Best Credit Cards for Foreigners / Expats in Singapore (2024)

Just arrived in Singapore and wondering what the credit card scene is like? Here's the lowdown on credit card eligibility requirements for foreigners in Singapore, and some recommendations for different types of expats.

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7 Best Credit Cards for Foreigners / Expats in Singapore (2024)

Whether you're planning to live it up in Singapore or work hard to provide for your family, we've got a great credit card for your spending habits. You may also want to employ a two-card strategy if you're a travel junkie: One credit card for your everyday expenses, and another miles card if you plan to use Singapore as a base to fly around Asia.

Amex Platinum Credit Card

Online Promo
Membership Benefits worth more than S$1,600!
Online Promo
Membership Benefits worth more than S$1,600!

American Express Platinum Credit Card

for every full S$1.60 spend at participating Platinum 10Xcelerartor Partners
10 Membership Rewards Points
for every full S$1.60 spend on All Other Spend
2 Membership Rewards Points
Rewards to Miles Conversion
1 Point = 0.55 Miles
Online Promo:
[American Express Welcome Offer]
New to American Express cardholders
can get S$300 Statement Credits when you pay the card's annual fee and spend a min. of S$1,000 within the first month of card approval.

Existing cardholders can get S$200 Statement Credits when you pay the card's annual fee and spend a min. of S$1,000 within first month of card approval.

Additionally, earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points based on the S$1,000 spent above. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 15 Jan 2025
There are some people who are die-hard fans of American Express purely because of its famous concierge service - and for new-in-town expats, it is certainly a wonderful service to access.

Note that Amex does not have a huge presence in Singapore and is not as widely accepted as Visa and Mastercard. You won't have a problem paying with it at major retailers, hotels and restaurants, but smaller businesses may not accept Amex.

That said, one of their best credit card offerings here is the Amex Platinum Credit Card. Though it comes with a hefty annual fee of over $300, it is perfectly possible to recoup the fee thanks to the amazing dining deals you can get with it.

Under the Amex "Love Dining" programme, cardholders can get 50% off the food bill at some of the fanciest restaurants in town. It also entitles you to drink deals such as free drinks at cocktail bars. In short, this card will make you feel like a VIP when you wine and dine around Singapore.

Eligibility for foreigners: Minimum annual income of S$80,000

HSBC Revolution Credit Card

MoneySmart Exclusive
Earn up to 4 miles per S$1 | Instant Activation*
MoneySmart Exclusive
Earn up to 4 miles per S$1 | Instant Activation*

HSBC Revolution Credit Card

on Online Spend on Travel, Shopping & Dining
S$1 = 10X Points
on All Other Spend
S$1 = 1X Point
for every 10 Points
Earn 4 Miles

Get S$199 Cash via PayNow or 3,500 SmartPoints  when you apply, spend a min. of S$500 from Card Account Opening Date to end of the following calendar month! Pay Annual Fee for HSBC TravelOne Card. T&Cs apply.
 
Additionally, enrol in our Rollin' Rewards campaign for FREE and stand a chance to win 50,000 SmartPoints. That’s enough to redeem ANY item from our Rewards Store, such as a Sony BRAVIA 3 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD Google TV (worth S$5,799) + an Apple iPhone 16 Plus 128GB (worth S$1,399).

Valid until 15 Dec 2024
Now, if you are not fond of having to deal with multiple credit cards, the HSBC Revolution Credit Card is a good compromise. It's also a rewards card that lets you earned points, which can later be converted to miles.

The HSBC Revolution Credit Card gives you 4 miles per S$1 spent on a whole bunch of categories, both online and offline. Online spending includes online shopping, flights and hotels, movies, concert tickets, taxi booking, food delivery, even insurance premiums. And offline, you get points on dining and entertainment.

With no minimum spending requirement and no cap on points earned, there's absolutely no need to micromanage your spending, which is a real bonus.

Eligibility for foreigners: Minimum annual income of S$40,000

Citi Rewards Card

MoneySmart Exclusive
ASCOTT MILLIONAIRE LUCKY DRAW | EXCLUSIVE TO CITI
MoneySmart Exclusive
ASCOTT MILLIONAIRE LUCKY DRAW | EXCLUSIVE TO CITI

Citi Rewards Card

on Online & Shopping Purchases
S$1= 10X Points
on all other purchases
S$1= 1X Point
Rewards Conversion
10X Points = 4 Miles

Get S$350 Cash or 5,040 SmartPoints  in as fast as 5 weeks when you spend S$500 within 30 days. T&Cs apply. 
 
Additionally, enrol in our Rollin' Rewards campaign for FREE and stand a chance to win 50,000 SmartPoints. That’s enough to redeem ANY item from our Rewards Store, such as a Sony BRAVIA 3 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD Google TV (worth S$5,799) + an Apple iPhone 16 Plus 128GB (worth S$1,399).

Valid until 15 Dec 2024
If you frequently use Grab to get around, order lunch on Deliveroo every day, get your groceries on RedMart or Amazon Prime, and Netflix is your primary source of entertainment - then you are most definitely a digital native and would fit right into Singapore.

For those who love tech and rely on apps to get anything done, the Citibank Rewards Card is the perfect match. It gives you a whopping 4 miles per S$1 spent on online transactions, which covers... well, just about everything in Singapore. The same earn rate extends to offline shopping at fashion and department stores.

However, there are a few glaring omissions in an otherwise perfect card. You won't get the bonus points on travel bookings (even online ones) and on dining out. In addition, the 4 miles per S$1 rate is capped at S$1,000 a month. So, while the Citi Rewards Card makes a great everyday credit card, you'll probably also want to get another card for your travel and dining spending.

