🇸🇬 Singapore vs 🇯🇵 Japan
Tax residency, treaties and PE risk compared.
| Dimension | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 🇯🇵 Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Residency rule | 183 days OR continuous 3-year presence | Jusho (domicile) + 1-year presence |
| Day threshold | 183 days | 365 days |
| Warning band | from 60d | from 183d |
| Tax range | 0–24% (foreign income exempt) | 5–45% + 10% local |
| Tax treaties | 100+ | 85+ |
| PE risk | Low | Medium |
| Digital nomad visa | No | Yes |
| Best for | Asia-Pacific founders and fund managers | Non-permanent residents (first 5 of 10 years) shielding foreign income |
| Common pitfall | Short-term employees <60 days are tax-exempt, but 61–182 days hit a flat 15%. | Non-permanent resident status ends after 5 years — then worldwide tax kicks in. |
Verdict
For most nomads optimising for residency safety, 🇸🇬 Singapore is the lower-risk base versus 🇯🇵 Japan. Japan's medium PE risk and 365-day rule make it easier to trip into full residency.
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