Singapore Citizenship
It is a life-changing decision to give up one’s citizenship however obtaining Singapore Citizenship brings many benefits. Overcome the high competition for Singapore Citizenship with a well-thought out strategy.
One of the Most Coveted Citizenships in the World
Singapore is renowned as one of the best countries in the world to live in. Singapore boasts world-class health care, a low crime rate, access to quality education in good schools, and most importantly, thriving employment and business opportunities. People are drawn to Singapore because it has so many benefits compared to other countries in Southeast Asia.
For unrivaled advice on making a strong application for Singapore Citizenship, confide in the professionals at IASG. Our in-depth knowledge of immigration policies ensures your transition to a different nationality is as smooth as possible. Read on to find out how to apply for Singapore Citizenship today!
In the latest Population Trends 2021 report, there were 31,816 citizens by birth in 2020, which is only 3.1% lower than in 2019. This is a worrying statistic for the Singapore government because if replenishment of Citizens and PRs is not quick enough, the nation would likely face not only a population crunch, but also a manpower and talent shortage. This will hamper the pursuit of economic growth and the maintenance of our position as one of the key economic hubs in the region and Asia.
With the declining birth rates and ageing population, the government has remained steadfast in their selective immigration policy. The citizen population shrunk for the first time in recent years as at June 2021. Immigration helps to moderate the impact of ageing and low birth rates in our citizen population, and keeps it from shrinking over the longer term. Similar to past years, Singapore grants between 15,000 and 22,000 new Citizenships annually, to individuals who are committed to making Singapore their home. They either share family ties with Singaporeans, or have studied, worked or lived here for some time. In 2020, 21,085 Singapore Citizenships (SCs) were granted.
Singapore Citizenship Eligibility
To apply for Singapore Citizenship, one must meet any of the following criteria:
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Have been a Singapore Permanent Resident(PR) for at least two years and are aged 21 and above.
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Have been a PR for at least two years and have been married to a Singapore citizen for at least two years.
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Are unmarried children aged below 21 born within the context of legal marriage to, or have been legally adopted by Singapore Citizens.
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Are a PR studying in Singapore; and have been residing in Singapore for more than 3 years (of which, at least one year as a PR); and have passed at least one national exam(i.e.PSLE, GCE’N’/’O’/’A’ levels), or are in the Integrated Programme (IP).
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Are a PR and an Aged Parent of a Singapore Citizen.
Benefits of Being a Singapore Citizen
There are a slew of benefits to becoming a Singapore Citizen, most notably with regard to visa flexibility, housing and education grants, employment opportunities, as well as Tax Reliefs. Singapore Citizens enjoy establishing a career in one of the most competitive economies in the world, and building a family in one of the safest environments.
While Singapore does not have a dual-citizenship policy, those that opt for Singapore Citizenship expressed the following is just some of the motivating factors :
Powerful Travel-Friendly Passport
Singapore has consistently ranked highly as one of the World’s Most Powerful and Travel Friendly passports. The Little Red Dot recently ranked #2 on the Henley Passport Index (HPI) for the third quarter of 2022. The HPI is a global ranking of countries according to travel freedom their citizens enjoy. Measuring 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations, it’s a ranking of the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
Employment Opportunities
A Singapore Citizen or PR will have access to more jobs locally, including civil service positions. This is due to the “Singapore First” policy encouraging employers to hire Singaporeans and PRs first and the Fair Consideration Framework that details fair hiring requirements for companies in Singapore. With a highly diversified economy (industries wise), Singapore has a consistently high employment rate, thanks to an agile, adaptable and highly motivated workforce with a strong emphasis on commitment towards developing local talent and integrating foreign talent through knowledge transfers. With a world-class education system, Singapore’s skills development initiatives ensure residents keep up with changes in the global economy.
Education Subsidy
Singapore citizens pay much lesser monthly school fees from preschool, primary and secondary school and in tertiary education, as compared to Singapore PRs and foreigners. Singapore citizens are also eligible for a further education subsidy scheme called the Edusave.
Health & Medical Coverage
All Singapore citizens are not only eligible for subsidised healthcare in polyclinics and public hospitals but under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), Singapore citizens can get subsidies at participating private general practitioners and dentists as well. Apart from these subsidies, Singapore citizens are eligible for the various healthcare financing schemes such as Medisave, Medishield Life, and Careshield Life. Together, they help alleviate large medical costs and make healthcare affordable for everyone.
Safety & Security
In a global survey conducted by Gallup, Singapore ranks 1st in Safety and Police Security for the 5th consecutive year running. The survey explores varying metrics including how residents feel safer and more protected by the police in Singapore compared to residents elsewhere in the world.
Singapore has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. The government enforces strict laws and punishments on those who break the law, making it one of the safest countries globally. Violent crimes and acts of terrorism are rare but when they do happen, the authorities handle the cases immediately. Punishments for crimes include jail, fine, and even caning. Because of this, women feel safe walking around at night. Singapore's low crime rates not only benefit its residents but also attract tourists into the country.
Singapore’s capital punishments have been frowned upon by the global community, especially human rights groups but to maintain the safety and security of the larger population and as a future deterrent, Singapore maintains its harsh stance. For example, drug traffickers will face the death penalty if convicted.
In addition, Singapore’s zero corruption policy has kept corruption cases low. By law, people convicted of bribery, cheating, or money laundering may be jailed and/or fined. This makes Singapore an attractive location for business and investments.
Unique Culture
Singapore is arguably the only country in the world that has successfully integrated people of different races and religions as one united nation. While discrimination still exists, they are mild and infrequent. Incidents that threaten to cause disharmony in the fabric of Singaporean society are immediately dealt swiftly with by the law. It is not uncommon to see the different races of Singapore come together and support each other in times of crisis.
The government has been implementing initiatives to allow intermingling amongst the different local ethnic groups and it starts since young. For example, Singapore primary and secondary school students celebrate Racial Harmony Day every year. It is a fun day where students come to school in their own or others’ ethnic clothings, immerse themselves in the different cultures through games and quizzes, and watch performances such as skits and dances. This promotes understanding of each culture, instils tolerance and respect for each other and celebrates differences. The government continues its efforts to ensure a harmonious society as each Singaporean child leaves school. When going into the workforce, jobs are offered to candidates based on merit. Employers that practice discrimination may be reported to the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP). Similarly, when Singaporeans get married, start a family and buy an HDB, the government ensures that Singaporeans of all races continue to intermingle. There is a quota on the number of Chinese, Malays, Indians living in every Housing and Development Board (HDB) block. Because of all these initiatives, Singaporeans are generally very comfortable with diversity and have been very welcoming to foreigners.
Because of the strong cohesiveness in Singaporean society, it is no wonder that the different races speak words and phrases of the other languages. Singlish, an English-based creole language of Singapore, is made world famous by foreigners who are intrigued by it. Unlike other countries, foreigners don’t have to learn an entirely new language to be able to integrate into the local society. The uniqueness of the language has been studied by linguistics experts globally and many expats have tried speaking it to the amusement of locals. For their efforts, expats who are fluent in the language generally get an unofficial approval stamp from locals.