ABSD · FTA · 2026
ABSD and Free Trade Agreements: which nationalities are exempt
By Winfred Quek · 8-minute read · Last reviewed May 2026
Facts verified: May 2026 · Sources linked below
Key Takeaways
- • Five nationalities get Singapore Citizen ABSD treatment: USA, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland.
- • A qualifying national pays 0% on a first property, not the 60% foreigner rate.
- • The benefit is a treaty obligation, not a loophole, and the list is closed.
- • Buying through a company forfeits the FTA benefit; the 65% entity rate applies regardless of nationality.
- • You must prove your nationality, and the property must be in your personal name.
The ABSD FTA exemption is the most valuable, and most frequently mispriced, feature of Singapore's stamp duty for foreign buyers. A national of a qualifying country who does not know about it can overpay enormously, treating themselves as a 60% buyer when they are in fact a 0% buyer on a first property. This piece sets out exactly who qualifies and how the benefit works.
Which nationalities are exempt under the FTA treatment?
Under the ABSD Free Trade Agreement treatment, nationals of the following five countries are accorded the same stamp-duty treatment as Singapore Citizens:
- United States
- Switzerland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Iceland
That is the complete list. No other nationality receives this treatment. The benefit flows from Singapore's Free Trade Agreements with these countries, the Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland group reflects the European Free Trade Association states, and the United States reflects the US-Singapore FTA.
What rate does a qualifying national pay?
A qualifying national is treated as a Singapore Citizen for ABSD. According to IRAS, that means the Singapore Citizen rate card, not the flat 60%:
| Buyer profile | 1st property | 2nd property | 3rd+ property |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTA-qualifying national (treated as SC) | 0% | 20% | 30% |
| Singapore Citizen | 0% | 20% | 30% |
| Foreigner (non-FTA) | 60% | 60% | 60% |
ABSD rates per IRAS for residential property. Confirm the applicable rate with IRAS or your conveyancing lawyer before signing.
The difference is enormous. On a $2,000,000 first property, a non-FTA foreigner pays 60% ABSD, which is $1,200,000. An FTA-qualifying national, treated as a Singapore Citizen, pays 0% ABSD on that same first property. Buyer's Stamp Duty, on the standard tiers, still applies to both.
What are the conditions to claim the treatment?
The FTA treatment is not automatic in the sense of "tick a box". It applies when the buyer genuinely is a national of a qualifying country, and the purchase is structured to keep the benefit.
Does US Permanent Residency or a green card count?
No. The FTA treatment for the United States applies to US nationals, that is, US citizens. A US green card holder or US Permanent Resident who is not a US citizen does not qualify on the basis of the green card. The test is nationality, not residency. The same logic applies to the other four countries, it is citizenship of the qualifying country that matters, not a residence permit.
How does this interact with the matrimonial home remission?
An FTA-qualifying national is treated as a Singapore Citizen, so for a married couple, the same remission logic that applies to citizens applies here. The detailed remission rules sit with IRAS, but the practical point is that being treated as a Singapore Citizen for ABSD opens the citizen-side remissions as well, not just the citizen rate card. A couple where one spouse is an FTA-qualifying national should confirm the exact position with their conveyancing lawyer, because the manner of holding and the property count of each spouse drive the outcome.
Winfred's Take
If you hold a US, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein passport, this is the single most important fact about your Singapore property position, and I have met buyers from these exact countries who did not know it and were budgeting for the 60%. The rule is clean: be a national of the qualifying country, buy in your own name, and you are treated as a Singapore Citizen. The two ways people lose the benefit are buying through a company, which triggers 65%, and assuming a green card or residence permit counts when only citizenship does. Confirm your nationality status with your conveyancer before you sign, on a first property the difference is the entire 60%.
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Winfred Quek · CEA R073319H · Crestbrick Pte Ltd
Frequently asked questions
Which nationalities are exempt from the 60% ABSD?
Nationals of the United States, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland are accorded Singapore Citizen ABSD treatment under Free Trade Agreement provisions. No other nationality qualifies.
What ABSD does an FTA-qualifying national pay?
The Singapore Citizen rate, 0% on a first residential property, 20% on a second, and 30% on a third and beyond, instead of the flat 60% foreigner rate.
Does a US green card holder qualify?
Not on the basis of the green card. The treatment is for US nationals, that is, US citizens. The test is nationality, not residency.
Does the FTA benefit apply if I buy through a company?
No. Buying through a company or entity forfeits the FTA benefit. The 65% entity ABSD rate applies regardless of the owner's nationality.
What proof do I need to claim FTA treatment?
You must evidence your nationality, typically with your passport, to your conveyancing lawyer for the stamp duty assessment. Confirm the documentation with your lawyer before completion.
Winfred Quek is an Associate Marketing Consultant at Crestbrick Pte Ltd, advising Singapore upgraders, investors, PRs, and foreign buyers. CEA R073319H. The information on this page is general and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or mortgage advice.