Eligibility for foreigners: Minimum annual income of S$42,000

DBS Woman's World Card

Online Shopping
Online Shopping

DBS Woman's Card

on Online Purchases
S$5 = 5 DBS Points (2 Miles per S$1)
on Other Purchases
S$5 = 1 DBS Point (0.4 Miles per S$1)
e-Commerce Protection for Online Purchases
Complimentary
Don't be fooled by its name - the DBS Woman's World Card is open to both men and women, as long as you are earning S$80,000 p.a. and up.

Regardless of gender, if you're a breadwinner or high spender, you'll definitely want to consider this card. It is similar to the Citi Rewards Card in that you get 4 miles per S$1 spent on online transactions, so that's your Grab rides, food delivery, online groceries, ClassPass subscription etc. covered.

This also extends to online travel bookings, which means you can rack up a substantial amount of miles if you use this to book your flights and hotels. The points are capped at S$2,000 a month instead of Citibank's S$1,000.

However, the DBS Woman's World Card does not cover offline dining and entertainment, so if you spend a lot on those, you may want to look into the other cards on this list.

Eligibility for foreigners: Minimum annual income of S$80,000. Employment Pass holders only

DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card

Online Promo
Earn Miles That Never Expire
Online Promo
Earn Miles That Never Expire

DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card

Local Spend
S$1 = 1.3 miles
Overseas Spend (made in foreign currency)
S$1 = Up to 5 miles
on Online Travel Bookings
S$1 = Up to 2.2 miles
Online Promo:
Get up to 30,000 miles when you apply, pay the card's annual fee and charge a min. spend of S$800 within 60 days from card approval date. T&Cs apply
Valid until 31 Jan 2025
Another great contender for the miles card slot in your wallet is the DBS Altitude Card, which is similar to the Citi PremierMiles Card in many ways: It has the same earn rates, no-expiry miles, first-year annual fee waiver, etc.

But if you love to spontaneously travel to destinations around Asia, this credit card can give you a bit more mileage: 3 miles per S$1 spent on all online flights and hotel bookings. You can go ahead and book on Scoot or Expedia or Airbnb, whichever has the best deal. This is capped at S$5,000 a month.

Eligibility for foreigners: Minimum annual income of S$45,000. Employment Pass holders only

OCBC 90°N MasterCard

Earn Miles That Don't Expire
Earn Miles That Don't Expire

OCBC 90°N Card

on Foreign Currency spend
S$1 = 2.1 Miles
Min. spend per month
S$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
3.25%

Unlike cards with minimum spend required, the OCBC 90°N MasterCard Get lets you enjoy cash rebates at up to 2.1% from your earned miles (in terms of Travel$) with no minimum spend needed and no caps.

Moreover, the miles earn rate for this card is up to 7 miles (in terms of Travel$), 2.1 miles for every $1 spent on foreign currency spending and 3 miles for every $1 spent on online entertainment. What’s more, there’s no expiry for your Travel$ accumulated, which can be converted to loyalty points and be used at airline and hotel programs.

Eligibility for foreigners: Minimum annual income of S$45,000. Employment Pass holders only

Diners Club CASHBACK Card

Online Promo
Online Promo

DCS CASHBACK Card

on all eligible transactions
Up to 5% Cash Rebate
Airport Lounge Access and Insurance Coverage
Complimentary
Annual Principal Fee
S$196.20 (inclusive of GST)
Online Promo:
Get a CATERPILLAR Luggage Bag (worth S$220) when you apply for a minimum of any 2 eligible DCS cards and spend a minimum of $350 monthly for 2 consecutive months OR apply for an eligible DCS card and spend a minimum of S$450 monthly for 2 consecutive months. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 31 Dec 2024

If you're an expat who likes to travel often between Singapore and other destinations, you may like DCS CASHBACK card's complimentary access to nearly 1,300 airport lounges across 600+ cities in 140 countries worldwide, including Changi Airport Terminal 1, 2, 3 and 4.

On top of that, you’ll enjoy 5% cash rebate for all eligible transactions with a minimum spending of S$400 (per month) on your DCS CASHBACK Regular Credit Card.

Eligibility for foreigners: Minimum annual income of S$60,000.

How Can Expats Apply for a Credit Card in Singapore?

Most credit card providers in Singapore are happy to issue credit cards to foreigners working in Singapore, but only if they meet the minimum annual income requirements (which are typically higher than the requirements for locals). When applying for a credit card, you may need to provide the following documents as well.

Proof of Identity

If you have a valid SingPass, the easiest way to verify your identity is to log in to SingPass MyInfo when applying for the card. Otherwise, you'll need to provide a copy of your passport as ID proof. You may also be required to show further proof such as an internet, phone or utility bill addressed to you.

Work Permit

Most banks issue credit cards to expats who meet the income requirement, but you need to provide either your E Pass or S Pass (copies of the front and back). If it has less than 6 months' validity, you may need to furnish the In-Principal Approval (IPA) document. Note: Certain banks restrict cards to E Pass holders only.

Income Documents

First, make sure you meet the minimum income requirements stipulated by the credit card issuer. To prove this, you will need to send in your latest computerised payslip, or (if you don't have one) your official letter of employment stating your salary.

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Credit Card Minimum Income Requirements for Foreigners (2024)

Credit Card IssuerMinimum Annual Income
ICBCS$30,000
HSBCS$40,000
UOBS$40,000
CitibankS$42,000
OCBCS$45,000
DBS / POSBS$45,000
MaybankS$45,000 (Malaysian) / S$60,000 (other nationalities)/ S$80,000 (only for Maybank World Mastercard)
Standard CharteredS$60,000
American ExpressS$80,000
Bank of ChinaS$60,000