Who the GIP is for
The Global Investor Programme (GIP) is administered by Contact Singapore, a division of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). It offers a route to Singapore Permanent Residence (PR) for eligible investors under four profiles: Established Business Owners, Next Generation Business Owners, Founders of Fast Growth Companies, and Family Office Principals.
Spouses and unmarried children below 21 at the time of application can be included as dependants. Parents and unmarried children above 21 cannot be included as dependants under a GIP application; they may apply for a Long Term Visit Pass tied to the validity of the main applicant’s Re-Entry Permit (REP).
Male applicants and male dependants should note their potential National Service (NS) obligations under Singapore’s Enlistment Act. The official position on NS is set out by the Ministry of Defence and Central Manpower Base (CMPB), not by EDB or ICA. Official details should be checked directly at www.cmpb.gov.sg.
Qualifying criteria (by profile)
The EDB sets out minimum criteria for each profile. These are eligibility thresholds, not a ranking of applicants:
- Established Business Owners: At least three years of entrepreneurial and business track record; the qualifying company (which can be consolidated from up to two companies, both in EDB-listed industries) must have had an annual turnover of at least S$200 million in the year immediately preceding application, and at least S$200 million per annum on average for the three years immediately preceding application. If privately held, the applicant must hold at least 30% shareholding.
- Next Generation Business Owners: The applicant’s immediate family must have at least 30% shareholding or be the largest shareholder in the qualifying company; that company must have had an annual turnover of at least S$500 million in the year immediately preceding application, and at least S$500 million per annum on average for the three years immediately preceding application. The applicant must be part of the management team (e.g. C-suite/Board of Directors).
- Founders of Fast Growth Companies: The applicant must be a founder and one of the largest individual shareholders of a non-publicly listed company with a valuation of at least S$500 million; the company must be invested into by reputable Venture Capital/Private Equity firms.
- Family Office Principals: At least five years of entrepreneurial, investment or management track record, and net investible assets of at least S$200 million. Net investible assets are defined as all financial assets excluding real estate; EDB reserves the right to determine suitability.
For all profiles, the qualifying company(ies) must be engaged in one or more of the industries listed in Annex B of the GIP factsheet. If investing via a publicly listed qualifying company (where relevant), the applicant must be one of the largest individual shareholders of that publicly listed company.
Investment options
Applicants must meet the qualifying profile and select one of the following investment options. The exact requirements are set by EDB:
- Option A – Business investment: Demonstrate an investment of at least S$10 million in a new business entity or in the expansion of an existing business operation in Singapore. Applicants must submit a detailed five-year business or investment plan covering projected employment, expenditure and financial projections for the Option A company. The applicant must hold at least 30% shareholding in the Option A company (with the same public-listing caveat noted) and be part of its management team. The Option A company must be engaged in one of the industries listed in Annex B. Retrospective paid-up capital in the Option A company can be considered towards fulfilling this condition.
- Option B – GIP-select fund: Invest S$25 million in a GIP-select fund that invests in Singapore-based companies. Additional business plans may be requested.
- Option C – Single Family Office (SFO): Establish a Singapore-based Single Family Office with Assets Under Management (AUM) of at least S$200 million, of which at least S$50 million must be transferred into Singapore and deployed in EDB-specified investments. A detailed five-year business plan is required, covering projected employment and annual financial projections. Offshore assets may count towards the AUM requirement if at least S$50 million of investible assets is transferred into and held in Singapore upon Approval-in-Principle (AIP). At least S$50 million must be deployed in EDB-specified investments no later than 12 months from the Final Approval date, and thereafter maintained throughout the validity of the REP. The specified investments listed include equities listed on Singapore-approved exchanges.
Application and approval process (as stated)
The GIP process, as described in the EDB factsheet, follows these broad steps. Timelines are stated in general terms and may vary depending on completeness of submission and checks:
- Submit completed GIP application forms (online and hardcopy) to EDB.
- Attend an interview with EDB if invited.
- If assessment criteria are met, ICA issues an AIP, valid for six months.
- Fulfil the investment condition under the selected option within six months from the AIP date.
- Upon making the investment, provide evidence and submit the Investment Undertaking on the terms and conditions of that investment.
- Once EDB verifies investment documents, ICA issues the Final Approval letter. (For Option C, at least S$50 million must be deployed in the specified investments no later than 12 months from the date of the Final Approval letter.)
- Formalise PR in Singapore within 12 months from the date of the Final Approval letter.
According to the EDB factsheet, “It will take approximately 12 months for a GIP Application to be processed. This is subject to complete submission of all required supporting documents at the point of application. Your application will also be subject to due diligence checks.” No fixed 12–18 month guarantee, no approval-rate figures, and no projected processing range beyond this general statement are published in the provided materials.
Post-approval requirements and REP renewal
Post-AIP, applicants must submit documentary evidence to EDB within six months of AIP. Required documents vary by option but generally include signed Investment Undertaking and Statutory Declaration, relevant company/fund/SFO records, share certificates as applicable, and bank reference letters/statements as specified.
Upon receiving signed undertakings and verified evidence, ICA issues Final Approval. PR must be formalised within 12 months of Final Approval. A REP valid for five years is issued on formalisation. Renewal criteria (for a five-year renewal) are explicitly set by EDB by option:
- Option A: fulfilled investment conditions under Option A; and the Option A company meets the business activity and other conditions as stated at the time of renewal assessment.
- Option B: fulfilled investment conditions under Option B; and the applicant continues to hold the investment in the GIP-select fund, subject to conditions stated.
- Option C: fulfilled investment conditions under Option C; and the SFO manages at least S$200 million in assets and has deployed at least S$50 million in EDB-specified investments, subject to conditions stated.
REP renewal applications should be submitted via ICA’s Electronic Re-Entry Permit System within the three-month window before expiry. Applying after expiry will cause the REP to lapse and PR may be lost on leaving Singapore.
How this relates to general PR/citizenship routes
The GIP is a specific investor route administered by EDB. Other routes to PR (e.g. spouse, unmarried child, aged parent, Employment Pass/S Pass holder, eligible student, etc.) and routes to Singapore citizenship are administered by ICA under their published eligibility criteria. ICA publishes separate processing times: for PR applications, “within 6 months” (provided documents are in order; some may take longer). For citizenship applications, “within 12 months” for most cases and “within 1 month” for children born overseas to Singapore citizens (where documents are in order; some may take longer). Fees for PR and citizenship are set out in ICA’s published fee tables and are non-refundable.
