Applicants aged 21 and above who hold a foreign nationality must apply to the relevant foreign authority to renounce that nationality at the approval letter stage (Stage 3). China is a single-nationality state. Under Article 3 of the Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China, dual nationality is not recognised for Chinese citizens. A Chinese citizen who, having settled abroad, voluntarily acquires Singapore citizenship automatically loses Chinese nationality under Article 9 of that law.
Who can apply for Singapore citizenship
Conclusion first. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) lists five categories of people who may apply for citizenship, each with requirements on length of residence, age and a sponsor.
| Applicant category | Main threshold | Submission method |
|---|---|---|
| Holds a permanent resident (PR) status for at least 2 years and is aged 21 or above | PR for at least 2 years, aged 21 or above; may apply together with PR spouse and unmarried children under 21 | Apply via ICA e-Service using own Singpass (Singapore’s digital identity) |
| Holds PR for at least 2 years and has been married to a Singapore citizen for at least 2 years | PR for at least 2 years, marriage for at least 2 years | Spouse sponsors via ICA e-Service using Singpass |
| Unmarried child under 21, born of a lawful marriage or lawfully adopted by a Singapore citizen | Below 21 years of age | Citizen parent sponsors via Singpass |
| Student PR: resided in Singapore for over 3 years (of which at least 1 year as a PR), and passed at least one national examination or is in the Integrated Programme (IP) | Resided 3 years, PR 1 year, passed national examination | Aged 15 and above use Singpass; below 15 use the non-Singpass option |
| PR who is the aged parent of a Singapore citizen aged 21 or above | PR status, child aged 21 or above | Citizen child sponsors via Singpass |
ICA considers family ties, economic contribution, educational qualifications, age, family profile and length of residence. ICA states that it is not affiliated with any external agency or commercial entity that claims to be a Singapore immigration specialist, and does not endorse or recognise so-called professional immigration advisory services.
All members included in the application must review the application form before submission. The review is done by logging into ICA e-Service via Singpass or dedicated login credentials issued by ICA to make a declaration. Singpass account approval takes 2 to 5 working days, and ICA advises all eligible applicants to complete registration before starting the application.
The four stages and timeline of a citizenship application
An application proceeds in four stages. Stage 1 is the online application, Stage 2 is In-Principle Approval (IPA), Stage 3 is the approval letter, and Stage 4 is the citizenship oath-taking ceremony.
Stage 1: Submit the application and supporting documents online. You have up to 7 days to fill in personal particulars and upload documents, followed by a further up to 7 days to review and ensure accuracy, before making payment and submitting. Each application takes about 90 minutes to complete.
Stage 2: Download the IPA letter and complete the Singapore Citizenship Journey (SCJ). Applicants aged 16 to 60 must participate; 3 days after the IPA is issued, log in to the SC Journey Portal, complete the e-Journey, and book the experiential visit and community sharing session. This stage takes about 2 months.
Stage 3: Download the approval letter and complete formalities to renounce your foreign nationality. Those aged 21 and above must apply to the relevant authority of their country of origin to renounce their foreign nationality, attend to matters such as property, prepare registration documents as listed in the annex, and attend ICA Building by the due date to register as a Singapore citizen.
Stage 4: Citizenship oath-taking ceremony. Usually held 3 to 6 months after registration as a citizen, organised by the relevant Group Representation Constituency or Single Member Constituency, with the Singapore Citizenship Certificate presented on site. The new citizen may then apply to ICA for a Singapore passport.
Why renounce your original nationality: Singapore’s rules
Conclusion first. The Singapore Citizenship Roadmap requires, at Stage 3, those aged 21 and above who hold a foreign nationality to apply to the relevant foreign authority to renounce that nationality. At Stage 3, those aged 21 and above must apply to the relevant foreign authority to renounce their foreign nationality (if any).
The roadmap shows that renouncing foreign nationality is a requirement of the approval letter stage and applies to persons aged 21 and above. ICA imposes the obligation to renounce foreign citizenship at Stage 3, not at the submission stage.
The reverse situation is also regulated. Under ICA’s rules on renunciation of Singapore citizenship, a Singapore citizen may renounce citizenship only if aged 21 or above, of sound mind, and already holding another country’s nationality. For a male citizen who has enjoyed citizen privileges (including holding a Singapore passport) and still has outstanding National Service (NS) liabilities, the Government may reject the renunciation application.
What happens to Chinese nationality: the text of China’s Nationality Law
Conclusion first. China does not recognise dual nationality, and a Chinese citizen who acquires a foreign nationality automatically loses Chinese nationality under the Nationality Law. The provisions below are from the Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China.
Article 3 states that the People’s Republic of China does not recognise dual nationality for its citizens. Article 9 states that a Chinese citizen who has settled abroad and voluntarily acquires or takes up a foreign nationality automatically loses Chinese nationality.
If a Chinese citizen wishes to voluntarily apply to renounce Chinese nationality, Article 10 lists three circumstances in which approval may be granted: being a near relative of a foreigner, settling abroad, or having other legitimate reasons. Article 11 states that, upon approval of the application, Chinese nationality is lost.
