Introduction

For those of us who are born Singaporean, we never had to go through the process of applying for Singapore citizenship. This is however not the case for those who are merely Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR), and who aspire to become Singapore Citizens (SC).

This article will primarily focus on SPRs who have gotten their permanent residence through either the EDB’s Global Investor Programme (GIP) or the already abolished MAS’ Financial Investor Scheme (FIS).

Most SPRs who came through either the GIP or FIS thought that the SC application process is merely a form filling exercise. A lot of them are under the mistaken notion that so long as they meet the requirements stated in the ICA forms or the ICA website, their application will definitely be approved.

What they do not realize is that there is still a discretionary element in the final approval process. As such, let us take a look at what is stated in the forms and website first before we examine what are some of the other criteria that ICA looks at.

If we are to look at the ICA forms and website, one will find that there are only inter alia two main criteria. Firstly, the SPR must be PR for at least two years before he can apply. Secondly, the SPR must chalk up a minimum stay of one year in the preceding two years prior to his SC application.

As such, a new SPR can only apply for SC only in the third year of his Singapore permanent residence and must prove that he has accumulated at least twelve months of residence in Singapore out of his first two years in Singapore as a PR.

What is not stated in the forms and website is the fact that for a SPR who got his PR through the GIP/FIS programme, his SC application will also have to be evaluated by EDB (Contact Singapore), as part of the whole approval process.

EDB in its evaluation process will look at the applicant’s economic contributions. For such applications, this means whether he has set up a company in Singapore, and the number of jobs he has created in his company for Singapore Citizens, as well as the company’s yearly expenditure inSingapore.

There is in fact an interview by the EDB, followed by a company visit. Other important factors looked at by the authorities include:

1. Whether there are any social contributions to Singapore society. This is important as the
   authorities are concerned as to whether the
   applicant is fully integrated with mainstream
   Singaporeans;
2. Whether the entire family is residing in
   Singapore;
3. Other rootedness factors like whether they have their financial assets in Singapore.

As such, we often meet clients who have no clue why their SC application is rejected even when they seem to have met the criteria stated in the application form. Furthermore, under our system, the ICA does not need to furnish any reason whatsoever for rejecting an application for SC or SPR for that matter.

Based on our experience, the typical waiting time for a SC approval takes about a year. Once the application has been approved, in principle, the applicant still has to sit for an online quiz to test out his general knowledge of Singapore (there is no need to pass the test, it is just for the applicant to acquire Singapore general knowledge), a visit to the Singapore Museum to learn about Singapore’s history and attend a community event with other new SCs at a community centre, before he gets his final approval.

We hope this article has been helpful in gaining an insight into the SC application process.