Getting a Singaporean Citizenship

The cosmopolitan and vibrant city of Singapore is home to over one million expats from different parts of the world. Diverse communities, great infrastructure, economic and political stability, supreme health care facilities and educational institutions are some of the reasons why many foreigners wish to choose Singapore to be their home. People who settle down in this beautiful country would find it easy to get accustomed to the Singapore way of life and be proud of residing in one of the world’s most admired city-states. Making the decision to become a Singapore citizen requires careful consideration and a thorough understanding of the criterions it is dependent on.

1. Eligibility

Several factors go into considering your application for a Singapore Citizenship such as family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency, among others. First and foremost, to apply for a Singaporean citizenship, you need to be:

  • A Singapore Permanent Resident for at least two years and aged 21 years and above
    • You can apply directly by logging in to MYICA using your SingPass.
    • Your spouse and unmarried children below 21 can also apply for citizenship within the same application.
  • A PR for at least two years and have been married to a Singapore citizen for at least two years
    • Your spouse will need to sponsor your application by logging into MYICA using their SingPass.
    • An unmarried child aged 21 born within the context of a legal marriage to, or have been legally adopted, by an SC
    • Your application will need to be sponsored by your Singapore Citizen parent using their SingPass.
  • A PR studying in Singapore; and have been residing in Singapore for more than 3 years (of which, at least one year is as a PR); and have passed at least one national exam (i.e. PSLE, GCE ‘N’/ ‘O’/ ‘A’ levels), or are in the Integrated Programme (IP).
    • Candidates aged 15 years and above can apply for Singapore Citizenship directly via MYICA.
    • Those below 15 years require a Singapore Citizen to sponsor your application via their MYICA account.
  • A PR and an aged parent of a Singapore Citizen
    • Your Singapore citizen child will need to sponsor your application using their MYICA account.

All applications must be submitted using a SingPass account on the e-services page. Candidates applying under sponsorship of their spouse/Singapore Citizen parent, will need to log in via his/her SingPass account.

Before you apply, make sure that you have the following documents ready:

  • Application Cover Letter
  • Current passport
  • Birth Certificate
  • Marriage Certificate; Divorce Certificate; Separation Deed
  • PR card (blue identity card) and PR certificate
  • Educational certificates (high school and above)
  • Foreign citizenship certificate
  • A letter of employment from current employer
  • Income tax notice of assessment for last 3 years
  • Payslips for the last 6 months and CPF contributions history for the last 12 months, if employed

 

For a complete checklist of documents required depending on your candidacy click Adult, Child, or Aged Parent.

It will take anywhere between 6-12 months to receive the outcome of your Singapore citizenship. Successful candidates will receive an Approval in Principle letter to complete the Singapore Citizenship Journey (SCJ). Following this, candidates will receive their final approval letter indicating the appointment date and time to register for Singapore Citizenship.

What are my obligations as a Singapore Citizen?

  • National Service: All male Singaporeans are required to register for a period of military training called National Service (NS) once reaching the age of 16.5 years. They must serve two years of full-time NS at 18 years old, followed by 40 days of Operationally Ready NS every year until age 50 (for officers) or 40 (for other ranks).

During this period, deferment from NS for university studies will not be granted. For further information on NS deferment, pre-enlistment process and Exit Permit requirements click here.

  • Central Provident Fund (CPF) Contributions: All employers and employees are required to make contributions to the CPF for Singapore citizens, a mandatory social security savings scheme that serves to meet the retirement, housing and healthcare needs of Singapore citizens and PRs. Contributions made by employers are non-taxable and can be used for tax relief purposes.

For more details click here.

  • Denounce home country citizenship: If you make the decision to become a Singapore citizen, successful candidates are obligated to denounce the citizenship of their home country and give up your home country passport. Citizens are not allowed to hold a dual citizenship.

For more details on how to become a Singapore Citizen, click Here.

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All materials have been prepared for general information purposes only. The information presented in this document is not legal advice, is not to be acted on as such, may not be current and is subject to change without notice. Professional advisory should be sought before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the contents of this document.