Singapore is more than just a global hub for business and innovation — it is a vibrant, multicultural city-state offering an unparalleled quality of life. From world-class education and healthcare to a safe and stable environment, becoming a Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) opens doors to countless opportunities for you and your family.
Whether you are looking to deepen your roots in Singapore, enjoy greater career prospects, or plan for a secure future, PR status provides you with long-term benefits and a sense of belonging in one of the world’s most dynamic countries. In this blog, we explore the advantages of becoming a Singapore PR and guide you through the application process.
Why Become a Singapore Permanent Resident?
Obtaining a Singapore permanent residency provides plenty of benefits for the holder. These advantages include:
Better Job Opportunities
A Singapore PR can tap into the vast job opportunities available in the city-state without worrying about cancelling their employment pass and re-applying while changing jobs. Pass holders are also subject to the possibility of tightening eligibility rules that may affect their chances to stay and work in Singapore, such as increasing EP salary requirements.
They can enjoy better employment flexibility, paving the way for other career avenues and better choices made based on their skills and preferences. As a result, they may also benefit from improved career and salary progression, or even start their own business.
Tax Benefits
Singapore’s personal income tax rates are among the lowest globally. As a PR, you can benefit from its progressive tax system, where rates start at 0% for the first S$20,000 of income and max out at 24% for income above S$1,000,000. PRs are also eligible for various tax reliefs and rebates to reduce their taxable income, such as CPF relief.
World-Class Education
Singapore is famous for its world-class education, such as its universities and institutions of higher learning. In fact, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022, Singapore’s 15-year-olds ranked first out of 64 education systems in the test, a testament to its exemplary education success.
PRs with children can enroll them in local schools and save with reduced fees compared to non-PRs. This way, their children can benefit from Singapore’s high education standards without incurring high costs.
Applying for Singapore Permanent Residency
Singapore Permanent Resident Eligibility
Foreigners can apply for permanent residence if they fulfill certain conditions:
- Must be a spouse of a Singapore citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident (PR)
- Must be an unmarried child aged below 21 and born under a legal marriage or is legally adopted by a Singapore citizen or PR
- Must be an aged parent of a Singapore citizen
- Must be an S-Pass or Employment Pass (EP) holder
- Must be a foreign investor in Singapore
- Must be a student studying in Singapore who has passed at least one national exam such as the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) or is in the Integrated Programme (IP)
To determine the applicant’s ability to contribute to Singapore, assimilate into its society, and commitment to settling down, ICA considers factors such as the applicant’s:
- Family ties to Singaporeans
- Economic contributions
- Qualifications
- Age
- Family profile
- Length of residency
Documents Required for PR Application
Different documents are required depending on the applicant. Here is a checklist of the necessary, where relevant:
| Personal | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Applicant | Applicant’s Spouse | Applicant’s Sponsor |
| Passport-sized photo | Y | N | N |
| Passport/travel document for documents not issued by ICA | Y | Y | N |
| Birth certificate/household register | Y | Y | N |
| Adoption papers | Y (only for minors and parent applicants) | N | N |
| Marriage certificate | Y | N | Y |
| Separation deed | Y | N | Y |
| Deed poll or religious certificate for name change | Y | N | Y |
| Family | |||
| Item | Applicant | Applicant’s Spouse | Applicant’s Sponsor |
| Divorce certificate including Making Interim Judgment Final certificate | Y | Y | Y |
| Death certificate of spouse or children from previous marriage(s) for deaths not registered in Singapore | Y | Y | Y |
| Letter of consent from ex-spouse for minor applicants under joint custody | Y | N | Y |
| Custody papers for children from previous marriages | Y | N | Y |
| Education | |||
| Item | Applicant | Applicant’s Spouse | Applicant’s Sponsor |
| Educational certificate(s) and transcripts | Y | Y | Y |
| Skill certificate(s)/professional license(s) | Y | Y | Y |
| Membership certificate(s) | Y | N | Y
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