Singapore can be an attractive country for many to work in and live in, given its political stability and high standards of living. In 2023, the Singapore government granted 34,500 new permanent residencies to foreigners who can contribute to Singapore and build a life in the country as their second home.
If you’re a foreigner working or staying in Singapore, one way to live in here on a permanent basis is to apply for a permanent residency status, which you can do while holding onto the citizenship of the country of your origin.
Here’s what you need to know about applying to become a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR).
What Are The Benefits Of Taking Up PR?
By taking up Singapore Permanent Residency, you get to stay in the country permanently. Should you need to travel overseas, you will have to present a valid Re-Entry Permit (REP) to cover the entire duration of your trip.
Whereas, as an Employment Pass and S Pass holder, your renewed visa is valid for only up to 3 years after which you will need to renew again.
As an SPR, you get access to subsidised education, public healthcare and enjoy a lower resident income tax rate. Gaining employment in Singapore would be easier as your employers no longer need to apply for work passes for you. Additionally, you would receive Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions, which could help with your retirement savings.
Furthermore, as an SPR, you would be able to purchase HDB flats with another Singapore Citizen or PR. In the event that all the proposed owners are PRs, then all the parties must have held PR status for at least 3 years.
Read Also: Guide To CPF: What New Permanent Residents In Singapore Need To Know
How To Apply For SPR?
You may submit an application for permanent residence to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) if you meet any of the following requirements:
Spouse of a Singapore Citizen or SPR;
Unmarried child aged below 21 years old, born of a legal marriage to, or have been legally adopted by, a Singapore Citizen or SPR;
Aged parent of a Singapore Citizen;
Holder of an Employment Pass or S Pass; or
Student studying in Singapore.
Read Also: Malaysians’ Guide To Finding Employment In Singapore
The application process can be done online via the Electronic Permanent Residence (e-PR) system. You can log into e-PR via your digital ID Singpass and key in the required information on the application form.
For students, you can log in using your Foreign Identification Number (FIN) and the issuance date of your immigration pass. You would then need to scan and submit the supporting documents online.
The following documents are needed for submitting an SPR application:
For Applicants:
Valid travel document with validity of at least 6 months, valid Immigration Pass and passport pages showing personal particulars and official descriptions;
Identity card (if applicable);
Birth certificate or official household census list or family register showing both parents’ name;
Deed Poll or change of name certificate (if applicable);
Birth certificates of your child(ren) showing both parents’ names and child’s name (including adoption papers) from the current marriage (if any);
Death certificate or divorce certificate and the custody papers for the child(ren) in respect of your previous marriage(s) (if any);
Highest educational certificates;
If you are gainfully employed, please include the following:
Work Pass, if any
Employer’s letter stating the date of employment, position held, salary per month for the last 6 months with breakdown into basic, overtime and allowance per month, addressed to the Controller of Immigration and dated within 1 month from the date of submission;
Payslips for the last 6 months;
Valid Business Registration Certificate with names of partners shown for self-employed persons; and
Occupational license for self-employed persons.
For Sponsors:
Identity card;
Official marriage certificate;
Death certificate or divorce certificate and the custody papers for the child(ren) in respect of your previous marriage(s) (if any);
Highest educational certificates;
Employer’s letter stating the date of employment, position held, salary per month for the last 6 months with breakdown into basic, overtime and allowance per month, addressed to the Controller of Immigration, and dated within 1 month from the date of submission;
Payslips for the last 6 months;
Appendix – 2 (PR-FTS);
Valid Business Registration Certificate with names of partners shown and/or valid vocational license for self-employed persons; and
Occupational license pertaining to your employment for self-employed persons.
Additionally, you may also need to submit the following documents according to the type of application:
Sponsoring an aged parent
For Applicants:
Identity Card / Travel Document of applicant’s spouse or Death Certificate of applicant’s spouse (if deceased). If Death Certificate is not available, the photograph of the tombstone may be produced
Official marriage certificate
For Sponsors:
Singapore Citizenship Certificate (if any)
Birth Certificate. This must be issued, signed and sealed by the proper authorities. Unnamed Birth Certificate must be substantiated with supporting documentary evidence
Deed Poll or change of name certificate (if applicable). For birth certificate and deed poll, if these are not available, a letter from a competent authority (eg, Village Headman, Chairman of Communes, Tahsildar, Panchayat, etc in the case of applicants from China and India) certifying the relationship between applicant and sponsor may be accepted. The letter should also state the names and present whereabouts of applicant’s spouse and children
Birth Certificates and Citizenship Certificates of sponsor’s siblings (if any)
Identity cards and travel documents of sponsor’s siblings (if any)
Highest educational certificates of sponsor and siblings
Workers with Employment Pass or S Pass
For Applicants:
Employment Pass or S Pass
Highest educational certificates, transcripts, professional license/membership certificates and vocational trade certificates
Testimonials from previous employer(s) stating the nature and duration of employment and the last drawn basic salary (if any)
Appendix – 1 (PR-PTS)
For Married Applicants:
Official marriage certificate;
Custody papers for the child(ren) in respect of your previous marriage(s) (if any)
Spouse’s highest educational certificates, transcripts, professional license/membership certificates and vocational trade certificates.
If you are including your spouse in the application, include the following:
Spouse’s valid travel document with valid Immigration Pass and passport pages showing personal particulars and official descriptions are required
Spouse’s birth certificate showing both parents’ name
Spouse’s deed poll or change of name certificate (if applicable)
Spouse’s identity card (if applicable)
Death certificate or divorce certificate and the custody papers for the child(ren) in respect of your spouse’s previous marriage(s) (if any)
For Applicants With Child:
Child’s valid travel document with valid Immigration Pass and passport pages showing personal particulars and official descriptions
Child’s birth certificate showing both the child’s and the parents’ names
Child’s adoption papers (if applicable)
Child’s deed poll or change of name certificate (if applicable)
Student studying in Singapore
For Applicants:
Educational certificates, transcripts, professional license/membership certificates and vocational trade certificates and current result slips
Your parents’ valid travel documents and passport pages showing personal particulars and official descriptions
Source: ICA
Do note that documents that are not in the English language must be translated either by the embassy of the country, a notary public, or attested by the embassy or notarised by a notary public.
As part of the application, you will also be requested to submit a photograph which needs to fulfil the following conditions:
35mm wide x 45 mm high without border and taken within the last 3 months
Plain white background with a matt or semi-matt finish
400 x 514 pixels image size
Full face without headgear, unless the applicant habitually wears a headgear in accordance with religious or racial customs. The headgear must not hide the applicant’s facial features
Facial image must be between 25 mm and 35 mm from chin to crown
JPEG image format.
Applying For SPR Through Global Investor Programme (GIP)
You can become an SPR by building a business or investing in Singapore through the Global Investor Programme. To qualify for the programme, you will need to have an outstanding business history.
The SPR application for foreign investors is conducted through the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). The application is also submitted online, which would require applicants to submit the following supporting forms:
GIP e-Application Forms
Form 4 – Application For Entry Permit
Details of Family Members
How Much Does It Cost To Apply For SPR?
Applicants will need to pay a processing fee of S$100 when submitting an application.
Generally, the processing is estimated to take around 6 months. You may check your application status on the e-PR system. If your application is approved, you will be informed via email or post.
Should you be granted SPR, you will be issued an Entry Permit (Form 5 or Form 5A) that costs S$20. You will also need to head to the ICA office to pay S$50 for your Identity Card.
You will also be issued a Re-Entry Permit (REP) that costs S$50 for a 5-year validity period.
The REP is required when an SPR leaves Singapore, as it allows for the residency status to be retained while being away from the country.
Becoming A Singapore Citizen (SC)
Once you have become a PR, the next step might be to become a Singapore Citizen (SC). To qualify for Singapore citizenship, you will need to be at least 21 years old and have been an SPR for at least 2 years.
As an SC, you will gain the full rights and benefits accorded to the local population including voting at general elections and buying Build-to-Order (BTO) flats directly from HDB. More importantly, it would allow you to continue contributing to Singapore and raising your family here.
Read Also: What Happens When You Lose Your Singapore Permanent Resident Status?
The post Guide To Becoming A Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
