News

Singapore can be an attractive country for many to work in and live in, given its political stability and high standards of living. In 2023, the Singapore government  to foreigners who can contribute to Singapore and build a life in the country as their second home. If you’re a foreigner working or staying in Singapore, one way to live in here on a permanent basis is to apply for a permanent residency status, which you can do while holding onto the citizenship of the country of your origin. Here’s what you need to know about applying to become a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR). By taking up Singapore Permanent Residency, you get to stay in the country permanently. Should you need to travel overseas, you will have to present a valid Re-Entry Permit (REP) to cover the entire duration of your trip. Whereas, as an Employment Pass and S Pass holder, your renewed visa is valid for only up to 3 years after which you will need to renew again. As an SPR, you get access to subsidised education, public healthcare and enjoy a lower resident income tax rate. Gaining employment in Singapore would be easier as your employers no longer need to apply for work passes for you. Additionally, you would receive Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions, which could help with your retirement savings. Furthermore, as an SPR, you would be able to purchase HDB flats with another Singapore Citizen or PR. In the event that all the proposed owners are PRs, then all the parties must have held PR status for at least 3 years. You may submit an application for permanent residence to the if you meet any of the following requirements: The application process can be done online via the Electronic Permanent Residence . You can log into e-PR via your digital ID and key in the required information on the application form. For students, you can log in using your Foreign Identification Number (FIN) and the issuance date of your immigration pass. You would then need to scan and submit the supporting documents online. The following documents are needed for submitting an SPR application: For Applicants: For Sponsors: Additionally, you may also need to submit the following documents according to the type of application: For Sponsors: For Married Applicants: For Applicants With Child: Source: Do note that documents that are not in the English language must be translated either by the embassy of the country, a notary public, or attested by the embassy or notarised by a notary public. As part of the application, you will also be requested to submit a photograph which needs to fulfil the following conditions: You can become an SPR by building a business or investing in Singapore through the Global Investor Programme. To qualify for the programme, you will need to have an outstanding business history. The SPR application for foreign investors is conducted through the Singapore Economic Development Board . The application is also submitted online, which would require applicants to submit the following supporting forms: Applicants will need to pay a processing fee of S$100 when submitting an application. Generally, the processing is estimated to take around 6 months. You may check your application status on the e-PR system. If your application is approved, you will be informed via email or post. Should you be granted SPR, you will be issued an that costs S$20. You will also need to head to the ICA office to pay S$50 for your Identity Card. You will also be issued a   that costs S$50 for a 5-year validity period. The REP is required when an SPR leaves Singapore, as it allows for the residency status to be retained while being away from the country. Once you have become a PR, the next step might be to become a Singapore Citizen (SC). To qualify for Singapore citizenship, you will need to be at least 21 years old and have been an SPR for at least 2 years. As an SC, you will gain the full rights and benefits accorded to the local population including voting at general elections and buying Build-to-Order (BTO) flats directly from HDB. More importantly, it would allow you to continue contributing to Singapore and raising your family here. heymax.ai fast tracks your travel goals for free by rewarding you additional miles on top of your credit card rewards when shopping online. Get an upsized 800 miles bonus (usually 500) when you sign up through our exclusive . Promo ends 30 April 2024.