Singapore citizenship is earned through residence, not bought. Here is how to get Singapore citizenship in 2026: who is eligible, the step-by-step ICA process, documents, fees, timelines and the obligations that come with a red passport.
By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP
Singapore granted citizenship to 25,094 people and permanent residence to 35,352 people in 2025, according to the government’s Population in Brief 2026. Over 2021 to 2025, it granted about 22,400 citizenships a year. The intake is controlled, and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) assesses every application case by case.
It’s a multicultural city-state that’s bustling with business, and the quality of life is high there too.
This may have you curious about how to get Singapore citizenship, especially if you want to make a more permanent move. In that case, you should read on, as we’ll show you what you need to do to make it happen.
What Changed for 2026
- Stricter PR retention: From December 1, 2025, a PR who is outside Singapore without a valid Re-Entry Permit (REP) has 180 days to apply for a new one. Miss that window and PR status ends automatically, with no appeal (ICA REP FAQ). Losing PR ends your path to citizenship until you regain it.
- Higher work pass salaries: The S$5,600 Employment Pass minimum now applies to renewals as well as new applications. It rises to S$6,000 for new applications from January 1, 2027 (MOM).
- New ONE Pass track: A ONE Pass AI and Tech track opens in January 2027 for senior tech talent, with part of the S$30,000 monthly salary test payable in vested equity.
- No citizenship test: In July 2026 the government confirmed there is no civic knowledge or English test for citizenship applicants. The Singapore Citizenship Journey stays mandatory (MHA).
- Higher intake: The 25,094 citizenships granted in 2025 were above the 2021 to 2025 average of about 22,400 a year.
Who Is Eligible for Singapore Citizenship?
ICA accepts citizenship applications in five categories. Every adult route requires Singapore permanent residence (PR) first. Only unmarried children of citizens under 21 can apply without PR. Here are the Singapore citizenship requirements set by ICA:
| Category | Key requirement | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| PR adult | Aged 21 or above, PR for at least 2 years | None |
| Spouse of a citizen | PR for at least 2 years and married to a citizen for at least 2 years | Citizen spouse |
| Child of a citizen | Unmarried, under 21, born within a legal marriage to or legally adopted by a citizen | Citizen parent |
| PR student | Lived in Singapore more than 3 years, including at least 1 year as a PR, and passed a national exam or enrolled in the Integrated Programme | None (parental consent under 21) |
| Aged parent of a citizen | PR and parent of a citizen | Citizen child aged 21 or above |
Permanent Residents
This is the most common route to citizenship. You must be aged 21 or above and have held PR for at least two years. No sponsor is needed, and you can include your PR spouse and unmarried children under 21 in the same application.
How do you become a permanent resident? Most people qualify through work passes. ICA accepts PR applications from Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass holders with no sponsor, and MOM confirms ONE Pass holders can apply as well. In 2026, the Employment Pass requires a fixed monthly salary of at least S$5,600 (S$6,200 in financial services), rising with age to S$10,700, plus 40 points under the COMPASS framework. The S Pass minimum is S$3,300. The ONE Pass requires a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 from an established company, or outstanding achievements in arts and culture, sports, or academia and research.
Students can also become permanent residents. ICA accepts PR applications from students in Singapore who have passed at least one national exam (PSLE, GCE N, O or A Level) or are enrolled in the Integrated Programme. A PR student can then apply for citizenship after living in Singapore for more than three years, including at least one year as a PR.
ICA does not publish a points formula for PR or citizenship. It assesses applicants on their ability to contribute to Singapore, integrate and sink roots, using these factors:
- Family ties to Singaporeans
- Economic contributions and qualifications
- Age, family profile and length of residency
Spouses of Singapore Citizens
Marriage to a citizen does not grant citizenship automatically. You can apply for citizenship once you have held PR for at least two years and been married to a Singapore citizen for at least two years. Your citizen spouse sponsors the application.
The foreign spouse first applies for PR as the spouse of a Singapore citizen, with the citizen spouse as sponsor. Family ties to Singaporeans are the first factor ICA lists in its assessment.
Children of Singapore Citizens
An unmarried child under 21 who was born within a legal marriage to, or legally adopted by, a Singapore citizen can apply for citizenship without holding PR. The citizen parent sponsors the application. Overseas-born children of citizens pay a reduced S$18 fee, and ICA processes complete applications within one month.
Aged Parents of Singapore Citizens
A PR who is the parent of a Singapore citizen can apply for citizenship with the citizen child as sponsor. The child must be aged 21 or above.