Articles 14 and 15 set out the handling authorities: applications within China are made to the municipal or county public security bureau at the place of residence, and applications abroad to a Chinese diplomatic mission or consular post; final approval and issuance are by the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China. For specific cancellation or re-issuance, please confirm with the competent Chinese authority.
Fees and processing time (itemised)
Application fees differ by applicant category, and all fees are non-refundable. Payment must be made online, using a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card, an American Express (AMEX) credit card, internet direct debit (DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB, or Standard Chartered Singapore internet banking account), or PayNow.
| Applicant category | Fee at submission | Fee on completion |
|---|---|---|
| Adult PR and PR children | S$100 per application | Citizenship certificate S$70; NRIC S$10 (applies to new citizens aged 15 and above) |
| Children born overseas to Singapore citizen parents (specific cases) | S$18 per application (includes citizenship certificate) | NRIC S$10 (applies to new citizens aged 15 and above) |
| Other children born overseas or locally | S$100 per application | Citizenship certificate S$70; NRIC S$10 (applies to those aged 15 and above) |
Processing time: generally completed within 12 months. For children born overseas to Singapore citizen parents, processing takes 1 month where documents are complete and in order; some applications may take longer. Outcomes are notified by email and can also be checked on MyICA or e-Service.
The processing fee for renouncing Singapore citizenship is S$35, collected online at application and payable by credit card, debit card or PayNow. General processing time is about three months after all documents are received; some applications take longer, and choosing a cooling-off period extends it further.
National Service (NS) obligations for male applicants
All male Singapore citizens and permanent residents, unless exempted, must serve National Service (NS) under the Enlistment Act 1970. Before submitting a citizenship or PR application, male applicants must first visit www.cmpb.gov.sg to learn about NS (Source: ICA and Central Manpower Base relevant pages).
Under CMPB’s Before NS page, all male citizens and PRs have NS obligations from age 18 and must register from age 16 and a half; overseas pre-enlistees must also undergo a medical examination, apply for deferment if studying, and comply with Exit Permit requirements (Source: Before NS (CMPB)).
Males who obtain SC or PR as foreign students or through a parent’s sponsorship must serve NS. MINDEF allows them to complete their A-Level, polytechnic diploma or equivalent pre-tertiary qualification before enlistment; however, university studies are not deferred, and those who acquire status mid-study must interrupt their studies to enlist. NS obligations cease at age 50 for officers and age 40 for other ranks.
On the Exit Permit: males aged 13 to 16.5 leaving Singapore for 2 years or more must apply for a permit and provide a bond of S$75,000 or 50% of their parents’ combined annual income in the previous year, whichever is higher, in the form of a bank guarantee. Non-compliant males aged 13 to 16.5 may be fined up to S$2,000, and their parents or guardians may likewise be fined up to S$2,000; those above 16.5 without a valid Exit Permit may be fined up to S$10,000 or imprisoned for up to 3 years, or both.
Renouncing or losing SC/PR status without serving NS will seriously affect future applications to work, study or take up any long-term residence in Singapore, and will also affect family members’ related applications, sponsorship, Re-Entry Permit (REP) renewal, and citizenship or PR applications. Under the Enlistment Act 1970, evading NS may incur a fine of up to S$10,000 or imprisonment of up to 3 years, or both.
Renouncing Singapore citizenship: the reverse situation
A Singapore citizen may renounce citizenship only when aged 21 or above, of sound mind, and already holding another country’s nationality. The Government may reject the renunciation application of a male citizen who has enjoyed citizen privileges (including holding a Singapore passport) and still has outstanding NS liabilities.
Online applications are submitted through ICA’s online portal, with or without Singpass login. The application takes about 30 minutes, cannot be saved, and requires certified copies and mandatory forms to be prepared in advance.
Mandatory forms to be uploaded include: the Statutory Declaration of Renunciation, the Notice of Effect of Renunciation, and the MINDEF Notice (males only). Original documents to be returned to ICA include: the Singapore NRIC, valid Singapore passport, and citizenship certificate (where applicable). The processing fee is S$35, collected online.
What to read next
- Complete guide to Singapore immigration — An overview of migration routes, requirements and approximate costs.
- Singapore PR: requirements and application approach — Who can apply for PR, documents needed and processing time.
- Renouncing original nationality: the final hurdle to Singapore citizenship — A dedicated piece on the practical steps to renounce foreign nationality.
- Citizenship section — A collection of articles and rules relating to citizenship.
- Policy tracker — Follow changes to pass and immigration rules.
Official sources
- Becoming a Singapore Citizen (ICA) — Citizenship eligibility, fees, processing time and NS obligations.
- Your Singapore Citizenship Roadmap (ICA PDF) — The four-stage process and time estimates.
- Renunciation of Singapore Citizenship (ICA) — Conditions, fees and forms for renouncing Singapore citizenship.
- Nationality Law of the PRC (NIA) — Provisions of China’s Nationality Law on dual nationality and loss of nationality.
- Becoming a Permanent Resident (ICA) — PR eligibility, fees and processing time.
- Before NS (CMPB) — Male NS registration, Exit Permit and overseas pre-enlistee requirements.
Data pack captured on 2026-10-07. Rules change; please re-confirm on the relevant agency pages before proceeding. This site is not an immigration agency, does not file applications on behalf of anyone, and does not represent any party; it provides general information only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice.