Singapore Permanent Residence: how it works

What PR status is

ICA describes a PR as “a foreigner who has been granted permanent residence status which allows him/her to reside in Singapore on a permanent basis.” PRs aged 15 and above receive the blue Singapore Identity Card. PR is not citizenship: PRs keep their foreign passport, need a valid Re-Entry Permit (REP) to leave and return as a PR, and can lose the status if the REP conditions are not met.

Routes at a glance

Not sure which applies? The eligibility checker applies these categories to your answers in about two minutes, or read the full eligibility guide.

What ICA considers

That is the whole published list. ICA does not publish weights, minimum salaries, minimum years, a points system, approval rates or reasons for rejection, and has said the specific grounds “cannot be made known publicly”. Our requirements guide separates what ICA says from what consultancies infer, and the readiness assessment shows how a profile compares with each factor without pretending to predict an outcome.

The process in five steps

1. 1

   Confirm your category and get Singpass

   Every applicant (and the sponsor) needs Singpass; account approval can take 2–5 working days. Applicants under 15 use a non-Singpass option.

2. 2

   Prepare the documents

   ICA's checklist covers photo (400 × 514 px), passport, birth and marriage records, education certificates, an employer letter dated within 3 months, six months of payslips and, for the self-employed, three years of accounts. Generate your checklist.

3. 3

   Submit online and pay S$100

   Applications are made only through the ICA e-Service. Each applicant reviews the form and makes declarations. The fee is non-refundable.

4. 4

   Wait — within 6 months, sometimes longer

   Check status in MyICA. You may leave Singapore while waiting but must return for formalities if approved. No new or repeated application is accepted while one is in process. Processing time guide.

5. 5

   Outcome

   If approved, you receive an In-Principle Approval and complete formalities in person at the ICA Services Centre, paying S$120 (Entry Permit S$20, Re-Entry Permit S$50, Identity Card S$50). If rejected, you may appeal within 12 months through the e-Service or apply again. After approval · Rejected.

Fees

ICA notes that successful applicants “will be notified of other applicable fees subsequently”. Professional fees, translations and medical costs are separate. See the cost guide.

Obligations that come with PR

• Re-Entry Permit. Renew online within 3 months before expiry; since 1 December 2025 you lose PR status if you leave without a valid REP or fail to apply within 180 days. Re-Entry Permit guide.
• National Service. All male citizens and PRs are liable unless exempted. Sons granted PR under a parent's sponsorship or as students are liable; first-generation main applicants under the work-pass or investor routes are administratively exempted according to MINDEF. National Service and PR.
• Conditions. Permit conditions include compliance with Singapore law, staying out of domestic politics, no criminal offences, renewing and transferring the REP, and meeting NS obligations; permits can be cancelled for breaches.

How many people get PR?

In 2024, 35,264 people were granted permanent residency and 22,766 were granted citizenship (Population in Brief 2025, sourced from ICA). The PR population was about 544,000 in June 2025. The government describes intake as “carefully controlled” and dependent on “the number and quality of applications received and our changing needs”. There is no official approval rate. Statistics page.

Frequently asked