On the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) PR page, eligibility is based on your family relationship, work pass, student status, or investor route. It is not based on ASEAN nationality. If you are an ASEAN national, you apply under the same listed categories as other foreign applicants.
ICA also does not publish salary floors, nationality quotas, or a points table for PR. The page states that ICA considers factors such as family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency. It does not publish weights for those factors.
Who can apply for Singapore PR?
You may be eligible if you are one of the following:
- Spouse of a Singapore citizen or Singapore permanent resident (PR). Your spouse must log in to the ICA e-Service using his or her Singpass to sponsor your application.
- Unmarried child aged below 21 born within the context of a legal marriage to, or legally adopted by, a Singapore citizen or PR. Your parent must log in using his or her Singpass to sponsor your application.
- Aged parent of a Singapore citizen who is at least 21 years old. Your Singapore citizen child must log in using his or her Singpass to sponsor your application.
- Holder of an Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass. You must log in to the ICA e-Service using your Singpass to submit the application.
- Student studying in Singapore who has passed at least one national exam, such as PSLE, GCE ‘N’/‘O’/‘A’ levels, or is in the Integrated Programme (IP). If you are aged 15 and above, you can submit using your Singpass. If you are below 15, you can submit via the non-Singpass option.
- Foreign investor in Singapore. The Global Investor Programme (GIP) is handled by the Economic Development Board (EDB), which publishes the assessment criteria and application process.
What ICA assesses
ICA takes into account factors such as the individual’s family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency. The assessment covers the applicant’s ability to contribute to Singapore, integrate into society, and commit to sinking roots in Singapore.
The PR page does not list an employer sponsorship letter as an eligibility or assessment criterion. If you apply as an EP or S Pass holder, you submit the application yourself using Singpass. Family-based routes require a sponsor.
Before you start: Singpass
All persons added as an applicant must review the application form before the application can be submitted. To review the form, applicants must log in to the ICA e-Service using their Singpass or unique login credentials, which ICA provides for those ineligible for Singpass.
Approval for a Singpass account application may take 2 to 5 working days. Sponsors and applicants should start an application only after all applicants have successfully registered for a Singpass account, where eligible.
ICA states that it has no affiliation with any external migration agency or commercial entity claiming to be a Singapore immigration specialist, consultant, or partner. ICA does not support or endorse services by self-proclaimed professional immigration consultancy service providers for PR applications.
Documents you need
When uploading documents, you must provide certified true copies of the original documents and official translations for documents in languages other than English.
ICA accepts translations provided by the embassy of the country or place that issued the document; translations provided by a notary public in Singapore or the country or place that issued the document; or privately translated documents attested by the embassy or notarised by a notary public in Singapore or the country or place that issued the document.
ICA does not endorse any private translation companies or entities. Insufficient documentation may result in non-acceptance of your application. You may be required to provide additional documents to support your application. The PR document checklist on ICA’s website sets out the required documents.
Fees
| Stage | Fee |
|---|---|
| At submission | S$100 for each application |
| At completion of formalities | S$20 for Entry Permit |
| At completion of formalities | S$50 for a 5-year Re-Entry Permit |
| At completion of formalities | S$50 for Singapore Identity Card |
All fees are non-refundable. Payment must be made online using Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card, American Express (AMEX) credit card, Internet Direct Debit through DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB and Standard Chartered Bank Internet Banking accounts in Singapore, or PayNow.
Successful applicants will be notified of other applicable fees subsequently.
Processing time
Applications will be processed within 6 months, provided all required documents are submitted and are in order. Some applications may take longer to process.
You will be informed of the outcome via email or post for applications submitted before 26 June 2024. You may also check the PR application status online at MyICA or the e-Service.
National Service for male applicants
Under the Enlistment Act 1970, all male Singapore citizens and PRs, unless exempted, are required to serve National Service (NS). After completing full-time NS, they become Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen). An NSman’s obligation ends at age 50 for officers or 40 for other ranks.
All male applicants must access the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) for information on NS before proceeding with the application. All male applicants who are granted Singapore citizenship (SC) or PR status as a foreign student or under their parents’ sponsorship are liable for NS. They must register for NS upon reaching 16 and a half years old and will be scheduled for enlistment into full-time NS at the earliest opportunity upon reaching 18.
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) allows students to attain educational qualifications up to the ‘A’ Levels certificate, the polytechnic diploma, or an equivalent pre-tertiary qualification before they are required to serve NS. They are enlisted at the earliest opportunity when they have finished pre-tertiary education, or after turning 18, whichever is later. MINDEF does not grant deferment for university studies. Those granted SC or PR in the midst of university studies must disrupt those studies to enlist if they cannot complete them before the enlistment date.
Renouncing or losing PR status without serving or completing full-time NS will have a serious adverse impact on applications to work or study in Singapore, or for any long-term immigration facilities in Singapore, now or in the future. It will also adversely affect family members’ applications for long-term immigration facilities, their ability to sponsor such facilities, their renewal of Re-Entry Permits, or their applications for Singapore citizenship. Defaulting on NS obligations is an offence under the Enlistment Act 1970, liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding three years, or both.
After approval: PR status and Re-Entry Permit
A PR is a foreigner who has been granted permanent residence status, which allows him or her to reside in Singapore on a permanent basis. PRs aged 15 years and above will be issued the Singapore blue Identity Card (IC).
A PR must have a valid Re-Entry Permit if he or she wishes to travel out of Singapore and return as a PR. Successful applicants will receive an In-Principle Approval. They will be granted permanent residence status once they have fulfilled the necessary conditions.
Common questions
Does ASEAN nationality change my PR eligibility?
No. The ICA PR page lists eligibility by family relationship, work pass, student status, or investor route. It does not list ASEAN nationality as an eligibility category.
Does ICA require an employer sponsorship letter?
The ICA PR page does not list an employer sponsorship letter as an eligibility or assessment criterion. EP and S Pass holders submit their own applications using Singpass. Family-based routes require a sponsor.
Are fees refundable?
No. All fees are non-refundable.
What if my documents are not in English?
You must provide certified true copies of the original documents and official translations. ICA lists the acceptable translation sources. Insufficient documentation may lead to non-acceptance.
Can I travel after PR approval without a Re-Entry Permit?
If you wish to travel out and return as a PR, you must have a valid Re-Entry Permit.