Singapore hubs

Xin Yi Chen

Content Creator

SingaporeEnglish (English)$ SGD

Xin Yi is a freelance content creator navigating the gig economy in Singapore, balancing creative projects with the practicalities of self-employment. This hub covers the essential national schemes, tax portals, and grants that help her sustain her lifestyle and business.

Funding my creative projects

Grants and support schemes to help scale my content business or upskill in digital media.

NAC Arts Grant

national · National Arts Council

Who qualifies
Singaporean or PR artists and creative practitioners.
What you get
Project-based funding for creative content production.
What it actually costs you
Detailed project proposal, budget breakdown, and 3-6 month approval wait.
Common gotcha
Requires a strong track record; first-time applicants often struggle with the budget justification.

IMDA Digital Content Grant

national · Infocomm Media Development Authority

Who qualifies
Media companies and independent creators producing digital-first content.
What you get
Co-funding for production and distribution costs.
What it actually costs you
Proof of distribution platform and business registration.
Common gotcha
Must meet specific local content requirements.

SkillsFuture Credit

national · SkillsFuture Singapore

Who qualifies
Singaporeans aged 25 and above.
What you get
$500 initial credit + $500 top-up for approved courses.
What it actually costs you
Singpass login; no application fee.
Common gotcha
Credits expire if not used within specific windows; check the portal for validity.

Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)

national · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
Registered Singaporean businesses with at least 30% local shareholding.
What you get
Up to 50% funding for business upgrading and transformation.
What it actually costs you
Business plan, financial statements, and BizFile registration.
Common gotcha
The paperwork is heavy; usually requires a consultant for successful applications.

Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)

national · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
Businesses looking to adopt pre-approved digital solutions.
What you get
Funding for software licenses and digital tools.
What it actually costs you
Must purchase from pre-approved vendors.
Common gotcha
Only covers pre-approved vendors; cannot use for custom software.

Media Talent Progression Programme

national · IMDA

Who qualifies
Freelance media professionals.
What you get
Mentorship and attachment opportunities.
What it actually costs you
Portfolio submission and interview.
Common gotcha
Highly competitive intake.

Managing my freelance taxes

Staying compliant with IRAS and managing my CPF as a self-employed person.

IRAS Self-Employed Tax Filing

national · Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore

Who qualifies
All freelancers earning income in Singapore.
What you get
Legal tax assessment and compliance.
What it actually costs you
Annual filing; requires detailed income/expense records.
Common gotcha
Forgetting to claim allowable business expenses to lower taxable income.

MediSave Contributions for Self-Employed

national · Central Provident Fund Board

Who qualifies
Self-employed persons earning >$6,000 annually.
What you get
Mandatory savings for healthcare.
What it actually costs you
Annual contribution based on net trade income.
Common gotcha
Failure to pay results in penalties; check your Notice of Computation.

Voluntary CPF Contributions

national · CPF Board

Who qualifies
Any Singaporean/PR.
What you get
Tax relief and long-term savings growth.
What it actually costs you
Cash top-ups.
Common gotcha
Once deposited, money is locked until retirement age.

GST Registration

national · IRAS

Who qualifies
Businesses with annual taxable turnover >$1M.
What you get
Ability to charge GST.
What it actually costs you
Quarterly filing and record keeping.
Common gotcha
Most freelancers don't hit the threshold, but voluntary registration is possible.

Personal Income Tax Reliefs

national · IRAS

Who qualifies
Tax residents.
What you get
Reduced taxable income.
What it actually costs you
Claiming during filing.
Common gotcha
Missing out on course fee reliefs or parent reliefs.

InvoiceNow

national · IMDA

Who qualifies
All businesses.
What you get
Faster payment processing.
What it actually costs you
Setting up an e-invoicing solution.
Common gotcha
Requires clients to also be on the network.

Staying healthy on the go

Accessing affordable healthcare without employer-provided insurance.

MediShield Life

national · CPF Board

Who qualifies
All Singaporeans and PRs.
What you get
Basic health insurance for large hospital bills.
What it actually costs you
Annual premiums deducted from MediSave.
Common gotcha
It is a basic plan; many opt for Integrated Shield Plans for better coverage.

CHAS Blue/Orange/Green

national · Ministry of Health

Who qualifies
Singaporeans based on household income/property value.
What you get
Subsidies for GP and dental visits.
What it actually costs you
Application via Singpass.
Common gotcha
Must visit CHAS-accredited clinics to use the card.

