Citizenship
How to apply for Singapore citizenship
Apply online through the ICA e-Service with Singpass. ICA's roadmap allows 7 days to complete the particulars and upload documents and another 7 days to review and pay the S$100 fee; each application takes about 90 minutes. After in-principle approval (about 2 months) you complete the Singapore Citizenship Journey, renounce your foreign citizenship if you are 21 or above, then register at ICA — paying S$70 for the certificate and S$10 for the identity card — and take the Oath. The citizenship ceremony follows 3 to 6 months later.
Key takeaways
- Online only, with Singpass; Singpass registration itself takes 2 to 5 working days.
- Documents mirror the PR checklist: photo 400 × 514 px, passport, family records, education certificates, employer letter within 3 months, six months of payslips.
- Fees: S$100 at submission; S$70 + S$10 at completion. A child born overseas to a citizen pays S$18 + S$10.
- The Singapore Citizenship Journey (e-Journey, Experiential Visit, Community Sharing Session) is mandatory for applicants aged 16 to 60 with in-principle approval.
- Applicants aged 21+ must renounce their foreign citizenship and provide official proof before registration.
The four stages
- 1
Stage 1 — Online application
Log in to the ICA e-Service with Singpass (under-15s can use a non-Singpass option). ICA's roadmap: 7 days to fill in particulars and upload documents, then 7 days to review and pay. Outcome by e-mail; status in MyICA.
- 2
Stage 2 — In-Principle Approval (about 2 months)
Download the IPA. Log in to the Singapore Citizenship Journey portal three working days after the IPA is issued, complete the e-Journey, and book the Singapore Experiential Visit and Community Sharing Session (aged 16–60). Start arranging renunciation of your foreign citizenship.
- 3
Stage 3 — Approval and registration
Download ICA's letter to renounce your foreign citizenship; complete renunciation with the foreign authority (applicants 21+) and upload the official proof through the e-Service (applications from 26 June 2024). Attend ICA Services Centre at the scheduled appointment to register and take the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty. Pay S$70 (certificate) and S$10 (identity card).
- 4
Stage 4 — Citizenship ceremony
Usually 3 to 6 months after registration, organised by your constituency; the citizenship certificate is presented there.
Documents
| Group | Items |
|---|---|
| Personal | Colour digital photograph 400 × 514 px on a white background; passport or travel document; birth certificate or household register (births not registered in Singapore); adoption papers; marriage certificate (marriages not registered in Singapore); separation deed; deed poll or religious certificate for a name change |
| Family | Divorce certificates including the Certificate of Making Interim Judgment Final; death certificate of a spouse or children from previous marriages; letter of consent from an ex-spouse for a minor under joint custody; custody papers |
| Education | Educational certificates and transcripts; skill certificates and professional licences; membership certificates |
| Employment | Employer's letter dated no more than 3 months before the application stating occupation, date of employment, and basic and gross monthly salary; payslips from the last 6 months; latest 3 years' income tax assessments if working overseas; self-employed: latest ACRA registration and 3 years of balance sheets and profit-and-loss statements |
| Other | National Service certificate of service, transcript or testimonial |
| Aged-parent applications | Birth certificate or household register, latest income tax assessment (if working overseas) and latest month's payslip of non-applying children |
Translations follow the same rule as PR: by the issuing country's embassy, a notary public in Singapore or the issuing country, or private translations attested by the embassy or notarised. Singapore-registered records are retrieved by ICA, which is why the checklist limits those items to events not registered here.
Fees
| Applicant | At submission | At completion |
|---|---|---|
| Adult PRs and PR children | S$100 | S$70 certificate + S$10 identity card |
| Child born overseas to a Singapore citizen (by descent) | S$18 | S$10 identity card |
| Other locally- or overseas-born children | S$100 | S$70 + S$10 |
All fees are non-refundable. Related official fees: confirmation of citizenship status S$20 (3 working days); oath-taking for minors is free and same-day; renouncing Singapore citizenship costs S$35 and takes about three months.
The Singapore Citizenship Journey
- e-Journey — an online module on shared values, responsibilities, society, arts and culture, history, national symbols and systems.
- Singapore Experiential Visit — a half-day visit to historical landmarks and national institutions (or an “Introduction to Service to Community” session).
- Community Sharing Session — a session with residents and community volunteers from your constituency.
Run jointly by MCCY, ICA and the People's Association. Portal access opens three working days after the IPA letter; the account is disabled 30 days after completion. Complete all components within your IPA validity period — the exact deadline is in your IPA letter.
Renouncing your foreign citizenship
Frequently asked
How long does the whole process take?
ICA processes applications within 12 months. On top of that: about 2 months to in-principle approval per ICA's roadmap, the SCJ, renunciation (varies by country) and a ceremony 3 to 6 months after registration.
Do I renounce before or after registration?
ICA's roadmap has renunciation before registration. ICA's undertaking form also provides for registration under an undertaking to complete renunciation within a stated number of months — follow the instructions in your own letter.
What if my application is rejected?
Appeals go through the same ICA e-Service used for PR appeals; ICA states processing times may vary. How appeals work.
Not a PR yet?
Citizenship starts with permanent residence — check your category first.
Official sources referenced
- ICA — Becoming a Singapore Citizen (eligibility, documents, fees, processing)ICA · accessed 2 September 2026
- ICA — Document Checklist for Singapore Citizenship (PDF)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
- 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.
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