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We refer to Mr Rajesh Kumar Shanmugavadivel’s letter, “ ” (April 18). The administrative fee imposed for the renunciation of citizenship is based on cost recovery – that is, the amount of resources incurred to process the application. This is a principle which is applied consistently across most government services. Besides paying an administrative fee, Singapore citizens must fulfil other requirements before being allowed to renounce their citizenship. They can do so only after they turn 21, and have acquired the citizenship of a foreign country. They must first discharge any outstanding national service obligations.  While the decision to renounce one’s citizenship is a personal one, the Government is committed to ensuring that Singapore remains the best home possible for Singaporeans. In this regard, the annual renunciation rate of Singapore citizenship has remained low, at less than 0.1 per cent of the citizen population. Head, Strategic Communications and Media Relations Corporate Communications and Service Division Immigration and Checkpoints Authority