Citizenship
Singapore Citizenship: how it works
Singapore citizenship is granted by ICA to permanent residents who meet one of five published routes — most commonly PR for at least two years and aged 21 or above. Applications are made online, cost S$100 at submission and S$80 at completion, and are processed within 12 months. Successful adult applicants must complete the mandatory Singapore Citizenship Journey and renounce their foreign citizenship: Singapore does not allow adults to hold dual citizenship.
Key takeaways
- All new adult citizens come from the PR pool — you must be a PR first.
- Five routes: PR 2 years and aged 21+; PR 2 years and married to a citizen 2 years; unmarried child under 21 of a citizen; PR student with 3+ years' residence and a national exam; aged parent of a citizen.
- Fees: S$100 at submission; S$70 certificate plus S$10 identity card at completion (S$18 + S$10 for a child born overseas to a citizen).
- Processing within 12 months; the Singapore Citizenship Journey is mandatory for applicants aged 16 to 60 with in-principle approval.
- Adults must renounce foreign citizenship; minors with dual citizenship must take the Oath by their 22nd birthday or lose Singapore citizenship.
Who can apply
| Route | ICA wording |
|---|---|
| PR aged 21+ | Have been a Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) for at least 2 years and are aged 21 and above |
| Spouse of a citizen | Have been a PR for at least 2 years and have been married to a Singapore citizen for at least 2 years |
| Child of a citizen | Are an unmarried child aged below 21 born within the context of a legal marriage to, or have been legally adopted by, a Singapore citizen |
| PR student | Are a PR studying in Singapore; and have been residing in Singapore for more than 3 years (of which at least 1 year as a PR); and have passed at least one national exam, or are in the Integrated Programme |
| Aged parent | Are a PR and an Aged Parent of a Singapore citizen of at least 21 years old |
A child born overseas to a Singapore citizen parent is a separate route — citizenship by descent — with its own fee (S$18) and one-month processing, and must be registered within a year of birth. See how to apply.
What ICA assesses
The four stages
- 1
Apply online
Through the ICA e-Service with Singpass. ICA's roadmap allows 7 days to complete particulars and upload documents, then another 7 days to review and pay; each application takes about 90 minutes to complete. Fee S$100.
- 2
In-Principle Approval
About 2 months per ICA's roadmap. Log in to the Singapore Citizenship Journey portal 3 days after the IPA is issued; complete the e-Journey, the Singapore Experiential Visit and the Community Sharing Session (applicants aged 16–60). Begin arranging renunciation of your foreign citizenship.
- 3
Registration
Download ICA's letter to renounce, complete renunciation with the foreign authority (applicants aged 21+), upload the proof, then attend ICA on the scheduled date to register and take the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty. Pay S$70 for the certificate and S$10 for the identity card.
- 4
Citizenship ceremony
Usually held 3 to 6 months after registration; organised by your constituency. Your citizenship certificate is presented there.
Dual citizenship
How many people become citizens?
In 2024, 22,766 people were granted citizenship (excluding 1,409 children granted citizenship by descent), against 35,264 PRs. See the statistics page.
Frequently asked
Do I have to give up my other passport?
Yes, if you are 21 or above. Renunciation is completed with your own country's authorities before or shortly after registration, depending on ICA's instructions.
How long after PR can I apply?
At least 2 years as a PR (aged 21+), or 2 years as a PR and 2 years married to a citizen. PR students have their own route.
Does National Service change?
Male citizens are liable as PRs are. MINDEF states that new citizens who grew up in Singapore are enlisted, while those who become citizens in their 30s and 40s are not. Completing NS is assessed favourably in citizenship applications. National Service guide.
Can I be refused?
Yes. Citizenship is discretionary; appeals go through the same ICA e-Service as PR appeals, and ICA states processing times may vary.
Not a PR yet?
Citizenship starts with permanent residence. Check which ICA category applies to you.
Official sources referenced
- ICA — Singapore Citizenship overviewICA · accessed 2 September 2026
- ICA — Becoming a Singapore Citizen (eligibility, documents, fees, processing)ICA · accessed 2 September 2026
- ICA — Singapore Citizenship application roadmap (PDF)ICA · accessed 2 September 2026
- Singapore Citizenship Journey — help centreGov.sg · accessed 2 September 2026
- ICA — Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty for minorsICA · accessed 2 September 2026
- NPTD — Population in Brief 2025 (PDF)Gov.sg · accessed 2 September 2026Source of 2024 PR and citizenship grant figures and the profile of new PRs (Table 17).
- ICA — Appeal for a rejected Citizenship, PR or LTVP applicationICA · accessed 2 September 2026
Editorial information
- Written by
- SingaPR Editorial Team — Research & editorial
- Reviewed by
- SingaPR Immigration Research Desk — Fact review against ICA/MOM sources
- Published
- 2 September 2026
- Facts verified
- 2 September 2026 (re-checked at least every 90 days)
Revision history
- 2026-09-02 — First published after verification against official sources.
SingaPR is a private, independent information and self-assessment platform. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) or any Singapore Government agency. Nothing on this site is legal advice or a guarantee of any immigration outcome.