Can a foreigner buy landed property in Singapore?
Yes, but with restrictions. Foreigners can freely buy private condominium units, but landed property requires approval from the Land Dealings Approval Unit (LDAU) under the Singapore Land Authority. The exception is Sentosa Cove, which has a streamlined approval process. Either way, foreigners pay Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) of 60% on any residential property purchase.
The full rules
Foreigner Property Purchase Rules
| Property type | Foreigner access |
| Private condominium units | Freely purchasable |
| Executive Condominiums (ECs) past 10-year mark | Freely purchasable |
| Landed property (mainland) | Requires LDAU approval |
| Landed property in Sentosa Cove | Streamlined approval process |
ABSD rates on residential property
| Buyer profile | ABSD rate |
| Foreigner (any purchase) | 60% |
| Entity (any purchase) | 65% |
Rate effective 27 April 2023.
Free trade agreement exemption
Nationals of the USA, and nationals/PRs of Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are treated as Singapore Citizens for ABSD purposes. Singapore Citizen rates are 0% (first property), 20% (second), and 30% (third or more).
Worked example
Worked Example
A foreign national (not from a covered FTA country) wants to buy a landed house on the mainland priced at S$4,000,000.
Step 1 — Approval: They must apply to the Land Dealings Approval Unit (LDAU) under the SLA before purchasing. Approval is not guaranteed.
Step 2 — ABSD: As a foreigner, the ABSD rate is 60% on any residential purchase.
- ABSD = 60% × S$4,000,000 = S$2,400,000
Note: This figure is ABSD only. Other duties are not covered in the provided data.
What this means for you
US national
Under free trade agreements, US nationals are treated as Singapore Citizens for ABSD. On a first property, the ABSD rate is 0%. Landed property access rules under the Residential Property Act still apply separately.
Swiss or Norwegian national/PR
Nationals and PRs of Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are treated as Singapore Citizens for ABSD — 0% on a first property, 20% on a second.
Other foreign nationals
Pay 60% ABSD on any purchase. Condominiums are freely available; landed property requires LDAU approval, except Sentosa Cove which has a streamlined process.
Related questions
Can a foreigner buy a condominium without approval?
Yes. Foreigners may freely buy private condominium units without LDAU approval. Executive Condominiums are also purchasable once past their 10-year mark. ABSD of 60% still applies on any purchase.
Do foreigners need approval to buy landed property?
Yes. Landed property requires approval from the Land Dealings Approval Unit (LDAU) under the Singapore Land Authority. The exception is Sentosa Cove, which has a streamlined approval process.
How much ABSD does a foreigner pay?
A foreigner pays 60% ABSD on any residential property purchase, effective 27 April 2023. Entities pay 65%.
Are any foreigners exempt from the 60% ABSD?
Yes. Nationals of the USA, and nationals/PRs of Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are treated as Singapore Citizens for ABSD under free trade agreements, so first-property rates start at 0%.
Is Sentosa Cove different from mainland landed property?
Yes. While mainland landed property requires LDAU approval, Sentosa Cove has a streamlined approval process for foreigners. ABSD of 60% still applies.
More answers: Can a foreigner buy a condo in Singapore? · Can a PR buy a condo in Singapore? · Can a PR buy a resale HDB flat? · Can I buy a condo while owning an HDB flat?
Sources: SLA — Residential Property Act / Land Dealings Approval Unit · IRAS — Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty · Last verified 2026-09-05