How to Apply for Permanent Residence in Singapore

Singapore is a popular destination for foreigners who want to live and work in a vibrant and cosmopolitan city-state. One of the benefits of living in Singapore is that you can apply for permanent residence (PR) status, which allows you to enjoy many rights and privileges similar to Singapore citizens, such as:

• The ability to live, work and travel in and out of Singapore without applying for visas or work permits
• The eligibility to buy certain types of property and apply for public housing
• The access to public education, healthcare and social services at subsidized rates
• The option to apply for Singapore citizenship after a certain period of time

However, applying for PR in Singapore is not an easy process. You need to meet certain criteria, submit various documents, pay a fee and wait for several months before you know the outcome of your application. In this blog post, we will guide you through the steps and requirements of applying for PR in Singapore.

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Before you start your PR application, you need to check if you are eligible to apply. According to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), you may be eligible to apply for PR if you are a/an:

• Spouse of a Singapore citizen or PR
• Unmarried child aged below 21 years old, born within the context of a legal marriage to, or have been legally adopted by, a Singapore citizen or PR
• Aged parent of a Singapore citizen
• Holder of an Employment Pass or S Pass
• Student studying in Singapore
• Foreign investor in Singapore

Note that ICA considers factors such as your family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency, to assess your ability to contribute to Singapore and integrate into our society, as well as your commitment to sinking roots in Singapore.

Step 2: Prepare your documents

You will need to prepare and submit various documents to support your PR application. The documents required may vary depending on your status and scheme of application. You can refer to the explanatory notes and document lists on the ICA website for more details.

Some of the common documents required include:

• A completed PR application form
• A valid passport
• A valid employment pass or work permit
• A recent passport-sized photograph
• Your educational certificates and transcripts
• Your income tax returns and payslips
• Your marriage certificate or birth certificate (if applicable)
• Your parents' identity cards or passports (if applicable)

You will also need to translate any document that is not in English into English by an official translation service.

Step 3: Submit your application online

All PR applications must be submitted online using the e-Service platform on the ICA website. You will need a Singpass account to log in and submit your application. If you do not have a Singpass account, you can register for one here.

You can either key in your application details online, or download and complete the PR application form offline before uploading it online. You will also need to upload scanned copies of your documents in PDF format.

You will need to pay a non-refundable fee of S$100 per applicant using a valid credit or debit card.

Step 4: Wait for the outcome

After submitting your PR application online, you will receive an acknowledgement notice from ICA. You can check the status of your application using the e-Service platform.

The processing time for PR applications may vary depending on the volume and complexity of applications. According to ICA, it may take up to six months or more for most cases.

If your PR application is approved, you will receive an approval letter from ICA with instructions on how to complete the formalities. You will need to make an appointment with ICA within two months from the date of approval to collect your blue identity card (IC) and re-entry permit (REP).

If your PR application is rejected, you will receive a rejection letter from ICA with reasons for rejection. You can appeal against the decision within six months from the date of rejection by submitting additional documents or information that may strengthen your case.

Conclusion

Applying for PR in Singapore is a long and tedious process that requires careful planning and preparation. However, if you are successful, you will be able to enjoy many benefits and opportunities as a permanent resident in Singapore.

We hope this blog post has given you some useful information on how to apply for PR in Singapore.