Singapore PR Application: Eligibility, Documents and Fees

To apply for Singapore permanent residence, you must fall into one of the ICA-defined eligibility categories and submit your application online through the ICA e-Service. The application fee is S$100, and if you are approved, you will pay a further S$20 for the Entry Permit, S$50 for a 5-year Re-Entry Permit and S$50 for the Singapore Identity Card. ICA assesses each application on factors including family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency. There is no published approval rate or guaranteed outcome, and ICA states that it has no affiliation with any external migration agency or consultancy.

Eligibility Categories

ICA lists six categories under which a foreigner may apply for permanent residence. The category you apply under determines who must sponsor or submit the application.

Eligibility Category	Who Submits the Application
Spouse of a Singapore citizen or PR	Your spouse, using their Singpass to sponsor
Unmarried child under 21, born in a legal marriage to, or legally adopted by, a Singapore citizen or PR	Your parent, using their Singpass to sponsor
Aged parent of a Singapore citizen aged 21 or older	Your Singapore citizen child, using their Singpass to sponsor
Holder of an Employment Pass or S Pass	You, using your Singpass
Student who has passed at least one national exam (PSLE, GCE ‘N’/‘O’/‘A’ levels) or is in the Integrated Programme	You, using Singpass if aged 15 and above; non-Singpass option if below 15
Foreign investor in Singapore	Via the Global Investor Programme — see the EDB website for criteria and process

If you are applying as a spouse, child or aged parent, your sponsor must log in to the ICA e-Service with their Singpass to sponsor your application. Employment Pass and S Pass holders submit their own applications using their Singpass.

Application Process and Singpass Requirement

The application process requires all persons added as an applicant to review the application form before it can be submitted. To review the form, each applicant must log in to the ICA e-Service using their Singpass or unique login credentials provided by ICA for those ineligible for Singpass.

ICA advises that approval for a Singpass account application may take 2 to 5 working days. You are recommended to start the application only after all applicants have successfully registered for a Singpass account, where eligible. If you are aged below 15 and applying as a student, you can submit the application via the non-Singpass option at the ICA e-Service.

Documents Required

When uploading documents, you must provide certified true copies of the original documents and official translations for documents in languages other than English. ICA accepts translations provided by:

• The embassy of the country or place that issued the document;
• A notary public in Singapore or in the country or place that issued the document; or
• Privately translated documents attested by the embassy of the country or place that issued the document, or notarised by a notary public in Singapore or the country or place that issued the document.

ICA does not endorse any private translation companies or entities. Insufficient documentation may result in non-acceptance of your application, and ICA may require additional documents to support your application. You should refer to the checklist on the documents required for your application, and be prepared to provide original documents and official translations where applicable.

Fees

All fees are non-refundable and are payable at two stages.

Stage	Fee
At submission	S$100 for each application
At completion of formalities	S$20 for Entry Permit
	S$50 for a 5-year Re-Entry Permit
	S$50 for Singapore Identity Card

The S$100 submission fee applies to each application. The additional fees at completion of formalities cover the Entry Permit, the Re-Entry Permit and the Identity Card issued to PRs aged 15 and above. PRs aged 15 and above are issued the Singapore blue Identity Card.

National Service Obligations for Male Applicants

Under the Enlistment Act 1970, all male Singapore citizens and permanent residents are required to serve National Service (NS) unless exempted. After completing full-time NS, they become Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen), and the obligation ends at age 50 for officers or 40 for other ranks.

All male applicants are required to access www.cmpb.gov.sg for information on NS before proceeding with the application. Male applicants granted PR status as a foreign student or under their parents’ sponsorship are liable for NS. They must register for NS upon reaching 16 and a half years old and will be scheduled for enlistment into full-time NS at the earliest opportunity upon reaching 18 years old. MINDEF allows students to attain educational qualifications up to the ‘A’ Levels certificate, the polytechnic diploma, or an equivalent pre-tertiary qualification before they are required to serve NS. They are enlisted at the earliest opportunity when they have finished pre-tertiary education, or after turning 18, whichever is later. MINDEF does not grant deferment for university studies, regardless of whether such studies have begun. Those granted PR in the midst of university studies will have to disrupt these studies to enlist if they cannot complete their studies before their enlistment date.

Any person who defaults on NS obligations by committing an offence under the Enlistment Act 1970 is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding S$10,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both. Renouncing or losing PR status without serving or completing full-time NS will have a serious adverse impact on applications to work or study in Singapore, or for any long-term immigration facilities, whether now or in the future. It will also adversely affect your family members’ applications for long-term immigration facilities, their ability to sponsor such facilities, their renewal of Re-Entry Permits, or their applications for Singapore citizenship.

Conditions Attached to PR Status

All Singapore PRs must respect and abide by Singapore’s laws and their Entry Permit (EP) and Re-Entry Permit (REP) conditions. PRs should not partake in undesirable conduct, such as interfering in Singapore’s domestic politics, importing foreign politics into Singapore, engaging in activities that undermine social harmony, or committing criminal offences including the unauthorised consumption of controlled drugs.

With effect from 1 December 2025, all EPs and REPs are imposed or varied with a condition stating that the permit may be cancelled pursuant to the Immigration Act 1959, including where the holder breaches any condition of the permit, is found by a court or other competent authority to have contravened any law, or in the opinion of the Controller of Immigration has behaved or is behaving in an undesirable manner, including behaviour contrary to national or public interests, threatening a breach of peace, or prejudicial to public order or public welfare.

PRs convicted of an offence or found to have undesirable conduct will be considered to have breached the conditions of the EP and REP, and their PR status will be reviewed by ICA. The review can lead to cancellation of the EP and REP, resulting in revocation of PR status.

Re-Entry Permit Rules and Loss of PR Status

A valid REP is required for a PR to re-enter Singapore during the validity period of the REP. The REP is issued based on the information provided in the REP application, so you must ensure all details such as name and UIN are correct. You are advised to bring a copy of your REP when travelling overseas, as some foreign authorities and agencies may require you to produce it.

The rules on loss of PR status are strict:

• If you depart Singapore without a valid REP, you must apply for an REP within 180 days from the date of departure. Failure to do so results in loss of PR status.
• If you departed with a valid REP but it expired while you were outside Singapore, you must apply for an REP within 180 days from the date of expiry of the REP. Failure to do so results in loss of PR status.
• If you apply within the 180-day period but the application is unsuccessful, you will nonetheless lose your PR status. To remain a PR, you must submit an REP application within 180 days and successfully obtain an REP.

You may apply to renew your REP online at www.ica.gov.sg using your Singpass three months before the expiry of your current REP. You can check the validity of your REP online by logging into ICA’s website. When you obtain a new travel document, you are required to log in to www.ica.gov.sg to do an electronic transfer of the remaining validity of your REP from your old travel document to your new travel document.

What to Do Next

Before submitting your application, confirm which eligibility category applies to you and whether a sponsor is required. Register for Singpass if eligible, as approval may take 2 to 5 working days. Review the ICA document checklist and prepare certified true copies and official translations as required. Male applicants should check their NS obligations at www.cmpb.gov.sg before proceeding.

Verify the current eligibility categories, document checklist and fee amounts on the ICA Becoming a Permanent Resident page, as these are the authoritative sources. For questions on National Service, contact the Central Manpower Base at 1800-3676767 (local) or 65-65676767 (overseas), or email contact@ns.gov.sg.