Singaporean Citizenship

Requirements and obligations

 To become a Singaporean citizen you have to satisfy a number of requirements; this can often take a long period of time. After these are satisfied, other citizenships must be renounced before one can officially become a Singaporean.

There are several different types of people eligible to apply for citizenship:

• Permanent Residents at least 21 years old, who have been resident on a permanent basis for 2-6 years
• A Permanent Resident who has completed the National Service obligation
• The spouse of a Singaporean who has been both married and a Permanent Resident for at least 2 years
• A child born outside of Singapore with one of both parents holding Singaporean citizenship

The requirements to become a citizen differ depending on which type of eligibility the candidate fulfills (note: some documentation is only required if applicable to you personally):

Permanent Residents 21 and over

• Completion of the Citizen Application form and the Annex form
• Passport
• A recent passport photo
• Entry Permit Card/Re-entry permits
• A Birth Certificate and Identity Card
• Marriage Certificate/Divorce Certificate/Separation Deed
• Education Certificates
• Letter of employment from current employer and job details including pay, duration of employment and occupation
• Income tax notice for the previous 3 years
• History of CPF contributions for the last year
• If the proprietor/partner/director of a company the latest balance sheet/profit and loss account
• Death Certificate of any ex-spouses and proof of custody for and children from other marriages
• Birth Certificate and Passport for any of these children
• Entry Permit/Identity Card for children
• Certificates for change of name
• Foreign Citizenship Certificate and Foreign Identity Card

Adopted children of Singapore citizen(s)

For the Child

• Recent passport photo
• Identity Card, Birth Certificate, Passport
• Certificates for change of name
• Adoption Order

For the Parent(s)

• Birth Certificate
• Singapore Citizenship Certificate
• Adoption Certificate
• Passports for other children
• Identity Card
• Marriage Certificate
• Educational Certificates
• Passport
• Death Certificate of any ex-spouses
• Divorce Certificate/Separation Deed of ex-spouses
• Custody Document
• Letter of employment from current employer and job details including pay, duration of employment and occupation
• Income tax notice for the previous 3 years
• If the proprietor/partner/director of a company the latest balance sheet/profit and loss account
• CPF contributions for the last year

Natural children of Singapore citizen(s)

For the Child

• Birth Certificate
• Passport
• Recent Passport photo
• Completion of the Citizen Application form

For the Parent(s)

• Identity Card
• Passport
• Marriage Certificate

All minors who become citizens of Singapore by either descent or registration must take the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance, and Loyalty within one year of turning 21. This consists of going into the Citizen Services Centre and taking the oath. If this is not done by the minors 22nd birthday, they will lose their citizenship immediately.

Both the citizenship application form and the Annex form, which are needed to apply for citizenship, can be found at http://www.ica.gov.sg.