Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PRs) can sponsor certain foreign family members for PR through the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) family ties route. This route is separate from the Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass pathway. ICA publishes the eligibility categories, documents, fees and processing time. It does not publish approval rates, income floors or internal assessment weights.
Who can apply?
For a child, ICA lists an unmarried child aged below 21 who was born within the context of a legal marriage to, or has been legally adopted by, a Singapore citizen or PR. The parent sponsors the application through ICA e-Service using Singpass.
For an aged parent, ICA lists an aged parent of a Singapore citizen who is at least 21 years old. The Singapore citizen child sponsors the application through ICA e-Service using Singpass. The ICA page does not state a minimum age for the parent.
ICA also lists spouses of Singapore citizens or PRs. Other PR eligibility categories include holders of an Employment Pass or S Pass, students who meet ICA’s conditions, and foreign investors under the Global Investor Programme. ICA directs foreign investors to the EDB website for more information.
How to apply
- Confirm the family member fits an ICA eligibility category.
- Register for Singpass if the sponsor or applicant does not have it.
- Wait for the Singpass application to be approved. ICA says this may take 2 to 5 working days.
- Log in to the ICA e-Service.
- Complete the application form.
- Have every applicant review the form.
- Submit the application.
- Pay S$100 for each application at submission.
- Upload certified true copies and official translations.
- Check the status on MyICA or the e-Service.
ICA recommends starting the application only after all applicants have successfully registered for Singpass. All persons added as applicants must review the form before submission.
Documents and translations
ICA requires certified true copies of original documents. Documents not in English need official translations. ICA accepts translations from the embassy of the country or place that issued the document, or from a notary public in Singapore or the issuing country. ICA also accepts privately translated documents attested by the issuing embassy or notarised by a notary public in Singapore or the issuing country.
ICA does not endorse any private translation companies or entities. Insufficient documentation may result in non-acceptance of the application. ICA may ask for additional documents. The PR document checklist on ICA’s page sets out the documents required.
Fees and refunds
For PR, the fee at submission is S$100 for each application. At completion of formalities, the fees are S$20 for an Entry Permit, S$50 for a 5-year Re-Entry Permit, and S$50 for a Singapore Identity Card.
All fees are non-refundable. Payment must be made online. ICA accepts Visa or MasterCard credit or debit cards, American Express credit cards, Internet Direct Debit from DBS or POSB, OCBC, UOB and Standard Chartered Bank internet banking accounts in Singapore, and PayNow. Successful applicants will be notified of other applicable fees later.
Processing time and outcome
ICA says PR applications will be processed within 6 months if all required documents are submitted and are in order. Some applications may take longer. For applications submitted before 26 June 2024, ICA informs applicants of the outcome by email or post. Applicants can also check status online at MyICA or the e-Service.
Successful applicants receive an In-Principle Approval. They are granted PR status once they fulfil the necessary conditions.
National Service obligations
Under the Enlistment Act 1970, all male Singapore citizens and PRs must serve National Service (NS) unless exempted. All male applicants should access CMPB for information on NS before proceeding.
Male applicants who are granted citizenship or PR 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. They will be scheduled for enlistment at the earliest opportunity upon reaching 18 years old. MINDEF allows students to attain educational qualifications up to the A Levels certificate, polytechnic diploma, or equivalent pre-tertiary qualification before serving NS. MINDEF does not grant deferment for university studies.
Defaulting on NS obligations is an offence under the Enlistment Act 1970. On conviction, the penalty can be a fine not exceeding S$10,000, imprisonment not exceeding three years, or both. Renouncing or losing PR status without serving or completing full-time NS will have a serious adverse impact on future applications to work or study in Singapore, or for long-term immigration facilities. It can also affect family members’ applications, their ability to sponsor facilities, Re-Entry Permit renewal, or citizenship applications.
What ICA does not publish
ICA states that it considers factors such as family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency. It assesses the applicant’s ability to contribute to Singapore, integrate into society, and commit to sinking roots in Singapore.
The published pages do not list approval rates, refusal rates, income floors, a minimum parent age, or weighted scores. They also do not promise approval or a specific outcome. Treat any service that claims these details as official as unsupported by the pages cited here.
ICA also states 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 providers for PR applications.
If the family member is not applying for PR yet
EP and S Pass holders can use the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) family pass routes instead. To be eligible, the EP or S Pass holder must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000. The salary is based on the holder’s salary, not combined household income. The employer must be an established, Singapore-registered company.
A Dependant’s Pass is available for a legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21, including legally adopted children. A Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) is available for a common-law spouse, unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above, unmarried step-children under 21, and parents. Parents are listed only for those earning at least S$12,000.
The employer submits a separate application for each family member. The application can be submitted with the Employment Pass application or separately. The LTVP duration is tied to the validity of the main work pass or the duration requested, whichever is shorter. The LTVP is renewable. No foreign worker levy or quota is required.
Citizenship later
PR status is separate from Singapore citizenship. ICA lists citizenship eligibility categories, including having been a PR for at least 2 years and being aged 21 and above. Citizenship applications are processed within 12 months. Some applications may take longer. For children born overseas to Singapore citizens, ICA says the application is processed within 1 month provided all required documents are submitted and in order.
