1.1.
Located off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, the Republic of Singapore is a highly urbanized island country made up of 63 islands with land area of 687 square kilometers. Singapore is only 137 kilometers north of the equator and is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor and from Indonesia by the Singapore Strait. Singapore Island, the biggest island, has two man-made connections to Johor, Malaysia, and Jurong, PulauTekong, PulauUbin and Sentosa are the largest of Singapore’s smaller islands. Singapore has an equatorial climate with no distinct seasons, two monsoons, high humidity, an average rainfall of 2300mm a year, and uniform temperatures that range from 23°C to 32°C.

1.2.
Singapore is a parliamentary republic. The People’s Action Party (PAP) dominates Singapore’s political scene and has held power since 1959 and won thirteen successive general elections. The head of government is the Prime Minister who also leads the Cabinet which is responsible for all government policies and the day-to-day administration of the affairs of state. The chief of state is the President who appoints the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet. In practice, the leader of the political party with the most seats in Parliament is Prime Minister. The Parliament is the legislative branch which has a single house made up of elected, non-constituency, and nominated members.

1.3.
Totaling 5.35 million people, 63% of Singapore’s population are citizens while 37% are permanent residents or foreign workers. 77% of the population is Chinese, 14% is Malay, and 8% is Indian. There is no official religion, but Buddhism is most widely practiced followed by Islam and then Christianity. Singapore has four official languages, Mandarin, English, Malay, and Tamil, and English is the official language for business, law, and government. Most Singaporeans are fluent in English and another official language, and the literacy rate is 92.5%.

1.4.
Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market economy with little corruption, stable prices, and a high per capita GDP. Exports are an important economic driver and include consumer electronics, information technology products, pharmaceuticals, and financial services. Singapore is the world’s fourth leading financial center and fourth largest foreign exchange trading center, one of the top three oil refining centers, one of the five busiest ports, and the world’s top logistics hub. Tourism is another major industry and the country has one of the world’s largest casino gambling markets. The service sector is 73% of its GDP and employs 80% of the population with industry at 27% of the GDP and 19% employment.

1.5.
Singapore’s legal system is based on English common law and incorporates written laws – the Constitution, Acts of Parliament, ordinances, and subsidiary legislation, and unwritten laws – case law and customary law. Singapore has no trial by jury, and the court system follows the principle of binding precedent where decisions by the higher courts are binding on the lower courts where the courts normally follow their previous decisions. Their case law resources are not limited to Singapore court decisions, and the courts regularly utilize English cases on common law issues and their interpretation and also refer to cases from other Commonwealth countries on occasion. Singapore’s Supreme Court is made up of the Court of Appeal which exercises criminal and civil jurisdiction and is the court of final appeal, and the High Court which exercises both original and appellate criminal and civil jurisdiction over the lower courts. The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review, can strike down unconstitutional acts, and is the guardian of the fundamental constitutional liberties. The Chief Justice, Judges of Appeal, Judicial Commissioners and High Court Judges are appointed by the President from candidates recommended by the Prime Minister. Singapore’s Subordinate Courts are made up of the District Courts, Magistrates’ Courts, Children’s Courts, Coroner’s Courts, and the Small Claims Tribunal that is governed by its own specific rules. There is also a Sharia Court for Muslims that covers family matters, mostly marriage, and inheritances. For civil actions, the High Court has unlimited jurisdiction, but usually only hears matters for claims over SD 250,000. The District Courts hear all civil matters for claims under SD 250,000, the Magistrates Courts for under SD 60,000 and the Small Claims Tribunal for up to SD 10,000. In civil cases, judicial case management prevents unnecessary delays and ensures that all necessary steps are taken and all rules of procedure are followed. Singapore is also a popular choice for domestic and international Alternate Dispute Resolution in Asia.

1.6.
Singapore is a globally well connected, multicultural, cosmopolitan city state that is easily accessible by foreigners living there and is one of the top rated Asian cities for expatriates; however, the cost of living is very high. Foreigners enjoy the tropical weather, the multicultural society, and the excellent sport, travel, dining and entertainment options. It has high quality transportation, communications and health care and has a low crime rate, low health risks and an excellent infrastructure. All foreigners wishing to live or work in Singapore must comply with the country’s immigration and work-permit regulations. Almost everyone understands English, and it’s the official business language. Mandarin and Malay are also widely spoken.
1.6.1.  – All Singapore visitors must go through immigration clearance on arrival and obtain a Social Visit Pass even if they are from a country which doesn’t require a visa to visit Singapore. Even with a visa, entry is not guaranteed, and visitors must meet entry requirements including proof of sufficient funds and confirmed outbound tickets. Also available are Business Visas which allow for multiple 30 day visits for up to five years. 
1.6.2.  – Singapore has multiple professional employment work permit schemes for foreigners, and only the S Pass is on a quota system, so work permits are individually approved based on the applicant’s and employing company’s credentials.