Global Investor Programme (PR, Not Citizenship)
The Global Investor Programme (GIP), run by the Economic Development Board (EDB), grants PR, not citizenship. Singapore has no citizenship by investment program. GIP investors apply for citizenship later through the standard PR route, after holding PR for at least two years. If you want a second passport through investment, compare the economic citizenship programs that offer it.
The S$2.5 million threshold no longer applies. The GIP Factsheet sets three investment options:
| Option | Investment | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|
| A | At least S$10 million in a new Singapore business or the expansion of an existing one | 5-year business plan, at least 30% shareholding, management role, qualifying industry |
| B | S$25 million in a GIP-select fund | Fund invests in Singapore-based companies; money must come from a personal account in your sole name |
| C | Single family office with at least S$200 million in assets under management | At least S$50 million transferred to Singapore and deployed in EDB-specified investments within 12 months |
You must make the investment within six months of approval in principle. The application fee is S$20,000, non-refundable. GIP PR comes with a 5-year REP, and renewal depends on maintaining the investment plus employment targets (for example, 30 employees for Option A) or living in Singapore more than half the time.
You must also fit one of four applicant profiles:
- Established business owner: at least 3 years of business track record, with company turnover of at least S$200 million in the last year and on average over the last three years, and at least 30% shareholding if privately held
- Next generation business owner: immediate family holds at least 30% of, or is the largest shareholder in, a company with turnover of at least S$500 million, and you sit on its management team
- Founder of a fast-growth company: founder and one of the largest individual shareholders of a private company valued at S$500 million or more and backed by reputable venture capital or private equity firms
- Family office principal: at least 5 years of entrepreneurial, investment or management track record and net investible assets of at least S$200 million
Documents Required for Application
Once you meet one of the criteria above, prepare your documents before you start the online form. ICA publishes a document checklist for Singapore citizenship. Non-English documents need official translations from the issuing country’s embassy or a notary public.
Identity Documents
Provide your valid passport or travel document. Applicants and sponsors log in to the ICA e-Service with Singpass.
National Service Records
Male applicants who have served National Service provide their certificate of service, transcript and testimonial.
Birth and Marriage Certificates
Provide your birth certificate or household register if your birth was not registered in Singapore, and your marriage certificate if your marriage was not registered in Singapore. If you were previously married, add divorce certificates (including the Certificate of Making Interim Judgment Final), custody papers for children from that marriage and, where relevant, a separation deed or deed poll for a change of name.
Educational Certificates and Employment Records
Gather your educational certificates and transcripts from your schools, as well as your skill certificates, professional licenses, and membership certificates.
Employees need a letter of employment dated within three months of the application, stating your occupation, start date and basic and gross monthly salary, plus payslips for the last six months. If you work overseas, add income tax assessments for the latest three years. If you’re self-employed, provide the latest Business Registration Certificate from the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and balance sheets and profit and loss statements for the latest three years.
Passport Photos
You should take pictures in advance. The photo should have a white background and dimensions of 400 x 514 pixels.
Singapore Citizenship Fees and Timeline
All ICA fees are non-refundable. These are the 2026 fees for a citizenship application:
| Applicant | At submission | On approval |
|---|---|---|
| Adult PRs and children of PRs | S$100 | S$70 certificate, S$10 identity card (age 15 and above) |
| Overseas-born children of citizens | S$18 | No certificate fee, S$10 identity card (age 15 and above) |
| Other children | S$100 | S$70 certificate, S$10 identity card (age 15 and above) |
The PR stage that comes first has its own costs: S$100 per applicant at submission, then S$20 for the Entry Permit, S$50 for a 5-year REP and S$50 for the identity card.
Plan on this timeline:
- PR decision: within 6 months of a complete application
- Minimum PR period: 2 years before you can apply for citizenship (more than 3 years of residence for PR students)
- Citizenship decision: generally within 12 months; within 1 month for overseas-born children of citizens
- Final Outcome Letter: valid for 6 months, which is your window to renounce foreign citizenship and complete formalities
How to Apply for Singapore Citizenship: Step by Step
- Get PR and hold it for two years. Keep a valid REP whenever you travel so your PR does not lapse.
- Check National Service rules. ICA requires male applicants to review the CMPB NS guidance before applying.
- Gather your documents using the ICA checklist above, with official translations where needed.
- Apply online. Log in to ICA’s Singapore Citizenship e-Service with Singpass. If you have a sponsor, the sponsor completes the form and you review and declare before submission. Pay the S$100 fee.
- Wait for the outcome. ICA emails the result, and you can check your status online.
- Complete the Singapore Citizenship Journey after you receive In-Principle Approval, if you are aged 16 to 60.
- Pay the issuance fees and download your Final Outcome Letter.
