Permanent residence in Singapore is a status granted by ICA, and it arrives with accounts and obligations attached. CPF contributions begin, a Re-Entry Permit governs travel, and male PRs carry National Service liability. Housing and school fee rules sit with other agencies and are not settled by the sources used here.
What permanent residence confers
ICA defines a PR as a foreigner granted permanent residence status, which allows him or her to reside in Singapore on a permanent basis. That is the whole of the status: the right to reside, not a fixed list of privileges.
PRs aged 15 years and above are issued the Singapore blue Identity Card, according to ICA. A PR needs a valid Re-Entry Permit to travel out of Singapore and return as a PR.
ICA assesses applicants on family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency. It uses these to judge the applicant’s ability to contribute to Singapore and integrate into society, and his or her commitment to sinking roots.
The status is conditional. ICA’s Entry Permit and Re-Entry Permit conditions require PRs to respect Singapore’s laws and to avoid undesirable conduct, including interference in domestic politics, importing foreign politics, activities that undermine social harmony, and criminal offences such as unauthorised consumption of controlled drugs.
Breach has consequences. ICA states that a PR convicted of an offence or found to have undesirable conduct breaches the conditions of the Entry Permit and Re-Entry Permit, and that ICA will review the PR status. The review can lead to cancellation of both permits and revocation of PR status.
With effect from 1 December 2025, all Entry Permits and Re-Entry Permits are imposed or varied with a condition allowing cancellation under the Immigration Act 1959. The grounds include breach of a permit condition, contravention of any law found by a court or competent authority, and behaviour the Controller of Immigration considers undesirable, including behaviour contrary to national or public interests.
What the application costs and how long ICA takes
ICA charges S$100 for each application at submission. At completion of formalities, ICA charges S$20 for the Entry Permit, S$50 for a 5-year Re-Entry Permit and S$50 for the Singapore Identity Card.
All fees are non-refundable. ICA accepts Visa or MasterCard credit or debit cards, American Express credit cards, Internet Direct Debit (DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB and Standard Chartered Bank internet banking accounts in Singapore), and PayNow.
Processing takes up to 6 months, provided all required documents are submitted and are in order. ICA notes that some applications may take longer.
Applicants learn the outcome by email, or by post for applications submitted before 26 June 2024. ICA also allows status checks online at MyICA or the e-Service.
Successful applicants receive an In-Principle Approval first. They are granted permanent residence status once they have fulfilled the necessary conditions.
Documents must be certified true copies of the originals, with official translations for documents in languages other than English. ICA accepts translations from the embassy of the issuing country or place, translations by a notary public in Singapore or the issuing country or place, and privately translated documents attested by that embassy or notarised by such a notary public.
ICA does not endorse any private translation companies or entities, and insufficient documentation may result in non-acceptance of an application. Additional documents may be requested.
Every person added as an applicant must review the application form before submission, logging in with Singpass or with unique login credentials provided by ICA for those ineligible for Singpass. Singpass account approval may take 2 to 5 working days, so ICA recommends starting only after all applicants have registered.
CPF: contributions start, then step up
CPF contributions are the clearest financial change after PR status. The CPF Board publishes rate tables effective from 1 January 2026, with separate tables for Singapore Citizens and PRs in their third year onwards, and graduated tables for the first and second year of SPR status.
The tables turn on three wage definitions. OW means Ordinary Wages, capped at an OW ceiling of S$8,000; AW means Additional Wages; TW means Total Wages, equal to OW plus AW.
Contributions are nil where total wages for the calendar month are S$50 or less. The tables below show the band above S$750, where the full percentage and the maximum contribution on OW apply.
| Employee’s age band | 1st year SPR (graduated) | 2nd year SPR (graduated) | 3rd year onwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 & below | 9% (max S$720) | 24% (max S$1,920) | 37% (max S$2,960) |
| Above 55 - 60 | 9% (max S$720) | 18.5% (max S$1,480) | 34% (max S$2,720) |
| Above 60 - 65 | 8.5% (max S$680) | 11% (max S$880) | 25% (max S$2,000) |
| Above 65 - 70 | 8.5% (max S$680) | 8.5% (max S$680) | 16.5% (max S$1,320) |
| Above 70 | 8.5% (max S$680) | 8.5% (max S$680) | 12.5% (max S$1,000) |
The employee’s share is smaller than the total in every band. It is what is deducted from wages, and it also steps up across the first years of PR status.
| Employee’s age band | 1st year SPR | 2nd year SPR | 3rd year onwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 & below | 5% (max S$400) | 15% (max S$1,200) | 20% (max S$1,600) |
| Above 55 - 60 | 5% (max S$400) | 12.5% (max S$1,000) | 18% (max S$1,440) |
| Above 60 - 65 | 5% (max S$400) | 7.5% (max S$600) | 12.5% (max S$1,000) |
| Above 65 - 70 | 5% (max S$400) | 5% (max S$400) | 7.5% (max S$600) |
| Above 70 | 5% (max S$400) | 5% (max S$400) | 5% (max S$400) |
The age bands are not identical across the tables. CPF’s first- and second-year graduated tables group everyone above 65 in a single “Above 65” band, while the third-year table splits “Above 65 - 70” and “Above 70”.
