The government is going to be enhancing the support given to Singaporeans who marry foreigners as the number of Singaporean-foreigner marriages increases in Singapore.
Now, transnational marriages make up nearly 40% of all the marriages in Singapore and such couples often face complex issues that Singaporean-Singaporean couples do not face.
For example, where the foreign spouse is not granted permanent stay in Singapore, the couple can run into financial problems thanks to the need for constant travel. They may also find it difficult to apply for housing and even education for their children.
Marriages involving a foreign spouse can also come with a multitude of cultural issues and stress from having to adapt to a new environment.
Ultimately, as most of these foreign spousal marriages are legitimate marriages which are in line with Singapore’s pro-family efforts, the Ministry of Social and Family Development is looking to help these families with two new initiatives: marriage preparation programs and marriage support programs.
The Ministry will be working with Fei Yue Family Service Centre and Care Corner to provide these support programs.
Programs before marriage will include workshops to help couples address their concerns and expectations so that couples can be more aware of the issues they are likely to face and be prepared before they get married. They will also help the couples integrate into the community, particularly for the foreign spouse.
The programs will start in December and Minister Chan Chun Sing explained that they will be voluntary and open to all transnational couples. He said that he hopes people will see the benefits of such programs and they will come forward on their own to sign up
More details about additional programs and other initiatives will be released later this week by the National Population and Talent Division and the Ministry of Home Affairs.