Becoming a Singapore Citizen has many benefits, some of which include:

• Earning the right to vote in Singapore’s general elections and presidential elections
• Travelling in and out of the country without the hassle of applying for additional visas
• The right to purchase a wider range of properties, including public housing (HDB)
• Enjoying preferential perks with reduced buyer stamp duty (BSD) for purchasing private housing
• Access to a wider selection of loan schemes and better chances of loan approvals
• Having first priority admission to schools of your children’s choice
• Attaining subsidised healthcare packages for GP clinics, polyclinics, and government hospitals
• Enjoying additional privileges and grants from national policies

You are eligible to apply for the citizenship status if you belong to one of the following categories:

• Singapore Permanent Resident for at least 2 years and above 21 years of age
• Spouse of a Singapore Citizen with PR status for least 2 years
• Unmarried children of a Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR below 21 years of age
• Aged PR parents of a Singapore Citizen
• PR Student residing in Singapore for at least three years (of which, at least one year as a PR) and passed at least one national exam (i.e. PSLE or GCE ‘N’/’O’/’A’ levels) or are in the Integrated Programme

A standard citizenship application takes approximately six to twelve months. For children delivered overseas to Singapore citizens, the general processing period lasts about two months from the time ICA receives all documentation. However, some submissions may take longer, depending on the type of application and validity of the submitted documents. The experienced team at Paul Immigrations can expedite your preparation process by guiding through the necessary steps until you are ready to submit your application.

The average processing time for applying for Citizenship status is six to twelve months. Successful applicants will receive an Approval in Principle letter in email, requesting them to complete the Singapore Citizenship Journey (SCJ) section. Once filled, the applicants will receive the final approval letter and be required to schedule an appointment either through the ICA website or its mobile app (eAppt@ICA) for formalities.

Yes. All new citizens must attend the Citizenship Ceremony at their respective GRCs. You will collect your Pink NRIC and Citizenship Certificate in due course. This official ceremony will take place about three to six months after your date of registration. For any clarification, you may speak to the officers at the Citizenship Unit, located on level 6 of the ICA Building or our immigrations specialists at Paul Immigrations.

Yes it can. However, you are required to return to Singapore to complete all paperwork and take part in the formal Oath Ceremony.

From our years of experience, we have come across citizenship applications that have been rejected. In most cases, this happens to PRs who do not stay in Singapore for a significant amount of time after being granted PR status. Your application is less likely to be rejected when you spend most of your time in this country and are consistent with your contributions for nation-building. If you’re going to be away from Singapore for a prolonged period of more than 10 years, your citizenship status may be affected.

We highly recommend that you book an appointment with us to help you assess your eligibility. If there are any reasons for us to believe that you are ineligible for a Singapore Citizenship application, we will advise you against applying for it. Furthermore, we will provide you with tips on how to build a stronger case for your future application, increasing the likelihood of becoming a Singaporean. You are always welcome at Paul Immigrations when you meet the requirements. This helps us ensure that potential clients do not feel discouraged when they are unsuccessful in their attempts.

To ensure the legitimacy and avoid any modification of documents in an attempt to cheat the system, ICA has made it a point not to disclose the exact reasons for the approval or rejection of Singapore Citizen applications. This makes it difficult to identify the reasons for rejection. Fret not, though, our team has years of experience and proven expertise to help you understand and negotiate the different factors that could affect your case.

It is important to remember that there are only a certain number of spots available for citizenship. From a wrong submission and missing documentation to simply not being able to stand out from the crowd, there are many reasons why your application could have been rejected. Unfortunately, the reasons for rejection are confidential and not shared with applicants. Thus, it is ideal to engage a professional firm such as ours to ensure your submission is complete, accurate, and, most importantly, strong.

Unfortunately, information such as this is highly confidential and may be adjusted periodically. However, the government periodically releases partial statistics. In 2020, approximately 21,000 hopefuls were granted approval for their citizenship.

Approval for Singapore Citizenship depends on a variety of factors. Besides having been a PR for at least two years, your background and even the duration of your residence here are taken into account. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority are meticulous in their checks and can be relied upon to go through each application with a fine-toothed comb.