Lower wage bands carry reduced rates. For an employee aged 55 and below, the total contribution is 17% (TW) on wages above S$50 to S$500 in the third year onwards, and 17% (TW) + 0.6 (TW - S$500) on wages above S$500 to S$750.
| PR year (age 55 & below) | Wages > S$50 to S$500 | Wages > S$500 to S$750 |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year (graduated) | 4% (TW) | 4% (TW) + 0.15 (TW - S$500) |
| 2nd year (graduated) | 9% (TW) | 9% (TW) + 0.45 (TW - S$500) |
| 3rd year onwards | 17% (TW) | 17% (TW) + 0.6 (TW - S$500) |
The employee’s share is nil in the S$50 to S$500 band. In the S$500 to S$750 band it is 0.15, 0.45 and 0.6 of (TW - S$500) respectively.
A second regime exists for the first year of SPR status, published as Full Employer and Graduated Employee rates (F/G). For employees aged 55 and below the total is 22% (max S$1,760) with an employee share of 5% (max S$400); for above 55 to 60 it is 21% (max S$1,680) with 5% (max S$400); for above 60 to 65 it is 17.5% (max S$1,400) with 5% (max S$400).
CPF states that the third-year rates also apply to first- and second-year SPR employees and their employers after the CPF Board approves their joint application to contribute at full employer and full employee rates. CPF also records that there have been no changes to the graduated employer and employee rates since 1 January 2016.
CPF sets out rounding rules for the calculation. The total contribution is rounded to the nearest dollar, down for amounts below 50 cents and up for 50 cents and above; the employee’s share is rounded down to the nearest dollar; the employer’s share is the difference.
CPF directs employers to its CPF contribution calculator for actual computation. The calculator sits at cpf.gov.sg/employer, under Tools and services, then Calculators.
Housing: what this record does and does not settle
Housing is the one heading in the title that these sources do not cover. The official-source packet behind this article contains no Housing & Development Board material, so no eligibility rule, income ceiling, subsidy figure or resale condition is stated here.
The CPF material here is also narrower than it may appear. The CPF tables set contribution rates only, and they say nothing about withdrawals or about using CPF balances for property.
Schooling: where the fee rules are published
School fees are published by the Ministry of Education, not by ICA. MOE’s fees page provides a checker: enter your child’s details to check the amount and structure of their monthly fees.
The amount depends on the child’s details, MOE’s fees page states: enter your child’s details to check the amount and structure of their monthly fees..
MOE’s page also lists a related question on a child’s citizenship being updated recently while old school fee rates are still being charged.
Schooling also intersects with the PR routes themselves. ICA accepts applications from a student studying in Singapore who has passed at least one national exam, meaning PSLE, GCE ‘N’, ‘O’ or ‘A’ levels, or who is in the Integrated Programme.
Age determines how that student applies. Students aged 15 and above submit using Singpass at ICA e-Service; students aged below 15 submit via the non-Singpass option at ICA e-Service.
Schooling then intersects with National Service for males. MINDEF allows students to attain qualifications up to the ‘A’ Levels certificate, the polytechnic diploma, or an equivalent pre-tertiary qualification before they are required to serve, and enlistment follows at the earliest opportunity afterwards.
Travel: the Re-Entry Permit that keeps PR status
A Re-Entry Permit is the document that keeps PR status alive across a border. ICA requires a valid REP whenever a PR travels out of Singapore, because the REP allows the holder to retain permanent residence status while away.
Loss of status is now tied to hard deadlines. Under the Immigration Act 1959, from 1 December 2025, a PR who leaves Singapore without a valid REP loses PR status if no REP application is made within 180 days from the date of departure.
A second deadline applies to expiry abroad. A PR holding a valid REP at departure whose REP expires overseas must apply within 180 days from the date of expiry, or lose PR status.
Applying is not enough on its own. ICA states that a PR who applies within the 180 days still loses PR status if the application is rejected, even if he or she has returned to Singapore by the time of rejection.
Without a valid REP, the consequences are immediate at the border. ICA assesses a PR who leaves or remains overseas without a valid REP as a foreign visitor, subject to prevailing entry requirements.
