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Singapore Citizenship Application
December 29, 2024
Singapore Citizenship Application
The process for SG Citizenship applications are extremely lengthy and complicated
The Government’s Selective Immigration model demands any eligible and outstanding Singapore Permanent Residents be sure-footed in their applications.
On top of that, there are numerous contributing factors to a robust citizenship application that our team will be able to concisely present to clients.
Singapore Citizen applications are usually lengthy and complicated. Therefore, they require a considerable amount of time during the screening and decision-making phases over at ICA. At The Immigration People, we work together with all clients to see that no stone is left unturned when applying for citizenship in Singapore and we will ensure the entire application will not be a waste of resources.
All approved clients have up to two months to complete the three components of the SCJ before they can complete citizenship formalities and receive their pink National Registration Identity Cards (NRICs) and citizenship certificates. This comes in the form of the Singapore Citizenship Journey (“SCJ”) mainly partitioned into the e-Journey, the Singapore Experiential Tour and the Community Sharing session. Fret not, we will be with you throughout the entire journey on how to apply Singapore Citizen and shall advise you accordingly when it comes to your Singapore Citizenship eligibility, from your application process and till you receive your In-Principle Approval (“IPA) letter.
Benefits
Obligations
Benefits
Singapore ranks in the Top 3 of the best passports in the world and this makes its citizenship rights one of the most attractive to many foreigners – resulting in a large number of candidates wanting to apply for Singapore Citizenship every year. While many benefits and perks come along with holding a citizenship status in Singapore, there are also its own set of obligations. Citizens of Singapore are expected to comply with the country’s regulations and duties imposed. The benefits are,
Flexibility Of Visa
With the country’s strong bilateral ties, Singapore Passport holders face few travel restrictions across the world. One gets to enjoy the freedom and flexibility of Visa-free travel to different countries without needing to apply for any travelling pass with their respective embassies, which may take up to weeks to approve for some.
Health Care / Hospitalisation Subsidy
A Singapore citizen gets to enjoy a more considerable amount of subsidy for medical and hospitalization bills in Public Hospitals, Polyclinics and National Centres compared to a PR and a foreigner.
Furthermore, there are additional government subsidies to finance the medical expenses of needy Singaporeans only.
Multiple Career Opportunities
Similar to a PR, there are always more job openings that will be available to Singaporean citizens and PRs based on the current government’s policies to ensure the locals are first and to be given priority in the job opportunity.
Sponsorship Of Long-Term Passes And Permanent Residency For Family Members
A Singapore citizen is entitled to sponsor his/her direct family members – spouse, unmarried children under the age of 21, born within a legal marriage or legally adopted and aged parents to obtain a long-term staying visa or even a PR status. Whereas as a PR, you are only limited to sponsoring PRs for spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21.
Education
Singaporean children are entitled to a government initiative called the Edusave Scheme.
This scheme rewards children who do well in either their academic or non-academic activities and can also be used to help pay for the 2nd-Tier Miscellaneous Fee.
Furthermore, Singapore Citizens pay the lowest fees for public education and are entitled to the most immense amount of subsidies for private and tertiary education.
The table below shows a comparison of the latest, maximum rates of school (including Miscellaneous Fees) payable monthly.
For more information, you may visit the Ministry Of Education website to know more:Â https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/pr-and-foreign-students-in-govt-funded-schools-to-pay-higher-fees-from-2024-to-2026
| Level | Singapore Citizen (S$) | Singapore PR (S$) 2025 | International Student (S$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | 13 | 305 | 985 |
| Secondary | 25 | 620 | 2,050 |
| Pre-University | 33 | 700 | 2,400 |
Government Pension
Central Provident Fund (CPF)
The Central Provident Fund (CPF) scheme, in which a Singaporean employee or PR employee and their employer have to contribute a monthly minimum amount to the employee’s pension fund.
The CPF scheme helps the individual financially when it comes to home-ownership, health care, children’s education, family protection and asset growth through investments and higher interest rates given.
CPF contributions can also be a form of tax relief, hence, resulting in a lower taxable income per year.
If one has been a PR for more than 2 years, the employees’ CPF contribution is the same as a Singapore Citizen.
For more information, you may visit:Â https://www.cpf.gov.sg/members
Property Ownership
(i) Public Housings
Unlike Singapore PRs who are only entitled to purchase resale public housings (HDB) owned and managed by the Government after being a PR for at least 2 years, Singapore citizens have a further privilege.
They are eligible to own and rent apartments from the HDB once they are over the age of 21 years old. In addition, any Singapore citizen who is owning a property for the very first time is allowed to purchase the government’s Built-To-Order (BTO) flats, which are further subsidized by the Government.
