Singapore PR Approval Statistics: Counts, Trends and Limits

Singapore granted 35,352 permanent residencies in 2025, according to Population in Brief 2026. This is a count of people granted PR, not an approval rate or a prediction of your application outcome.

This guide explains Singapore PR approval statistics, the difference between annual grants and the PR population, and how to use the data without assuming that a higher intake makes approval easier.

Latest official PR grant statistics

Source: Population in Brief 2026, Immigration section and key indicators. Annual grants use the full calendar year; population totals are a June snapshot. The publication year and the year measured are different. The 2026 publication reports 2025 annual grants.

PR grants in earlier years

Sources: annual grant series in Population in Brief publications. Historical figures remain labelled by year; they should not be presented as current-year outcomes. The small increase from 2024 to 2025 does not establish a change in the probability of approval.

Why a grant count is not an approval rate

An approval rate needs a compatible numerator and denominator: approved applications divided by the relevant applications considered. A count of people granted PR does not supply the matching application total, decision cohort or applicant mix needed for that calculation.

For example, 35,352 grants alone cannot support a claim that the success rate is 50%, that approval is at an all-time high, or that applications became easier. Processing can span reporting periods, and an application can include family members. Do not divide unrelated totals or present consultancy case results as a national rate.

Why annual grants differ from the PR population

New grants measure an inflow over a year; the PR population measures a stock at a date. People can enter or leave that population, become citizens, or fall outside the statistical residence definition. These are different measures and should not be subtracted as though they describe the same cohort.

A relatively stable PR population does not establish a fixed replacement quota or prove that a particular number of PR places must be filled each year. See our population and economic changes guide for the wider context.

What the data says about immigration policy

The official report describes a measured pace of immigration, with annual grants depending on applications received and Singapore’s changing needs. It does not publish a guaranteed intake for each occupation, nationality or future year.

Profiles of people granted PR describe successful recipients, not the rejection rate for everyone else. Without the corresponding applicant population, age, nationality or education shares cannot establish an individual’s approval odds or an ideal applicant blueprint.

Future forecasts should be treated separately from observed results. No numerical 2027 PR intake or five-year approval forecast is asserted here. Use a new official release when it becomes available rather than extending past figures mechanically.

How to use the statistics when preparing an application

• Check the application category that fits your circumstances in ICA’s PR guidance.
• Use the current document requirements and provide accurate information.
• Assess your plans independently of headlines about intake or the economy.
• Keep work-pass eligibility and PR assessment separate. COMPASS is not a PR scoring system.
• Review new relevant information after an unsuccessful application; a national grant total does not explain an individual refusal.

EP holders can use our EP-to-PR application guide. For investor-route requirements, use the GIP options guide. Neither route provides automatic approval.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Singapore PR approval rate?

The annual grant counts presented here do not establish an approval percentage. A reliable rate requires matching application and decision data with clear definitions.

Does more PR approval mean I should apply immediately?

No. Decide based on eligibility, readiness and your long-term plans. Annual intake figures do not establish an advantage from rushing an application.

Are the latest figures for 2026 applications?

No. Population in Brief 2026 reports annual PR grants for 2025 and population totals as at June 2026. These are different reference periods.

Discuss your application preparation

See TIP’s PR application support or arrange a complimentary consultation to discuss your circumstances and the available service scope. Assistance is optional; ICA decides the outcome and approval cannot be guaranteed.

Official sources checked on 6 October 2026. Statistical years and policy dates are retained to identify the information accurately.