Singapore Permanent Residence & Singapore Citizenship                     

Generally Permanent Residence application is best for those under 50 years old, suitably qualified or skilled, on Employment pass or S Pass. Those over 50 but who are well qualified, enjoying High Income, employed  in rather Senior Positions & having excellent fixed & liquid assets could also try for SPR.

Approval of application of PR is based on the applicant's qualifications, expertise, local employment and individual merit. New applicants would be assessed on talents, skills and experience and not just on academic qualifications. Another factor to consider whether the immigrant's family members can also contribute to Singapore's growth and how well the immigrant and his family can fit into Singapore society. Foreign students on scholarship might be persuaded to get their families to settle in Singapore. The target group of new immigrants will be mainly younger people. 

Citizenships & SPRs Granted to foreigners by ICA (source: ST )

Year    Citizenships     SPRs
2002    7,600                39,500
2003    6,800                32,000
2004    7,600                36,900
2005   12,900                52,300
2006   13,200                57,300
2007   17,334                63,627
2008   20,513               79,167  

The first category are the PRs who met certain standards and whose children could become Singaporeans. Next, the EP holders who had skills or professional qualifications and came to Singapore as executives or professionals. The 3rd category were the semi-skilled  workers. The CPF contribution rates for SPRs is 4% for 1st year, 9% for 2nd years and 13% for 3rd year.

Foreign spouses of Singaporeans including husbands of Singaporean women may also apply for Singapore PR. The number of foreigners given Permanent Residence in Singapore has been increasing for the last few years and is expected to continue to increase in the immediate years ahead. 

Other factors being equal, professionals and other professional visit pass holders stand the best chance of becoming SPRs under a point system beginning January 1999. Other than type of work pass, other factors are: duration of stay in Singapore, academic qualification, basic monthly salary, age and family ties in Singapore. No reason is ever offered for approval or rejection. The type of work pass the applicant holds will be the primary basis for assessing his economic contribution to Singapore. This aligns SPR to the Work Pass framework implemented by Ministry of Manpower. Those on P1 & P2 EP Pass for administrator, professionals, managers, entrepreneurs, investors and specialist talent stand a higher chance of becoming SPRs than those on the Q1 EP & SPass for skilled workers and technicians. Semi-skilled and unskilled foreign workers on R category Work Permits are generally not eligible for SPR

For  Medical Examination prior to Collection of SPR please contact Steve 65-98365486 or email filmo@filmo.com.

What are the benefits of Citizenship?                                                                                       

Only Singapore citizen can apply for a Singapore International Passport which has very little travel restrictions around the world.

Citizens have the right to vote in Presidential and Parliamentary Elections and to stand for elections. PR's children if borne in Singapore becomes only PR but Singapore Citizen's children borne anywhere will automatically become Singapore Citizens. 

Citizens over 21 years can buy or rent subsidized public housing from the HDB while PRs can only buy resale flats. Married Citizens who are first time buyers can get CPF housing grants of S$40,000 to buy from the open market and S$50,000 if the apartment is near where their parent's or where their married children lived. In upgrading of HDB flats Citizens pay a fraction of HDB upgrading costs while PR pay for the full cost. Singapore citizens are entitled to a subsidized mortgage loan rate of 0.1% above the CPF rate. Citizens can buy all types of private residential property but PR must seek permission from the Law Ministry if they want to buy landed property or any unit in a low rise apartment development which has less than 6 levels.

Citizens qualify for tax rebates of S$5,000 to S$20,000 if their 2nd child is borne after Jan 1st 1987. More tax rebates & subsidies are now available even for the 4th child . Citizens who are working mothers qualify for tax rebates equal to 15% of their income at the time of her 3rd and 4th child birth if she elects for separate income tax assessment. Citizens receive ad hoc CPF top up from the government.

Singapore can expect to have 200,000 new SPRs and about 40,000 new SCs in the next 5 years.  A person is eligible for citizenship if he is above 21 years and has for a total of 10 out of 12 years as a PR. Those with relevant qualifications are eligible after 5 out of 6 years as PR, while professionals, investors and graduates can apply under the Accelerated Citizenship Scheme after 2 years as PR.