For more information, you may check out:Â https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/homepage
(ii) Taxes For Residential Properties
As a Singapore citizen, it is a lot easier to borrow various loans such as a housing loan should they want to buy property as compared to foreigners.
While a Singapore PR or foreigner needs to pay an Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) for even their first property owned, this is not applicable for a Singapore citizen.
Even for subsequent properties owned, the stamp duty payable for a citizen is considerably lesser as compared to being a PR or foreigner.
Parenthood Incentives
The Singapore Government has implemented various measures to encourage and help Singaporeans at each stage or aspect of their journey as parents and also to address the broader set of concerns that have been preventing Singaporeans from having larger families. These measures include:
- Making Child Birth More Affordable – Singapore citizens can use Medisave to pay for pre-delivery medical expenses (e.g. ultrasound scans) in addition to delivery expenses, for all their children.
- Enhanced Baby Bonus – A cash bonus of up to S$8,000 for the 1st 2 children and up to S$10,000 cash bonus for the 3rd and 4th child of a Singaporean family.
- Parenthood Tax Rebate and Working Mother’s Child Relief – Provides a lump sum tax rebate of S$10,000 – S$20,000, depending on the birth order of the child. There will also be a tax relief of 5% – 25% of a working mother’s (of a Singaporean child) earned income, depending on the number of children in the family.
- Infant Care Subsidy – Parents of Singapore Citizen infants aged, 2-18 months and attending licensed infant or child care centres, will receive an infant-care subsidy of up to S$400 per month.
- Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Concession – Singaporean families with children aged 12 years and below will only pay an FDW Levy of S$250.
With that many windows of opportunities and incentives to apply Citizenship in Singapore, should you wish to find out more about your chances or how to apply for Singapore Citizen, do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation today!
Obligations
No Dual Nationality
Singapore does not allow dual citizenship. Hence, all new citizens are required to renounce their existing citizenship at their respective embassies before they can complete the formalities to become Singapore citizens.
However, Singaporean child(ren) may hold dual citizenship till enlistment for NS (for males) or till 21 years old.
National Service
Under the Enlistment Act, all male Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) are required to serve the National Service (NS).
NS-liable individuals are required to register for NS upon reaching 16.5 years old.
They will be scheduled for enlistment at the age of 18 years old, typically before enrolment for university studies, after completion of Junior College (JC) / Polytechnic / Institute of Technical Education (ITE).
Limitations For CPF Withdrawal
Singapore Citizens and PRs are allowed to withdraw the excess amount from their CPF account upon reaching the age of 55.
The amount withdrawable depends on the balances in your respective CPF account. From age 65 onwards, you will receive a monthly payout from your CPF Retirement Account (RA) till death. The monthly payout depends on the amount of money left in your RA.
For more information on CPF contributions, accounts, withdrawals and payout, refer to:Â https://www.cpf.gov.sg/Members
Fees
At Submission
- Adults and children of PRs: S$100 per application
- Overseas-born children to Singapore citizen parents: S$18 per application
At Completion of Formalities
- Singapore Citizenship Certificate: S$70
- Singapore Identity Card (new citizens aged 15 and above): S$10
Payment Methods:
- Visa/MasterCard credit or debit card
- American Express (AMEX) credit card
- Internet Direct Debit (DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB, and Standard Chartered Bank)
- PayNow
Note: All fees are non-refundable.
Required Documents for Singapore Citizenship Application
To ensure a smooth application process, prepare the following mandatory documents:
1. Personal Identification:
-
- Passport
- Birth Certificate
- PR Identification
2. Marital Status:
-
- Marriage Certificate
- Divorce Certificate or Separation Deed (if applicable)
3. Employment Proof:
-
- Letter from your employer
- CPF contributions
- Income Tax records (last 3 years)
4. For Business Owners:
-
- ACRA business profile
5. Additional Documentation:
-
- Proof of academic achievements
- Evidence of Permanent Resident status
Important: To avoid missing any required documents, applicants are strongly advised to refer to the official Singapore Citizenship Document Checklist provided by ICA. Ensure that all listed items are included in your submission to prevent delays.
You will also be required to fill up the application form for Singapore Citizenship in addition to the documents listed above. For a full list of documents required, you may refer to the ICA website.
Submitting Your Singapore Citizenship Application
Once you have completed your application form for Singapore Citizenship and the necessary documents, you have two options to submit your application:
1. You can submit your Singapore Citizenship application documents, online through ICA’s Electronic SG Citizenship Application over here:Â https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/esvclandingpage/esc
2. Or you can submit it in person at ICA’s building. However, you will still have to make an appointment through their online appointment booking system here:Â https://eappointment.ica.gov.sg/ibook/index.do
What’s Next After Submitting My SG Citizenship Application Form
Once you’ve submitted your application, the process typically takes about 12 months, assuming all documents are complete and accurate. However, some applications may require more time depending on their complexity.
