Singapore Expats

Hi everyone. My husband has the potential of a sponsored transfer to Singapore with his current company (senior manager at a major multi-billion £ toy manufacturer) for a few years. My current UK employer (a government funded charity in media) are prepared to offer me a retainer as a freelance international consultant to keep me. Bit confused by research online - will it be possible for me to get a Dependant's Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass as the gay male spouse of my husband? Cheers!

You are just two unmarried blokes as far as Singapore is concerned. Sodomy was only just recently decriminalized (just to give you an idea of where things stand).

The standard process for spouses clearly does
not apply. However, I have heard it might be possible for them to “close one eye” and give you a pass of some sort. If the HR in your partner’s Singapore office is worth their salt, they should know what is possible and how to maneuver, if it can even be done in your case. You’ll have to leave it with them and see what they can do.

short answer: no. Same situation here, big MNC pushing for it, government say no because we are gay. Singapore is not very advanced in this regard, very behind other asian countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong or Thailand.

Singapore is a very practical country, whether it’s chewing gum, drugs, prostitution, corporal punishment or free speech — there is always a practical rationale. Not everyone likes it or agrees, but Singapore isn’t trying to win a popularity contest. Being advanced or behind in any aspect is very much subjective.

There is zero impact to anyone to allow same-sex marriages, let alone recognise foreign unions. Discrimination of LGBT+ people in Singapore is not practical, is ideological, so let's not pretend otherwise. I completely admit that is entirely the prerogative of the Government of Singapore to discriminate against LGBT+ people (or not), and as a sovereign country they are perfectly entitled to do as they please. But the rest of us can freely criticise Singapore for what we believe it is backwards attitude, hence considering other countries that don't discriminate on the bases of sexual orientation to be much more advanced.

The same argument could be made for racial discrimination - no harm letting in more Indians for example. However, just the perception that this was happening caused a major backlash among many locals in the recent past. So, we can say no harm, but you’d be surprised how conservative and sensitive locals can be. This is shifting over time and there has been some softening, but I wouldn’t hold my breath on radical changes anytime soon.

The government reflects the social norms of the population, as responsible governments should. They also guide changes in law incrementally for sensitive issues, as was explained at length by our former PM in 2022 (see his NDR speech at
You can disagree, but do so with an understanding of why it is handled this way.

I completely understand the LHL narrative (it is the same it has been used - and debunked - for decades). And yes, I disagree with both the narrative and the position of keeping LGBT people discriminated in Singapore - as both morally wrong and ineffective in practical terms. As I said, more advanced countries have managed to drive LGBT equality faster, better than Singapore - at the end, it is their choice, but let's not pretend Singapore is a socially advanced country.

jois1 wrote: ↑

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 1:38 am

There is zero impact to anyone to allow same-sex marriages,

That is incorrect.

We are talking about a very small country of 500 sq km in area already pretty densely crowded. But. At the same time with the dwindling birthrates both here and abroad it behooves the government to only allow new immigrants who will be able to eventually (hopefully) want to settle here and contribute to the economy of the country (not necessarily their individual wealth as that doesn't help the country at all). They need couples that can (potentially) have offspring to contribute to future of Singapore and/or the defense of the country if warranted. Same-sex marriages helps no country and could in actual fact make other immigrants want to give it a miss as well if they are not comfortable having those types of arrangements in the country.

jois1 wrote: ↑

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 9:18 pm

I completely understand the LHL narrative (it is the same it has been used - and debunked - for decades). And yes, I disagree with both the narrative and the position of keeping LGBT people discriminated in Singapore - as both morally wrong and ineffective in practical terms. As I said, more advanced countries have managed to drive LGBT equality faster, better than Singapore - at the end, it is their choice, but let's not pretend Singapore is a socially advanced country.

Again, whether it is more or less “advanced” is a matter of perspective. Heterosexual relationships are the only ones capable of naturally creating the next generation. By normalizing and elevating non-procreative relationships to the same status, it moves society farther away from its biological and evolutionary core. Throughout much of human history and across nearly all cultures, the nuclear family has been the bedrock of society. This structure is often credited with providing a stable environment for child-rearing, transmitting cultural values, and maintaining social order. The LGBTQ movement, by promoting diverse family structures that do not conform to this traditional model (e.g., two fathers, two mothers, or single-parent by choice families), undermines this historical and proven institution. The traditional family is not just a cultural preference but a necessary framework for a stable and prosperous society. Therefore, any movement that weakens this framework could be interpreted as a move backward, away from established social norms that have historically proven to be highly effective. And, on a space constrained island like Singapore, there is extreme pressure to be highly effective.