How to Apply for Singapore Citizenship: A Complete Guide to the Application Process & Benefits

I feel a strong sense of belonging towards Singapore and have decided that Singapore is my ultimate retirement place.

How to Apply for Singapore Citizenship: A Complete Guide to the Application Process & Benefits

I feel a strong sense of belonging towards Singapore and have decided that Singapore is my ultimate retirement place.

What You Need to Know Before You Apply for Singapore Citizenship

What is Singapore Citizenship?

Singapore is renowned for its exceptional quality of life, robust economy, and world-class healthcare system. As one of the world’s most peaceful and prosperous nations, it offers its citizens numerous benefits. The Singapore passport is ranked as the World’s Most Powerful Passport, providing visa-free access to 195 destinations (as of 2024).

Individuals born to at least one Singapore citizen parent are typically granted citizenship automatically, regardless of their birthplace. However, birth in Singapore alone does not automatically grant citizenship.

For foreign nationals looking to become a Singaporean citizen, they must first hold Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) status for a minimum of two years. In addition to the PR status, applicants must meet other specific requirements and renounce their previous nationality. This process of acquiring Singapore citizenship is known as Naturalisation.

Citizenship provides a full range of rights that non-citizens do not enjoy, including access to social benefits, political rights, and more. With Singapore citizenship, you’ll enjoy the same privileges as local citizens, contributing to your lifestyle and opportunities in Singapore.

Ready to Apply for Singapore Citizenship?

Why do you need to apply for Singapore Citizenship?

Benefits of being a Singapore Citizen

Being a Singapore Citizen comes with a lot of advantages and expectations on top of what you benefit now as a Singapore PR. The process of applying for Singapore Citizenship can be quite daunting and lengthy, however it is definitely worth the wait. Let’s find out what are the benefits of being a Singapore Citizen.

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The Power of Singapore Passport

The Singaporean passport is currently ranked 1st place on the Guide Passport Index. It provides visa-free access to 195 destinations, which means one gets to enjoy the freedom and flexibility of Visa-free travel to different countries without having to apply for any travelling pass with their respective embassies.
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Rights to Vote

As a Singaporean, you have the right to vote in general elections and referendums, allowing you to indirectly playing an important role in shaping the country’s future.
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Career Flexibility and Employment Opportunities

Due to the sensitivity of political settings, some positions in the government sectors are reserved only for the citizens. This will give the advantage in the job market and opening up better career prospects to the Singaporean who wish to embark the career in government sectors.
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Extensive Healthcare and Medical Subsidy

Singapore PR has already been able to enjoy the benefit of subsidized medical fee at public hospitals and polyclinics. A Singapore citizen gets to enjoy a more considerable amount of subsidy for medical and hospitalization bills in Public Hospitals, Polyclinics and National Centres compared to a Singapore PR and a foreigner.
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Property Ownership

Singapore Citizens can purchase Built-to-Order (BTO) HDB flats directly from HDB while utilising an HDB loan. Having said that, you do not have any restrictions in buying new and resale HDBs and there is certainly no Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) being imposed for buying your first property. Even if you wished to own another private investment property, you pay lesser taxes compared to a Singapore PR or foreigner who similarly owns a second property. Also, Singaporean is not restricted to buying a landed housing should you wish to own one in later part of your life.
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Excellent and Superior Education System

Singapore offers excellent and affordable education system for child(ren) of Singapore Citizens. As a Singapore citizen, you get to enjoy priority admission and subsidies when enrolling your child(ren) in government funded schools. Singaporean children are entitled to a government initiative called the EduSave Scheme. For Singapore Citizens in MOE-funded schools, they will receive annual contributions from the start of their primary school education until they complete their secondary school education. Your child can use their Edusave funds for enrichment programmes organised by their schools and miscellaneous fees.
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Sponsorship Of Long-Term Visit Pass or Permanent Residency for Family Members

A Singapore citizen has the privilege to sponsor his/her direct family members e.g. spouse, unmarried child(ren) under the age of 21 (born within a legal marriage or legally adopted) and aged parents to obtain a long-term visit pass or applying for Singapore PR. On the other hand, as a Singapore PR, you are only allowed to sponsor PRs for your spouse and unmarried child(ren) under the age of 21.

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Social Assistance and Welfare

Singapore Citizens are eligible for various government social assistance schemes, including financial aid, caregiver and elder care assistance and housing subsidies.

