Expert Guidance for
Your Singapore PR Application

Being a PR is the only path to obtaining a Singapore passport (apart from being born to a Singapore Citizen parent). One will be eligible to apply for Citizenship upon being a PR for at least two years.

Unlike the Singapore PR application, preparing for a Singapore citizenship application is more rigorous, with a longer list of documents required.

Singapore PRs are entitled to Government subsidies for Public Hospitals, Polyclinics, and National Centres.

Medisave, Singapore’s national medical savings scheme, which helps individuals set aside a part of their income to subsidize medical treatment/hospitalization bills, is only entitled to Singapore citizens and permanent residents.

(i) Public Housing

Singapore PRs are entitled to purchase resale public housing (HDB) owned and managed by the Government. In contrast, foreigners can only purchase private properties at least double or triple the HDB price.

(ii) Taxes for Residential Properties

As a PR, it is much easier to borrow various loans, such as housing loans, should you want to buy property. PRs also enjoy property tax benefits. On purchasing their first property in Singapore, PRs must pay only 5% of the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) rate. In comparison, expatriates must pay 60% for any of their residential properties in Singapore.

In the Central Provident Fund (CPF) scheme, a Singaporean or PR employee and their employer must contribute a monthly minimum amount to the employee’s pension fund.

The CPF scheme helps the individual financially regarding home ownership, health care, children’s education, family protection, and asset growth through investments and higher interest rates. CPF contributions can also be a form of tax relief, resulting in a lower taxable income per year.

Note: Should permanent residents decide to renounce their residency or let it expire, they can withdraw their accumulated CPF funds. That is only recommended if they never plan to work in Singapore. However, if your Singapore PR status was reinstated, you must return all the withdrawn CPF monies to your CPF account.

Your permanent resident child who is a student will be placed high on the priority list, just after the citizens in the entry for government schools (Preschool, Primary, Secondary, Junior Colleges, or Polytechnics).

On the other hand, foreigners will have difficulty balloting for a slot in government schools and often have to enrol in an International School, which comes with exorbitant school fees. Subsidies and tuition grants will also be granted to a Singapore PR to study in local or private institutions.

Holding a Singapore Permanent Residence status entails better career stability. It enables one to change jobs freely without having to worry if their Singapore-based employers will be renewing their work pass or having the need to re-apply whenever they wish to change jobs.

Foreign professionals risk having their work pass application rejected or delayed, making them lose the job opportunity or, worse, having to leave Singapore if a new work pass is not approved in time. At the same time, more employment opportunities will be available to Singapore PRs. The current government policies ensure that locals and permanent residents are prioritised regarding career progression.

A PR is entitled to sponsor their legally married spouse, unmarried children under 21 (born within a legal marriage or legally adopted), and aged parents to reside longer in Singapore with the LTVP. There are no salary criteria to meet.

Comparison: A work pass holder can also sponsor certain family members, but they have to meet the minimum salary requirement of earning a monthly salary of at least S$6,000 to do so. The minimum monthly salary for a work pass holder to sponsor LTVP for parents is S$12,000.

PRs enjoy the right to live in Singapore and are allowed the freedom to leave and enter the country without visa restrictions or having to provide multiple travel documents to travel or work.

Although the Singapore PR status will never expire, you must ensure that your Re-Entry Permit (REP) is renewed when needed.

Yes, if you are a male PR. Under the Enlistment Act, all male Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) are required to serve National Service (NS).

The Timeline:

• Registration: NS-liable individuals are required to register for NS upon reaching 16.5 years old.
• Enlistment: They will be scheduled for enlistment at the age of 18 years old. This typically happens before enrolment for university studies, after completion of Junior College (JC), Polytechnic, or Institute of Technical Education (ITE).

Note: Renouncing PR status to avoid NS has serious consequences for any future applications to work or study in Singapore.

Unlike in some other countries, you cannot withdraw your pension funds freely. There are strict limitations:

Age 55 Withdrawal: Singapore Citizens and PRs are allowed to withdraw only the excess amount from their CPF account upon reaching the age of 55 (after setting aside the required Retirement Sum).

Monthly Payouts (Age 65+): From age 65 onwards, you will not receive a lump sum. Instead, you will receive a monthly payout from your CPF Retirement Account (RA) until death. The payout amount depends on the savings accumulated in your RA.

Full Withdrawal Condition: You can only withdraw your full CPF savings if you renounce your PR status, leave Singapore permanently, and have no intention of returning to work in Singapore.

For more information on CPF contributions and payouts, please refer to the official CPF Board website: https://www.cpf.gov.sg/Members