- Renounce your foreign citizenship (applicants aged 21 and above) and upload proof to the e-Service.
- Attend your ICA appointment and take the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty.
Submit complete documents the first time. ICA does not accept applications with insufficient documents, and you cannot file a new citizenship application while another one is pending.
Assessment and Outcome
ICA reviews each application against family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency. It can request additional documents during processing. There is no civic knowledge or English language test.
In-Principle Approval, Citizenship Journey and Oath
Approval comes as an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter. Applicants aged 16 to 60 must then complete the Singapore Citizenship Journey, which has three parts: an e-learning module, an experiential learning or community service component, and a Community Sharing Session with residents and grassroots leaders.
Next, ICA asks you to pay the issuance fees. Once paid, you download your Final Outcome Letter. Only then should you start renouncing your foreign citizenship, because renouncing earlier causes serious problems if the application is withdrawn (ICA). Upload proof of renunciation to the e-Service as you receive it.
Finally, attend your appointment at the ICA Services Centre and take the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty if you are aged 21 or above.
After this, you’ll be granted a Singapore citizenship certificate.
If Your Application Is Rejected
You can appeal a rejected application online through Singpass. The sponsor submits the appeal if the original application had one. Appeals are free, and you can upload new supporting documents. If you have never applied, file a new application instead of an appeal.
Dual Citizenship and Renunciation
Singapore does not allow dual citizenship for adults. Applicants aged 21 and above must renounce every foreign citizenship they hold before they complete formalities. In a family application, ICA approves the family only when every member meets the requirements.
Minors granted citizenship can hold more than one citizenship until age 21. To keep Singapore citizenship, they must renounce their foreign citizenship and take the oath before turning 22. Otherwise, they lose Singapore citizenship on their 22nd birthday.
US citizens renounce at a US embassy or consulate. Renouncing US citizenship triggers IRS expatriation tax rules, including filing Form 8854, so plan the tax side before you start.
National Service Obligations
Under the Enlistment Act 1970, all male Singapore citizens and PRs must register for National Service at age 16.5 and enlist at the earliest opportunity after 18. Pre-tertiary students can finish their studies first, but there is no deferment for university. Liability runs to age 40 for other ranks and 50 for officers.
MINDEF does not enlist men who become citizens as mature adults, typically in their 30s and 40s. Young male new citizens who grew up in Singapore are enlisted. Your sons become liable once they are PRs or citizens. Renouncing PR or citizenship without completing full-time NS counts against future applications for you and your family, and defaulting carries a fine of up to S$10,000, up to 3 years in prison, or both.
Singapore Citizenship FAQ
How long do you need to be a PR before applying for Singapore citizenship?
You must hold Singapore permanent residence for at least two years and be aged 21 or above. Spouses of Singapore citizens need at least two years of PR and at least two years of marriage. PR students need more than three years of residence in Singapore, including at least one year as a PR.
What are the Singapore citizenship requirements?
Every adult route requires PR first. ICA accepts applications from PRs aged 21 and above with at least two years of PR, PR spouses of citizens, PR students who meet the residence and exam criteria, and PR aged parents of citizens. Unmarried children under 21 of citizens apply with their citizen parent as sponsor. ICA assesses family ties, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency.
Can you get Singapore citizenship by investment?
No. Singapore has no citizenship by investment program. The Global Investor Programme grants permanent residence. GIP investors apply for citizenship through the standard route after holding PR for at least two years.
Does Singapore allow dual citizenship?
No, not for adults. Applicants aged 21 and above must renounce all foreign citizenships before they complete citizenship formalities. Minors can hold more than one citizenship until 21 but must renounce their foreign citizenship and take the oath before turning 22.
How long does a Singapore citizenship application take and what does it cost?
ICA processes most citizenship applications within 12 months. Adults pay a S$100 processing fee at submission, then S$70 for the citizenship certificate and S$10 for the identity card on approval. All fees are non-refundable.
Do new Singapore citizens have to do National Service?
All male citizens and PRs must register for National Service at 16.5 and enlist after 18. MINDEF does not enlist men who become citizens as mature adults, typically in their 30s and 40s, but young male new citizens and the sons of new citizens and PRs serve full-time NS.
That’s How to Get Singapore Citizenship
Getting Singapore citizenship takes planning: secure PR through work, family, study or the GIP, keep it for at least two years, then apply to ICA and expect a decision within about 12 months. Budget for renouncing your other citizenships and, for families with sons, National Service.
Should you have any concerns, you can always refer to ICA’s website. You can even speak to an immigration lawyer to get peace of mind.
Get in touch with us today if you want to protect your assets while moving to Singapore. We can help you minimize your tax obligations.