Who Can Apply for Singapore Citizenship?

You can apply for Singapore Citizenship if you meet the citizenship application requirements and fall under one of the categories below.

  • Holding Permanent Residency (PR) Status
    You must be above 21 years old, Singapore PR for at least 2 years and be employed at the time of application.
  • Spouse or Child Sponsorship Scheme
    You are a Singapore PR and are legally married to a Singapore Citizen for at least 2 years. Under this scheme, you are the main applicant and your spouse who is a Singapore Citizen will be your sponsor for Singapore Citizenship application. For child sponsorship, you can apply if you are an unmarried child under the age of 21 years old, born within the context of a legal marriage to, or have been legally adopted by a Singapore citizen.
  • Aged Parent Sponsorship Scheme
    You are a Singapore PR who is also an aged parent of a Singapore Citizen, which means your child have to be a Singaporean to be able to sponsor you for this application.
  • Student Scheme
    You are a student who have been in Singapore for at least 3 years of which at least 1 year as a Singapore PR. You have to pass at least one national exam (i.e., PSLE, GCE ‘N’ / ‘O’ / ‘A’ levels) OR are in the Integrated Programme (IP).

Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)

As a Singapore PR, you get to enjoy all the benefits similar to a Singapore Citizen. However, bear in mind that PR status is not permanent. You need to renew your Re-Entry Permit (REP) every 5 years as a Singapore PR. The renewal of REP is subject to approval and will be assess based on various factors at the time of renewal. You can refer to benefits of a Singapore Citizen here.

Once you have done the Singapore Citizenship submission online, ICA will process and review all the documents. Generally, applications will be processed within 12 months, provided all the required documents are submitted. Some applications may take longer than 12 months to process, depending on the complexity of the case. You will be informed of the outcome via email.

If your parents-in-law is a foreigner, you can sponsor them for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) under certain circumstances and meeting certain conditions. They can apply for Singapore PR based on their own merit and eligibility.

No, you can only sponsor your parents, spouse and any unmarried children for citizenship in Singapore. For your spouse, you should be married for at least 2 years, with a minimum of 2 years of PR status before the date of the application.

Yes. You can apply for Singapore Citizenship if you are a student who have been in Singapore for at least 3 years, of which at least 1 year as a Singapore PR. You have to pass at least one national exam (i.e., PSLE, GCE ‘N’ / ‘O’ / ‘A’ levels) OR are in the Integrated Programme (IP).

All applications are be submitted via ICA e-Service. Prior to the e-submission, you would need to complete all the required application forms and pay the application fees online. If you have any doubt in filing up the forms and how to go about the submission through e-Service, feel free to reach out to us for our professional advice.

ICA takes into account factors such as the individual’s family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency, to assess the applicant’s ability to contribute to Singapore and integrate into our society, as well as his or her commitment to sinking roots. As long as you fall within the eligibility criteria, there will be a chance for you of getting a Singapore Citizenship approved. Every profile is different and unique. Every applicant comes from diversified background and profile. Therefore, it is important that you know where make up for your scantiness by having a custom-made application to help boost up the chances of approval so that you stay at the competitive edge against the rest of the applicants. We invite you to take the eligibility test to evaluate your chances.

You must have been a Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) for at least two years or have been married to a Singapore citizen for at least two years before applying for Singapore Citizenship.

Singapore granted around 23,100 new citizenships in year 2022, with 1,300 going to children born overseas to Singaporean parents. Each Singapore Citizenship application is assessed on a broad range of factors, which include the ability to contribute to Singapore, the number of jobs that the applicant or his business may be able to create in Singapore, the special skills and/or education that the applicant may possess, the applicant’s family ties to Singaporeans, the ability to integrate and the commitment to sink roots in Singapore. Different criteria may apply to different applicants, depending on their background and circumstances. Therefore, the competition is quite high. Taking into account, the whole process is very daunting and the waiting time can be very long, it is always recommended to engage a professional help for your Singapore Citizenship application.

Singapore does not allow dual citizenship. If your Singapore citizenship application is approved, you will be required to renounce your previous citizenship, unless specific exemptions apply. You will need to visit the relevant embassy or the high commission in Singapore with your passport and then do paperwork declaring that you have surrendered your previous citizenship and passport.

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