If you are considering applying for Singapore Citizenship for your child but are unsure of where to start, you are not alone. The journey towards Citizenship is fraught with so much paperwork that it can take months for you to complete. Not to worry, though. The trick is to start with the basics before moving on to the nitty-gritty of the process. That way, you know for sure whether your child can be a Singapore Citizen. Read on to find out more.
Is Your Child Eligible for Singapore Citizenship?
Determining whether your child is eligible for Singapore Citizenship begins with learning about the five main groups eligible for the status:
- Singapore PR (SPR) living in Singapore for two years
- Singapore PR Spouse of a Singaporean for two years
- Child aged below 21 of a Singaporean
- Singapore PR student living in Singapore for two years
- Singapore PR aged parents of a Singaporean
Let’s delve deeper into these groups to determine how your child can apply for Citizenship:
1. SPR Living in Singapore for Two Years
The first category eligible for Singapore Citizenship is Singapore Permanent Residents living in Singapore for at least two years. This pathway is suitable for applicants who are applying for Citizenship for your entire family, including yourself. You meet this criterion if you have been an SPR for at least two years and have lived here throughout the majority of this duration. You may then include your child and spouse in your Citizenship application. Do note that you are the main applicant in such a scenario.
2. SPR Spouse of a Singaporean for Two Years
Next includes spouses of Singaporeans who have been SPRs for at least two years. This pathway applies to your child only if they have been SPRs for two years and are married to a Singaporean. In such cases, their Singaporean spouse would need to assist them with their Citizenship application as their sponsor.
3. Child Aged Below 21 of a Singaporean
The third category refers to children who are aged below the age of 21 and are born to (or adopted by) at least one Singaporean parent. You must be a Singaporean for your child to be eligible for Singapore Citizenship in this pathway. Applications via this pathway typically require a smaller fee of $18 for the application (including the Singapore Citizenship Certificate). You would then need to pay $10 for the pink NRIC upon the child turning 15.
4. SPR Student in Singapore for Three Years
Students who are SPRs can also apply for Citizenship after living in Singapore for at least three years, with at least one year as an SPR. However, they would need to apply on their own if they are above the age of 15. You may need to provide them with some documents during their application, but your child would need to act as the main applicant. Otherwise, any Singaporean can assist younger students who meet this requirement with sponsoring their application.
5. SPR Aged Parents Living in Singapore
The final category pertains to aged parents of Singaporeans. Such a category is unlikely to apply to your child, but you may wish to know that your aged parents may apply for Citizenship if they are SPRs. You would then need to act as their sponsor in such a scenario.
What Factors Affect Your Child’s Chances?
Determining your child’s chances of success in applying for Citizenship is tricky, given the lack of transparency. However, it is common knowledge that five main factors affect every application. Here are five questions to ask yourself when considering their potential as a Singapore Citizen:
- How long has your child been a Singapore PR?
- Is your child related to a Singaporean?
- How old is your child?
- What is your family profile?
- What are your family’s qualifications or economic contributions?
To better answer these questions, let’s briefly discuss five of these main factors:
1. Duration of Permanent Residency
The minimum requirement that every Singapore Citizen hopeful would need is to stay in Singapore as a PR for two years. Of course, your child stands a much higher chance of earning that coveted approval letter if they have been staying in Singapore for much longer than that. Conversely, rushing to apply for Citizenship within less than two years may come with a much higher chance of rejection. However, these circumstances are usually different for children of a Singaporean.
2. Relations to a Singaporean
Family relations to a Singaporean are especially important when it comes to applying for Citizenship for a child. For instance, applications for children born overseas to Singaporean parents generally have a higher success rate. Some instances may find your child with dual Citizenship, depending on the country in which your child was born. Do note that your child would need to renounce at least one of their Citizenships before turning 22.
3. An Applicant’s Age
An applicant’s age can affect their chances of success, most likely to the advantage of children and young adults. The authorities are usually less inclined to approve an applicant’s Citizenship petition if they are older, given the country’s ageing population. However, this particular possibility should not affect your child’s application, especially if they are below the age of 21. Instead, other factors would have far more bearing on the outcome such as your family profile.
4. Family Profile
Family profile also affects the outcome of your application. Here, the authorities may assess your family’s background using the documents that you need to include, from your marital status to your residency status. This section also ties in with the last (but certainly not least) factor.
5. Qualifications and Economic Contributions
Finally comes a pair of arguably the most important factors — qualifications and economic contributions. Here, the assessing officer will examine documents that detail your entire family’s current employment to evaluate your application. Parents of children in niche industries are at an advantage here, along with those in high-demand occupations.
6 Tips for a Seamless Citizenship Application
Recent Singapore Permanent Residents might find the basics of such a formal application quite similar to applying for Singapore PR. However, fret not for those who have yet to attempt to submit an online application before. Here are five tips to get you started if you need a quick refresher to get you back on the right track:
1. Prepare Your Documents First
Always start preparing your documents as soon as possible. Even if you are unsure of your child’s Singapore Citizenship eligibility, getting a headstart on this can come in handy. The application demands an extensive list of documents, which can take a lot of time to consolidate. Moreover, you need to ensure that they are in the right format and size.
