Pre-marital workshops for Singaporeans looking to wed foreigners coming soon

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The Government is enhancing social support for couples here that include spouses who are foreigners, as the number of transnational marriages in Singapore increase.

Marriages between a Singaporean and a foreigner accounted for nearly 40 per cent of all citizen marriages in 2013. These numbers are not likely to go down.

Counsellors say such marriages face unique challenges. Couples could face financial problems, problems with housing, their children's education and for the foreign spouse, the added stress of adapting to a new environment. Another big issue is a mismatch in expectations.

The Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing on Monday (Oct 20) has announced two new initiatives to help couples - marriage preparation programmes and marriage support programmes.

The pre-marital workshops are meant to address a couple's concerns and expectations, so both know what they are getting into before they tie the knot. The support programmes are meant to help married couples integrate into their new community.

The courses will be customised according to the background of the couple, and are targeted at all transnational couples, regardless of their socio-economic background. They will cover content such as communication, conflict resolution, understanding cultural differences and adapting to the Singapore environment.

The programmes will cover areas such as how to prepare for settling down in Singapore, financial management, and employment and immigration issues. "I think it benefits both parties to have a clearer idea about the challenges that they need to face in the immediate days of getting married," said Mr Chan.

The programmes will be rolled out by two partners - Fei Yue Community Services and Care Corner, in December. The National Population and Talent Division and the Home Affairs Ministry are expected to announce another initiative targeted at transnational couples, later this week.