We pride ourselves as a one-stop immigration services company that offers:

• Comprehensive consultation and fastidious eligibility assessment to ensure your Singapore citizenship application meets the requirements meted out by the ICA.
• Step-by-step guidance throughout the process.
• Preparation, examination, and the handling of all forms and additional essential documents in accordance with ICA’s standards before submission.
• Advice on including supplementary documents, if any, that may further boost your candidacy for citizenship.
• A team of experienced and professional writers who can craft a personalised immigration cover letter that highlights your best capabilities and contributions to the nation.

At Paul Immigrations, our motivation is seeing your application getting the green light from approving officers. To put forth a strong case, we will reinforce your strengths and valuable abilities and do all we can to ensure rejection is not on the table.

Despite not being a standard requirement, at Paul Immigrations, we believe that the submission of a strong and clear cover letter can bolster your application and help you stand out from thousands of other like-minded applicants.

Absolutely. Our team of experts can relieve you of this concern and draft a cover letter that showcases your best abilities and accomplishments. Naturally, you will be the final approver of the letter before we submit it along with your application.

Paul Immigrations is a firm with a sole focus on immigration services. Thus, we do not simply assist with submitting applications — a process you can complete on your own. Instead, we offer value-for-money services such as processing of essential documents, evaluation of overall application, step-by-step guidance, crafting strong cover letters, and providing sound advice to help increase your chances of approval.

Paul Immigrations is a specialised consultancy firm that focuses solely on immigration services. On the other hand, Law and Accounting firms charge hefty fees of above $5,000 despite having expertise in other areas and dealing with corporate entities. Unlike that, our primary aim and utmost priority are to help you attain Singapore citizenship.

Educational transcripts are mandatory documents, so you will need to provide a declaration letter to explain their absence. Look to our helpful team at Paul Immigrations to draft these letters.

No, that is an unwise step to take. ICA has a specific list of paperwork it requires from all applicants. As they go through thousands of submissions, your excessive documentation will further prolong their process and risk your chances of approval. Save yourself the hassle and rely on our experts to manage your document collation and submit an improved application.

While both are possible options, families or married couples that submit together stand a higher chance of success. Applying as a single-family unit conveys to the immigration officials of your serious intentions to plant roots in this country. If you remain doubtful, our knowledgeable team can assess your situation and offer their expert’s advice on how to achieve citizenship status together.

Yes, you may leave your son out of your Citizenship application. However, one of the contributing factors of a successful application lies in your decision to apply as a whole family. Candidates who wish to reside here with their family (spouse and children) are more likely to attain citizenship. In the eyes of the immigration officials, submitting an application as a family signals the desire to fully integrate and contribute to Singapore for generations to come.

You are exempted from serving National Service (NS) if you have previously attained your PR status under the following schemes:

• Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers Scheme
• Investor Scheme

Bear in mind that you will not be able to apply together with the rest of your family once you are past the age of 21. To determine the best approach, consult our team of knowledgeable experts at Paul Immigrations.

Pre-enlistees are generally granted deferment from full-time National Service if they are pursuing full-time studies to attain their first education bar qualification (GCE ‘A’ Level, polytechnic diploma or their equivalent). Those who have already attained one of these are not eligible for deferment should they wish to pursue another first education bar qualification or one below it.

If your son is looking to further his studies in local or overseas universities, he is still expected to enlist before embarking on their tertiary education. After enlisting, you may apply or write in to appeal for further deferment. Deferment for Bachelor’s programmes is granted on a case-by-case basis and at the sole discretion of the Ministry of Defence.

Yes, your Singapore Citizen parent(s) can sponsor your application if you are below the age of 21 and unmarried. However, those above the age of 21 will have to submit your form and paperwork as an individual applicant and be assessed based on your own merits.

Yes, to some extent. If your certifications come from world-recognised institutions of higher learning (IHLs), this will also lend your profile leverage over other candidates. Of course, having been to a local IHL proves that you have integrated into and embraced the local culture. Immigration officials will see your assimilation into our society as a bonus.

No, they need not re-apply. However, they are required to renounce all foreign citizenships by their 22nd birthday. They will need to take the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty (ORAL) to retain Singapore citizenship status after their 21st birthday and before they turn 22. Failure to do so will result in an automatic revocation of their status as a Singaporean.