2. Scan Your Documents in the Right Format
Do set your scanner such that it saves the digitised documents in the right format. A decent scanner should allow you to choose the format of the scanned document before scanning. Many mobile phone applications can also perform the same function. However, if you are wary of submitting a poorly scanned document, source for a proper scanner (or a printer that comes with one) to ensure the quality of your digital documents.
3. Organise Your Documents Accordingly
Carefully organise your documents for ease of reference when you are ready to upload them to the online portal. Doing so will eliminate any last-minute panicking, giving you peace of mind during the submission process itself. One way you can do this is by sorting them by type into different folders and labelling them clearly. You may also wish to add your child’s name in the file names to further ease the evaluation process for the assessing officers.
4. Apply Only On Desktop
All applicants need to apply for Citizenship online, but you should never attempt to complete it on mobile. Instead, always apply for it using a desktop computer — a laptop should also work — when you are ready. The official online portal is not entirely mobile-friendly at the time of writing, so always play safe by adhering to the preferred system guidelines. Do also ensure that your internet connection is secure and stable for a fuss-free experience.
5. Enlist The Help of a Proofreader
The application process involves tedious paperwork which opens up room for errors, so it is always a good idea to enlist the help of a proofreader. Do ensure that your proofreader is meticulous while checking through all your documents and forms. Remember, all your documents need to appear legible, clear, and accurate. Your proofreader needs to know and understand the necessary requirements of a complete application.
6. Familiarise Yourself With The Process
Before you apply, take the time to familiarise yourself with the entire process from start to finish. The online application comes with a time limit of seven days which can seem more than enough time for you to play by ear. However, the reality is that you might find yourself making needless mistakes that can sadly compromise your application. Do read through the official in-depth guide to the online portal or consider professional assistance from our team of experts at Paul Immigrations.
5 Types of Documents to Prepare for Your Child
Next, let’s get started on the types of documents that you would need to prepare for your child’s application. Do take note that the list of documents that are applicable to them depends on your child’s Citizenship eligibility. If you are applying on their behalf as their sponsor, you would need to furnish their application with the necessary documents.
Rather than overwhelm you with a long list of documents, this section splits them into the following five types of documents you need to prepare for your child:
1. Identification (Child)
First and foremost are identification documents. This section pertains to paperwork that identifies your child and their current resident or citizenship status. Where applicable, you will need to ensure that your child’s application includes the following items:
- Recently taken coloured photograph with a white background (matt or semi-matt finish)
- Foreign identity documents
- Passport or other travel documents not issued by local authority
- Birth certificates for births not registered locally (or a household census list or family register)
- Religious certificate or Deed Poll for name changes
- Adoption papers
- IVF report
- Surrogacy report
- Letter of consent from ex-spouse if child is under joint-custody
2. Employment Matters
If your child is currently working, make sure that your application includes paperwork detailing their current employment. Of course, this category usually applies to older children, particularly those in their adolescence:
- Employment letter
- Latest 6 months payslips
3. Education and Qualifications
The next section applies if your child has had any education or training in any field. Should it apply to them, do scan the following documents and include them in your application:
- Educational certificates
- Professional license
- Skill certificates
4. National Service Documents
The fifth category of documents applies only to male children who have completed their National Service in Singapore. In such cases, ensure that your submission includes:
- National Service Certificate
- National Service transcript
- National Service testimonial
5 Types of Documents for Parents to Prepare
As a parent, you may need to provide the following documents in your child’s application, where applicable:
1. Identification
The need to include identification documents depends on your chosen pathway. Sponsors do not need to include identification papers when logging in using your SingPass credentials. This feature will automatically provide the authorities with access to your necessary proof of identification. However, parents may need to provide their child with the following if they choose to apply through other pathways, where applicable:
- Foreign identity documents
- Passport or other travel documents not issued by local authority
- Birth certificates for births not registered locally (or a household census list or family register)
- Religious certificate or Deed Poll for name changes
2. Family Background
You might recall that family background heavily affects your child’s chances — the next type of documents paints a picture of this. Therefore, do provide the following, where applicable:
- Official Marriage Certificate if your marriage was not registered in Singapore
- Separation deed from previous marriage(s)
- Certificate of Annulment from previous marriage(s)
- Divorce certificate from previous marriage(s)
- Death certificate of spouse from previous marriage(s) not issued by local authority
3. Employment Matters
A third set of documents to include relates to your current employment. Both you and your spouse need to provide the following in the application, where applicable:
- Employment letter, dated within the three months of your application (it should detail your employment date, occupation and basic/gross salary per month)
- Income tax receipt or assessment for the last three years (if you do not work in Singapore)
- Business Registration Certificate from ACRA (for self-employed)
- Balance sheet from the last three years (for self-employed)
- Profit and loss statement (for self-employed)
4. Other Essential Documents
Finally, consider adding a sixth category — other essential documents. The following documents are not on the list of mandatory items to include in an application, but their inclusion can help enhance your submission:
- Cover letter
- Positive letters of recommendation
The Final Word
Preparing for a child’s application can appear daunting, especially with the need for such endless paperwork. Determining which documents apply to your situation can seem incredibly confusing and leave you feeling lost over what to include. If you ever find yourself in a pinch, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Paul Immigrations boasts a team of dedicated immigration specialists who know exactly what you need to include in your application. With us, you can even solidify your application with a professional cover letter, written by our in-house writers. Reach out to us today.