Singapore is one of the fastest rising nations in Asia.
It’s a tourist and business hotspot all-in-one. With a ton of tourist attractions and job opportunities, it shouldn’t be surprising that many people are considering moving to Singapore.
If you’re interested in becoming one of the nation’s permanent residents, then we’d like to help you out with a few tips.
Becoming a permanent Singaporean
Becoming a Singaporean is possible, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. The first step is to apply for a permanent residence visa in the nearest Embassy.
Before you do, however, you need to take a look at who’s actually eligible to become a Singapore resident. The good news is that the requirements aren’t that strict.
You can start the process by using the country’s e-Service. What you do depends on what you are currently doing in the country.
If you are a student who’s currently taking up schooling in Singapore, you can use your Foreign Identification Number and the date of your immigration pass at the e-Service platform.
Foreign investors in Singapore can apply for residence by heading to the Singapore Economic Development Board. You should file your residence under the Global Investor Programme. If you are anything other than these two, you can file your application via the e-Service platform too.
All you need to do is submit your permanent resident application online using your SingPass account. Here are the people who are eligible for becoming a Singaporean citizen:
It’s hard to start the process of becoming a citizen. You might want to consider getting a Tech Pass Visa. This allows tech entrepreneurs and leaders from all over the world to reside in Singapore.
The ICA lists down some of the people who are eligible to become a permanent resident.
- Spouse of a Singapore citizen (SC) or Singapore permanent resident (PR)
- Unmarried child aged below 21 born within the context of legal marriage to, or have been legally adopted by, an SC or PR
- Aged parent of an SC
- Holder of an Employment Pass or S Pass
- Student studying in Singapore
- Foreign investor in Singapore
How Long Does the Process Take
At the point of your application submission, you’ll need to pay a non-refundable SGD100 processing fee. Each applicant will have to make this fee.
It can be paid via various platforms such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayNow, and many others.
The processing time for applying to become a permanent resident varies, but it usually lasts between 4 to 6 months.
However, keep in mind that the application status may last longer than usual. You can check the status of your application easily at the e-Service.
This process does take time, so you need to be patient. Don’t bug immigration for regular updates, as they’ll be the first to contact you when needed.
Moreover, in the light of the pandemic, the processing does take a lot longer than usual, so more patience is a must.
Singapore is a great nation. What’s even better is that the country is continuously experiencing economic growth. If you are thinking about a future in Singapore, then you may first want to visit the country to see all that it has to offer.
Once you see that it’s the right place for you, then it’s time to apply for your permanent residence visa.
Main image by zephylwer0 from Pixabay
