4 Things To Look Out For When Becoming PR in Singapore

Received your Singapore PR approval letter? Congratulations! You are just one step closer to becoming a PR in Singapore.

According to the population report given out by the Government of Singapore, about 21,000 new citizenships, and 27,500 new Singapore permanent residency were granted in the year 2020.

As much as it seems like, the final victory is still a step away.

Once your application is approved, what should you do? Is the approval subject to some follow up actions?

Is there a timeline required? What will happen if the applicant does not act?

What if the applicant is not in Singapore when the letter is delivered?

Will it affect their PR approval and lose the chance of getting a PR in Singapore?

In today’s article, we will attempt to answer these questions.

What Is An In-Principal Approval Letter from ICA

Upon approval of the application process for Singapore Permanent Residence, applicants are a step closer to getting PR in Singapore.

They will first receive an In-Principal Approval letter (IPA) from The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

It has a validity of one (1) month from the date of issuance of the letter.

How Does ICA Inform The Applicant Of Their Application Status

Usually, the applicant will see the outcome first on ICA’s portal (status will show approved – it does not include a copy of the IPA letter online). After which, applicants will receive the IPA letter from ICA via post. The post includes an IPA letter and other detailed guides/steps on how to complete the formalities.

There are a series of actions required from the applicants upon receiving the letter. ICA will clearly state the actions required by the applicants in the letter

To find out more, do continue to read our article on I receive the Singapore Citizenship in-principle-approval (IPA) letter, then what?

Actions Required Upon Receiving The IPA Letter

Upon receiving the IPA letter, there is a list of things to be done before becoming a PR in Singapore. The list includes:

• Medical Check-Up
• Coverage For Insurance
• Mandatory Additional Documents

Medical Check-Up

Simply visit any medical centre for the check-up (remember to bring along the IPA letter). Typically, the processing time takes about two (2) weeks to obtain the medical certification, but it is subject to the medical centre you visited.

Coverage For Insurance

All successful PR applicants must be insured under MediShield Life (a basic national health insurance scheme that provides universal coverage to all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents).

All successful PR applicants (above 30 years) are required to be insured under CareShield Life (a long-term care insurance scheme that provides basic protection against long-term care costs)

Mandatory Additional Documents

Applicants must book an appointment with an ICA officer upon receiving their medical certificate/ report, insurance and other documents to be submitted with their application.

Applicants are required to bring along all original mandatory documents to be verified by the ICA officer.

ICA will provide a checklist on the documents needed in the IPA letter. It may take up to an hour to verify these documents. To understand more about the different documents that may be required, do read our article on the Singapore PR Documents required for Submission.

Upon completion of verification, applicants will receive an Entry Permit and a Re-Entry Permit and an identity card collection slip (you have to remember to book an appointment for collection at ICA’s website).

An applicant who wishes to apply for Singapore citizenship after getting the permanent residency will be eligible to apply only after two years of permanent residency in Singapore.

What If The Applicant Is Physically Not In Singapore

So what happens if the applicant receives a hard copy of the IPA, but they are not in Singapore momentarily?

Applicants will have to write a letter to ICA to explain and request for extension of the deadline.

Rest assured, such a situation is common, mainly due to the current pandemic as many people cannot travel back into Singapore.

Do note that if the IPA letter expires, ICA may revoke their approval which means the applicant’s PR approval will no longer be valid anymore.

Why Engage The Immigration People To Assist You In Becoming A PR

With over 25 years of collective experience with immigration matters, we are an immigration agency with professional experience in assisting even after you receive your IPA (Singapore PR approval).

It is crucial to engage a responsible immigration agency. As ICA policies or their procedures might change, in such a scenario, we will keep you posted on the latest changes and provide you with suitable advice, whenever it is needed.

Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any doubts or concerns with regards to getting PR in Singapore, we will be happy to get back to you as soon as possible!