As the world transitions into the post-pandemic era, immigration plans are once again becoming a priority for many. Singapore, with its relaxed business environment, abundant educational resources, and attractive living conditions, has emerged as one of the preferred destinations for immigrants. Moreover, having Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) status or Singapore Citizenship (SC) is crucial for business operations or career advancement in Singapore.

I Singapore PR

Singapore PR, also known as permanent residency or a green card, grants foreigners the right to reside permanently in Singapore. Permanent residents aged 15 and above are issued a blue Singapore identity card (IC). It is important to note that PR holders wishing to travel abroad and return to Singapore must have a valid Re-Entry Permit.

II Conditions for PR Application

i Spouses and children under 21 of Singapore citizens or PR
ii Parents of Singapore citizens
iii Holders of Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass
iv Investors, such as EntrePass holders, or those who invest more than SGD 2.5 million
v Students who have resided in Singapore for over two years and passed more than one national exam or are part of the Integrated Programme (IP)

III Required Documents for PR Application

i Spouse of Singapore Citizen/Permanent Resident

1 Passport (information page)
2 Permit/ID card (if any)
3 Birth certificate (officially certified in English)
4 Name change certificate (if applicable)
5 Highest educational qualification (officially certified in English, including transcripts, qualifications, memberships, etc.)
6 Passport-sized photo
If employed, additional documents required:
1 Divorce certificate and child custody documents from previous marriages, death certificate of former spouse (if applicable)
2 Employer's letter (stating date of employment, position, and fixed monthly salary including overtime and allowances for the past six months)
3 Past six months' payslips
4 Tax payment proof

ii For Children of Singapore Citizens/PR

1 Passport (information page)
2 Permit/ID card (if any)
3 Birth certificate (translated if not in English)
4 Name change certificate (if applicable)
5 Highest educational qualification (transcripts, qualifications, memberships, etc.)
6 Passport-sized photo
7 Child adoption documents (if any)
Documents to be prepared by direct relatives (PR or citizen):
1 Marriage certificate (if applicable)
2 Death certificates regarding previous marriages and children, or divorce certificates and child custody documents (if applicable)
3 Highest educational qualification certificate
4 Employer's letter (stating date of employment, position, and monthly salary including overtime and allowances for the past six months)
5 Past six months' payslips
6 IRAS / CPF consent form

iii For Holders of Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass

1 Passport (information page)
2 Permit/ID card (if any)
3 Birth certificate (translated if not in English)
4 Name change certificate (if applicable)
5 Highest educational qualification (transcripts, qualifications, memberships, etc.)
6 Passport-sized photo

iv For Students

Students must have resided in Singapore for over two years at the time of application and must have passed at least one national exam (i.e., PSLE or GCE "N"/"O"/"A" Levels) or be part of the Integrated Programme (IP).
1 Passport (information page)
2 Permit/ID card (if any)
3 Birth certificate (showing both parents' names)
4 Name change certificate (if applicable)
5 Highest educational qualification (officially certified in English, including transcripts, qualifications, memberships, etc.)
6 Passport-sized photo
7 Parents' passport information pages

v For Investors

Seasoned entrepreneurs:
1 You must have at least three years of entrepreneurial or business experience.
2 Your company's turnover must have reached at least SGD 200 million in the most recent year, with an average annual turnover of at least SGD 200 million over the past three years.
3 If your company is privately owned, you must hold at least 30% of the shares.
4 The company must belong to at least one business sector listed in Appendix B.
Next-generation business owners:
1 Your direct family must hold at least 30% of the shares in the company you are applying for, or be the largest shareholder.
2 The company's turnover in the most recent year must have reached at least SGD 500 million, with an average annual turnover of at least SGD 500 million over the past three years.
3 You must be part of the company's management (e.g., executive, board member).
4 The company must belong to at least one business sector listed in Appendix B.
Founders of rapidly growing companies:
1 You must be one of the founders and largest individual shareholders of a company valued at no less than SGD 500 million.
2 The company must be invested in by well-known venture capital firms or private equity firms.
3 The company must belong to at least one business sector listed in Appendix B.
Family office:
1 You must have at least five years of entrepreneurial, investment, or management experience.
2 You must possess a net investable asset value of no less than SGD 200 million.
(Note: Net investable asset value includes all financial assets except real estate, such as bank deposits, capital market products, collective investment schemes, life insurance premiums paid on policies, and other investment products.)

IV PR Application Method

1 Log in to the Singapore Immigration Authority website

https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/esvclandingpage/epr

2 Follow the prompts step by step

3 Log in with SingPass

4 Prepare the documents before applying

Download, print, and complete the application and tax declaration forms
Scan basic documents (mentioned above in the preparation section)

5 Fill out the forms

The first method is to download the forms, fill them out, scan, and upload them back;
The second method is to choose to apply online and fill out the forms step by step.

6 Upload the documents, complete the online application

7 Complete the payment

V PR Application Bonus Points

1 Applicant's age

Singapore is an aging society, so younger people have a higher chance of passing. However, obtaining permanent residency is not just about age; other conditions of the applicant are also considered. There are numerous examples of middle-aged entrepreneurs successfully obtaining permanent residency.

2 Applicant's position

The higher the applicant's position and the more they earn, the higher the chance of approval. The higher the applicant's position, the more irreplaceable they are, and the more Singapore wants to keep them.

3 Log in to the Singapore Immigration Authority website

Highly educated talent is also a scarce resource. For applicants with lower education levels, it is possible to take some professional courses and obtain relevant certificates to compensate for the lower education level, which will also help with the PR application and highlight the applicant's ambition.

4 Applicant's residence time in Singapore

Although you can apply for PR after working in Singapore for half a year, the duration also affects the approval rate. It is best to wait 2 years for EP and 3 years for SP.
Singapore does not have immigration supervision, but it is recommended that applicants reside in Singapore for a long time, such as living full-time for half a year each year. If it is not possible to stay long due to the need to manage businesses or family reasons in two countries, it is suggested to apply for PR later when you can stay longer, or use other personal advantages to compensate for the short residence time.

5 Recommendation letters

If you can find a local person of high repute to write a recommendation letter for you, that would be ideal. It can be considered a bonus document.

6 Giving back to society

Volunteering and donations are significant positive factors, indicating that the applicant is willing to contribute to Singaporean society beyond their work.
However, one-time donations or occasional volunteer work are not beneficial and it is not recommended to do so just before applying, as ICA might think you are doing it just to pass the application. Therefore, it is suggested to make a long-term plan.