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● So you’ve found the love of your life, and you’re ready to settle down in your own HDB flat in Singapore. There’s a catch, though – your partner isn’t a Singaporean Citizen (SC) or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR). But don’t worry—it is possible to get an HDB flat even with a foreign spouse. There are just some extra steps and requirements before applying. Here’s how to speed up the application process! These are the criteria you and your spouse will need to meet: Your non-resident spouse (i.e., neither an SC nor an SPR) must hold a valid Visit Pass or Work Pass of any validity period at the point of your Housing Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter and new flat application. If you are 21 years old or above: Your spouse must have a valid Long Term Visit Pass or Work Pass of at least six (6) months from the date of issue at the point of your HFE letter and resale flat application If you are 35 years old or above: Your spouse must have a valid Visit Pass or Work Pass of any validity period at the point of your HFE letter and resale flat application Short-lease 2-room Flexi flat (for Seniors 55 years old and above): $14,000 Yes, you can do so under the (previously known as the ), which is specifically designed for Singapore Citizens who are married to non-citizens. Under the , you have two main options: Before you start your application, make sure you meet these basic requirements. The main applicant must be a Singapore Citizen: Yup, HDB BTO applications with a foreign spouse require you to be at least 35 years old. But as most Singaporeans will know, resale flat prices are at an all-time high now, with a 1.8 per cent increment in Q1 2024, a 1.1 per cent increase compared to Q4 2023. As such, do consider your household finances carefully before diving straight into purchasing a four-room resale flat. Suppose you are applying for a new HDB BTO. In that case, your non-resident spouse must hold a  or ( of any validity period at the point of the and new flat application. If the pass expires during the transaction to buy a new flat, it must be renewed and valid when you collect the keys to your new flat. If you are 21 years old or above, your non-resident spouse needs a valid or ( of at least 6 months from the date of issue at the point of your HFE letter and resale flat application. Otherwise, if you are 35 or above, your non-resident spouse needs a valid or of any validity period at the point of your HFE letter and resale flat application. The income ceiling assessment will consider the incomes of all persons listed in the HFE letter application. It’s slightly more complicated for new BTO applications: This flat type will be available for those who are 35 and above. This flat type will be available only for seniors who are 55 years old and above. Likewise, all buyers and their spouses who are applying for the short-lease 2-room Flexi BTO flat with a foreign spouse must be at least 55 years old at the time of HFE letter application. As for resale flats, there is no income ceiling for the application itself. However, there is one when you plan to apply for Central Provident Fund (CPF) housing grants (excluding Proximity Housing Grant) and HDB housing loans. If you or any person listed in the application owns or has an interest in an , you must dispose of it within of completing the purchase. Likewise, if , you, your spouse or anyone who’s listed as occupiers in the HFE letter application: The conditions for seniors, however, do differ. Senior citizens (and their spouses) aged 55 and above who own or have an interest in a private residential property are exempt from meeting the time period requirements in the table above if they intend to purchase one of the following: Plus, these seniors must dispose of their private residential property within 6 months of completing the flat purchase. Good news! You’re still eligible for some housing grants if it’s your applying for an HDB subsidy for an , i.e., you’re a first-timer who has not taken any housing subsidy before. If you or any core applicant and/or core occupier have taken a housing subsidy previously, you are a and for grants. On the other hand, for resale flats, any previous housing subsidy taken your eligibility to buy a resale flat. However, the number of housing subsidies you have taken your eligibility to apply for CPF housing grants (excluding Proximity Housing Grant). That said, check out these if you were to apply for an HDB flat with a non-resident spouse: You must have met one of the following conditions: Here’s a breakdown of the amount of EHG you may be getting based on your income: Check out our preview of the ! We’ve also written a . Yes, you can apply for an HDB flat under the Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme. The main applicant must be a Singapore Citizen, and the foreign spouse must have a valid Long Term Visit Pass or Work Pass. The validity period of the Visit Pass or Work Pass will depend on the age of the main applicant. For BTO flats, you are limited to 2-room flexi flats in non-mature estates. For resale flats, you can apply for any HDB flat type or size available on the open market. No, only the Singapore Citizen spouse can own the flat. The foreign spouse must be listed as an occupier, not a co-applicant or co-owner. Congrats! Your spouse can be added as a co-owner of the flat from then. You can do so by submitting an application to HDB to update the ownership details. Once HDB approves the application, the ownership transfer will be processed. Yes, you may be eligible for the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) for singles and the Singles Grant. The EHG amount depends on your household income (divided by two), with a maximum income ceiling of $4,500. The Singles Grant provides $40,000 for 2- to 4-room resale flats or $25,000 for 5-room or larger resale flats. For BTO flats, your combined household income must not exceed $7,000 or $14,000 per month. For resale flats, there is no income ceiling. Yes, you must observe a 5-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) during which you cannot sell or lease out the entire flat. Neither spouse can own other properties locally or overseas during the application process and the MOP. First, obtain the HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter before purchasing a resale flat or submitting a BTO application. Once you have the HFE letter, you will understand your eligibility and start applying. If you’re buying an HDB flat, a resale flat with CPF housing grant(s) or applying for a housing grant, you must dispose of your private residential property before the HFE letter application. Likewise, if you’re buying a non-subsidised resale flat (including Proximity Housing Grant), you must dispose of your private residential property before the HFE letter application. If you are a senior citizen (55 years and above) who owns or has an interest in a private residential property, you must dispose of it .