Screen for Life

national · Health Promotion Board

Who qualifies
Singaporeans/PRs meeting age/gender criteria.
What you get
Highly subsidized health screenings.
What it actually costs you
Small co-payment.
Common gotcha
Often ignored until it's too late; check eligibility on the portal.

National Vaccination Programme

national · MOH

Who qualifies
All residents.
What you get
Free or subsidized vaccinations.
What it actually costs you
Booking appointment.
Common gotcha
Check if your clinic is a participating provider.

Polyclinic Subsidies

national · MOH

Who qualifies
All citizens.
What you get
Low-cost primary care.
What it actually costs you
Registration fee.
Common gotcha
Long waiting times.

Community Mental Health Support

national · AIC

Who qualifies
General public.
What you get
Access to counseling and support groups.
What it actually costs you
Referral or direct booking.
Common gotcha
Public services are often at capacity; look for community partners.

Essential life admin

Managing digital identity and essential public services.

Singpass

national · GovTech

Who qualifies
All residents.
What you get
Digital identity for all government services.
What it actually costs you
Face verification setup.
Common gotcha
Keep your password and 2FA secure; it's your entire digital life.

LifeSG App

national · GovTech

Who qualifies
All residents.
What you get
Aggregated government services.
What it actually costs you
App download.
Common gotcha
Don't forget to check the 'My Benefits' section.

OneService App

national · Municipal Services Office

Who qualifies
All residents.
What you get
Reporting municipal issues (potholes, pests).
What it actually costs you
Photo evidence.
Common gotcha
Be specific with location pins.

HDB Flat Portal

national · Housing & Development Board

Who qualifies
Singaporeans/PRs.
What you get
Housing grants and flat transactions.
What it actually costs you
Application fees.
Common gotcha
Eligibility rules change frequently; check the latest HDB announcements.

Public Transport Concession

national · LTA

Who qualifies
Specific groups (students, seniors, low-income).
What you get
Reduced fares.
What it actually costs you
Application for concession card.
Common gotcha
Must renew annually.

National Library Board Membership

national · NLB

Who qualifies
All residents.
What you get
Free access to digital media, co-working spaces, and books.
What it actually costs you
Free.
Common gotcha
Don't forget to use the Libby app for e-books.

State-level schemes

1states & territories — open one to see what it offers.

Singapore新加坡

Singapore offers a highly digitized ecosystem for content creators, providing specific grants for digital media production and support for small businesses.

Funding for my creative projects

Media Content Development Grant

state · Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)

Who qualifies
Singapore-registered companies producing high-quality local content.
What you get
Co-funding of up to 50% of qualifying costs for content production.
What it actually costs you
Requires a detailed project proposal, budget breakdown, and proof of distribution platform.
Common gotcha
The grant is highly competitive and requires a proven track record of audience engagement.

National Library Board Creator Residency

state · National Library Board

Who qualifies
Creators working on projects that promote Singapore's history or culture.
What you get
Access to archives, workspace, and a stipend for project development.
What it actually costs you
Application via portfolio submission and interview.
Common gotcha
The project must align with specific thematic calls for proposals.

Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)

state · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
Small businesses (including creator studios) looking to upgrade digital capabilities.
What you get
Up to 50% support for third-party consultancy and software costs.
What it actually costs you
Requires ACRA registration and a clear business growth plan.
Common gotcha
Must apply before starting the project; retroactive claims are not allowed.

National Arts Council Presentation and Promotion Grant

state · National Arts Council

Who qualifies
Individual artists or groups presenting original work in Singapore.
What you get
Funding support for production, marketing, and venue rental.
What it actually costs you
Detailed budget and artistic merit statement.
Common gotcha
Strict deadlines; must be submitted at least 3 months before the project start date.

Where I work and connect

NLB Public Library Hot-desking

state · National Library Board

Who qualifies
All Singapore residents with a library account.
What you get
Free high-speed Wi-Fi and quiet workspaces in various public libraries.
What it actually costs you
Free; just need your Singpass to book if required.
Common gotcha
Popular locations fill up quickly; booking is recommended.

National Heritage Board Research Access

state · National Heritage Board

Who qualifies
Content creators researching Singaporean heritage.
What you get
Exclusive access to digital archives and museum collections for creative use.
What it actually costs you
Request form submission; free for non-commercial research.
Common gotcha
Copyright clearance for commercial use requires separate negotiation.

PIXEL Innovation Hub

state · IMDA

Who qualifies
Digital content creators and tech startups.
What you get
Access to AR/VR equipment, studio space, and workshops.
What it actually costs you
Membership application and project vetting.
Common gotcha
Limited capacity; priority given to projects with high innovation potential.