Processing Time
- General Applications: Most applications are processed within 12 months.
- Overseas-Born Children of Singapore Citizens: Processing is typically completed within 2 months.
- Applications with Multiple Products: If your application includes multiple requests (e.g., Long-Term Visit Pass and Permanent Residence), the processing time will be based on the product requiring the longer timeline.
Notification and Status Updates
- You will receive the outcome of your application via email.
- To check the status of your application at any time, visit MyICA or the ICA e-Service portal.
By ensuring all documents are submitted accurately and promptly, you can avoid unnecessary delays.
Additional Information
- Change of Address: Update your residential address promptly via ICA e-Service.
- Change of Name: PRs holding a Singapore IC must first update their foreign passport before applying for a name change. Refer to ICA’s page on identity card updates for guidance.
Disclaimer
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) does not affiliate with any migration agency or commercial entity claiming to specialize in Singapore citizenship applications. Avoid engaging with unverified consultants or third-party services.
For more details, visit ICA’s official website or reach out to them via their e-Service portal.
Why Choose The Immigration People For Your Singapore Citizen Application
With over 25 years of collective experience in Singapore Citizenship application, we believe in sharing and educating people to better understand the process instead of holding back the information.
This is unique to us. Most agencies hide the main points you should be aware of when applying for Singapore Citizenship, worrying that the general public will use this knowledge and ultimately lose business. But we believe in unscrambling the mystery to educate and empower all.
With a tailor-made approach to suit each specific client profile, let us help you out with your Singapore Citizen application.
Get started today. Reach out to us to understand how we can assist with how to become a Singapore Citizen, guiding you through the time-consuming document preparation process and enhancing your chances to become a Singapore citizen. Speak to our immigration experts today.
Have more questions on how to apply Singapore Citizen? Check out our frequently asked questions (FAQs) below!
Frequently Asked Questions About Applying For Singapore Citizen
How Long Does A SG Citizenship Application Take?
Generally, the citizenship application process takes about six to twelve months for approval. However, on certain occasions, an individual application may take slightly longer due to the complexity. For more information on your application for Singapore citizenship, do contact us for a free consultation.
Is It Hard To Obtain A Singapore Citizenship?
It depends on the criteria and if you have submitted the necessary Singapore citizenship application documents. However, you will have to successfully apply for a Singapore Permanent Residency before considering applying for Singapore Citizen.
Can Students Apply For Singapore Citizenship?
Yes, definitely. As a student, you can submit your own SG Citizenship application if you are:
- Singapore Permanent Resident
- More Than 15 Years Of Age
- Living In Singapore For Over 3 Years
What Are The Chances Of Approval?
To be eligible for Singapore Citizenship as the main applicant, you must first meet one of the following three minimum requirements:
- Permanent Resident for at least two years and at least 21 years old
- Married to a citizen for at least two years
- PR student residing in Singapore for at least three years and passed one national examination
Other factors like economic contribution (salary, industry, professional achievement), social integration, endorsements from citizens, family ties (existing Citizen/PR), and financial and property investments also matter.
When Should I Renounce My Foreign Citizenship?
If your application is successful, you must complete the Singapore Citizenship Journey (SCJ) within two months. Once you have completed SCJ, you will then renounce your prior citizenship. You have to visit the embassy of your country. After the renunciation of your citizenship, you will surrender your passport.
The duration for this depends on your respective embassy but may take about 1-2 months. Only after your existing citizenship has been renounced can you proceed with completing the formalities at the Immigration authorities (ICA).
For more information on renouncing Singapore Citizenship, click here
As A Singapore Citizen, Will I Be Required To Sell My Overseas Properties?
This depends on the law and regulations of the country where your properties are located. We recommend that you speak to the property agent who has facilitated your purchase of the property to advise you on the country’s regulations.
As a Singapore citizen, it is acceptable for you to own overseas properties. However, if you wish to purchase Singapore’s public housing, i.e., Housing Development Board (HDB) flats, you cannot own residential properties overseas or locally.
Should you already own a property overseas, yet still wish to purchase a resale HDB flat, you are required to dispose of the overseas property before or within six months from your resale HDB purchase.
How Much Does It Cost To Engage TIP Services?
Typically, our fees are quoted based on the following considerations:
- The case’s complexity (e.g., rejected several times / charged with a criminal offence / etc.)
- Size of Family (the more extensive the family nucleus, the more costly it will be due to the sheer volume of documentation and time required to work on the case)
- The steps to complete formalities
To find out more on how we can better assist you with your application for Singapore Citizenship, do contact us for a free consultation!
Please share with us some details about your needs, we will get back to you.