Renewal runs online and has a window. A PR may renew the REP online using Singpass three months before the current REP expires, and must renew online using e-Service within three months prior to the expiry date.
| REP item | What ICA publishes |
|---|---|
| Fee | S$10 for every year, or part thereof, of the approved REP |
| Separate fee | A separate fee is chargeable for each REP issued |
| Processing time | Within one week, excluding the day of submission |
| Payment deadline | Within 14 days of the approval date, or the application is withdrawn |
| Travel document | Must be valid with at least three months’ validity |
The new REP is not an extension. Its validity period begins from the date of issuance, after successful payment.
Overseas applicants without Singpass have a separate route. They may submit through the nearest Singapore Overseas Mission at least two months before the current REP expires.
A new passport requires action. ICA asks PRs who change to a new passport of the same nationality to update the passport details in the REP promptly using the transfer of REP function, because clearance as a PR at entry depends on a valid REP carrying updated passport details.
ICA also issues practical advice for travel and for record-keeping. PRs should check that the name and UIN on the REP are correct, carry a copy when travelling because foreign authorities may ask for it, and transfer remaining REP validity online when they obtain a new travel document.
Payment methods differ by channel. Online payment accepts Visa or MasterCard credit or debit cards, American Express, internet direct debit at DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB and Standard Chartered Bank, and PayNow; over-the-counter payment at ICA accepts NETS, Visa or MasterCard, and mobile payment such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay.
A S$10 fee is payable for every year, or part thereof, of your approved Re-Entry Permit (REP). ICA charges S$50 for a 5-year Re-Entry Permit at completion of formalities, alongside the S$20 Entry Permit and S$50 Identity Card fee.
National Service: the obligation attached to PR status
National Service is the heaviest obligation attached to PR status for males. Under the Enlistment Act 1970, all male Singapore citizens and permanent residents, unless exempted, are required to serve NS.
The obligation does not end at full-time service. After completing full-time NS they become Operationally Ready National Servicemen, and an NSman’s obligation ends at age 50 for officers or 40 for other ranks.
Registration starts in the teenage years. Male applicants granted SC or PR as a foreign student or under their parents’ sponsorship are liable for NS, must register upon reaching 16 and a half years old, and are scheduled for enlistment at the earliest opportunity upon reaching 18 years old.
Education deferment is limited and defined. MINDEF allows students to attain educational qualifications up to the ‘A’ Levels certificate, the polytechnic diploma, or an equivalent pre-tertiary qualification before serving, and they are enlisted at the earliest opportunity when they finish pre-tertiary education or after turning 18, whichever is later.
University study is not a ground for deferment. MINDEF states it does not grant deferment for university studies regardless of whether such studies have begun, and those granted SC or PR mid-university must disrupt their studies to enlist if they cannot complete before their enlistment date.
Default carries criminal penalties. Any person who defaults on NS obligations by committing an offence under the Enlistment Act 1970 is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding S$10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both.
Leaving PR status does not extinguish the consequences. ICA states that 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, whether now or in the future.
The effects reach the family. ICA states that renouncing or losing PR without serving or completing full-time NS also adversely affects family members’ applications for long-term immigration facilities, their ability to sponsor such facilities, their REP renewals, and their applications for Singapore citizenship.
Citizenship renunciation is also gated. Male Singapore citizens who wish to renounce citizenship may have their renunciation applications withheld by the Government if they have not discharged their NS liabilities.
ICA requires action before an application is filed. All male applicants must access www.cmpb.gov.sg for information on NS before proceeding with the PR application.
Enquiries go to the Central Manpower Base. CMPB can be reached at 1800-3676767 (local) or 65-65676767 (overseas), or by email at contact@ns.gov.sg.
What to read next
Post-PR Obligations: CPF Top-Up, National Service, and Renewing the Re-Entry Permit — what to do after the grant, covering CPF, NS and REP renewal in one place.
Singapore PR Application: Who Can Apply, What ICA Asks For and How the Process Runs — the application route, the sponsor logic and the sequence ICA follows.
Singapore PR Re-Entry Permit (REP): How to Apply, Renew and Avoid Losing PR Status — the travel rules, the 180-day deadlines and the renewal window.
Singapore PR Requirements: The Application Routes, Documents, Fees and National Service Rules — the routes, the document set and the fee schedule in detail.
Singapore Citizenship: Requirements, Application Stages and the Renunciation Rule — the step beyond PR, including the renunciation condition for males.
PR hub — the full set of Pass & Permit Desk pages on permanent residence.
Official sources
- Becoming a Permanent Resident (ICA)
- CPF contribution rates from 1 January 2026 (CPF Board)
- Check your child’s school fees (MOE)
- Entry Permit and Re-Entry Permit Conditions for Singapore Permanent Residents (ICA)
- Apply for or renew a Re-Entry Permit (ICA)
These pages were retrieved on 7 October 2026, and the rules on them change. Confirm the current position on the agency page before acting.
Pass & Permit Desk is not an immigration agent: it does not file applications or represent anyone, and this article gives general information only, not immigration or legal advice.