Guidelines On Foreign Ownership of Singapore Private Residential Properties

What is non-restricted residential property under the Residential Property Act?
In general, foreigners are not restricted from buying any apartment within a building; any flat or dwelling-house in an approved condominium development under the Planning Act. However, a foreign person is not allowed to buy all the apartments within a building or all the units in the condominium development.

What is restricted residential property under the Residential Property Act?

Foreign persons (including natural persons, companies and societies) are restricted from purchasing restricted residential property within the meaning of the Residential Property Act. Such property includes:

-vacant residential land;
-landed property [i.e detached house, semi-detached house, terrace house (including linked house or townhouse)]; and
-landed property in strata developments which are not approved condominium developments under the Planning Act.

Approval will have to be obtained from the Minister for Law to purchase a restricted residential property.

The Land Dealings (Approval) Unit administers the provisions of the Residential Property Act and its rules by:

-processing applications from foreign persons and foreign companies for approval to acquire or retain restricted residential property;
-issuing clearance certificates to Singapore companies and societies;
-prosecuting offences under the Residential Property Act; and
-dealing with general enquiries relating to the operation of the Act.

Under the Act, a foreign person is defined as a:

-person who is not a Singapore citizen:
-foreign company; and
-foreign society.

If you are a foreign person and are interested in purchasing a restricted residential property, you need to download the approved form from the SLA website. You can then submit the form together with the relevant supporting documents such as your entry and re-entry permits and qualifications to:

Land Dealings (Approval) Unit
Singapore Land Authority
8 Shenton Way
#27-02
Temasek Tower
Singapore 068811