Can a foreigner buy property in Singapore?

Foreigners may buy, but with permission, zones or type limits

Singapore lets foreigners buy flats in private condominiums freely, but landed property needs government approval and public housing is closed to non-citizens.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change. This page describes the structure of the rule, not prices, taxes or quotas. Confirm the current position with the official source listed below, and with a lawyer in the country, before you pay anything. This is general information, not legal advice.

Land

A foreigner needs approval from the government to buy landed property such as a house on its own plot of land. Approval is granted only in limited cases.

Houses and flats

Private condominium and apartment units may be bought by foreigners without approval. Public (HDB) housing is for citizens and permanent residents.

Buying through a company

A company with foreign shareholders may be treated as foreign for the Residential Property Act, so check before using one.

Limits and closed zones

Foreign buyers pay an extra stamp duty on residential property. The rate is set by the government and has been changed.

What to watch for

Check whether a unit is a condominium or landed property before you commit. The rules differ.

Understand the legal system first

Singapore belongs to the Common law family. Property is registered and transferred differently in different traditions, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the Singapore legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
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Official sources

TheLawToKnow Tools’s guide to foreign property ownership is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.