Moving to Singapore? Get a quote
Written by Expavy
Sources
- France Diplomatie — Singapore, Health
- CLEISS — Bilateral agreements in force
- Ministry of Manpower — Medical insurance, Work Permit
- Ministry of Manpower — Employment Pass
- World Bank — Life expectancy, Singapore
- France Diplomatie — Register of French nationals living abroad (carte-registre)
- Ministry of Health Singapore — Revision of Hospital Subsidy for Foreigners
- Ministry of Health Singapore — Payment for A&E Services in Public Hospitals
- Ministry of Manpower — Dependant's Pass
- Singapore General Hospital — Outpatient Charges (non-resident rate)
- SmartCalculator SG — MRI Scan Cost Singapore (specialised comparison site)
- Alea.care — Maternity Guide Singapore (specialised comparison site)