10 Best International Schools in Singapore (2023 edition)
Explore the best international schools in Singapore offering diverse curricula, languages, and quality education from our review.
If you’re a permanent resident in Singapore, you may be thinking about applying for Singapore citizenship. It can be hard to know where to start, but we’ll break down the process for you in our handy guide, so you’re equipped with the information you need.
We’ll also show you how to save money when sending money overseas with a free Wise multi-currency account, which could be of huge benefit.
But first, why might you want to apply for Singapore citizenship?
Simply put, citizenship means you can enjoy more affordable healthcare, education and housing, better employment opportunities, the right to vote and even visa free travel to many countries. Bear in mind though that male citizens are liable for National Service.
Table of contents: |
---|
You’re eligible if you meet the following criteria¹:
Holding dual citizenship isn’t allowed in Singapore, so you’ll need to be prepared to renounce citizenship of your home country. But you won’t have to do this until after your application for Singapore citizenship is approved.
If you’ve acquired citizenship of another country, you may also renounce Singapore citizenship.
Fill in the Renunciation form (together with supporting documentation) and return your Singapore passport, ID card and citizenship certificate. You can submit your documents in person or by post to: Registry of Citizens, Citizen Services Centre, ICA Building, 10 Kallang Road, Level 6, Singapore 208718².
Ready to go? Then just follow these steps to apply online:
As applicable, prepare scanned copies of the following documents to support your application³:
Make sure to check the full lists for further details of what you need.
The usual processing time is 6-12 months in most cases¹. (For children born overseas to Singapore citizen parents, it is usually within 2 months.) However, some applications may take longer.
You can expect to pay an upfront processing fee of S$100 for each application. Successful applicants will also need to pay S$70 for a Singapore Citizenship certificate and S$10 for a Singapore ID card upon registration.
Fees for overseas children born to Singapore citizen parents are different. The processing fee in this case is S$18 (including the Singapore Citizenship certificate) and successful applicants pay S$10 for a Singapore ID card¹.
The outcome of your application will largely depend on the criteria above. For many applicants the minimum length of time you need to be a PA is 2 years, and in 2012 81% of successful applicants had stayed in Singapore for over 5 years⁴.
If you’re successful you’ll receive an Approval in Principle letter which will help you begin registration.
So, that’s all you need to know to get started. While you’re here, we’ll also help you save when you send money overseas. Transferring money can end up expensive due to unseen bank charges and unfavourable exchange rates.
Instead, open a free Wise multi-currency account and send money to and from Singapore for tiny, transparent fees at real exchange rates. What’s more, you can get a Wise multi-currency card which lets you make low-fee, contactless payments in more than 200 countries.
Join over 10 million people and businesses already using Wise 🎉
Learn more 📖
So, to make applying for Singapore citizenship as straightforward as possible - first check if you need a sponsor and prepare your documentation in advance, before going on to complete the online application process. Best of luck!
Sources used for this article:
Sources checked on 29 March 2021
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
Explore the best international schools in Singapore offering diverse curricula, languages, and quality education from our review.
Everything you need to know about the DBS multi-currency debit card, including ✓features ✓fees and ✓perks. Learn more 📣
How to buy from Taobao (plus the Chinese you need to shop direct): order successfully, select shipping options, and use credit card hacks to save even more!
Your ultimate guide to UOB MightyFX multi-currency debit card. Find out ✓what it can do ✓what are the fees ✓currencies available and more. Read on.
Everything you need to know about the Revolut Singapore card, including ✓fees, ✓exchange rates, ✓plan features and more 🎉
Everything you need to know about the Singapore import tax, including GST relief thresholds and import tax rates. Read on 👀