EXPLANATORY NOTES

APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE

Eligibility

1. Foreign students who are studying in Singapore may submit an application for permanent residence (PR) to the
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for consideration. They must have resided in Singapore for more than 2 years at
the point of application, have passed at least one national exam (i.e. PSLE or GCE ‘N’/’O’/’A’ levels) or are in the Integrated
Programme (IP).

Application

2. Submission of PR application is done via the Electronic Permanent Residence (e-PR) system. When completing
the online application form, “NA” must be keyed in for fields that are not applicable.

3. You are highly encouraged to refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Step-by-Step guide at the e-PR
homepage for more information before proceeding with the PR submission. Incomplete and insufficient information /
documents may result in non-acceptance of the application.

Photograph of Applicant(s)

4. One passport-sized digital, colour photograph of each applicant to be uploaded during the submission of
supporting documents.

5. Photo Guidelines:
 35mm wide by 45 mm high without border and taken within the last 3 months;
 Taken against a plain white background with a matt or semi-matt finish;
 400 by 514 pixels image size;
 Taken full face without headgear, unless the applicant habitually wears a headgear in accordance with
religious or racial customs. The headgear must not hide the applicant's facial features;
 Facial image must be between 25 mm and 35 mm from chin to crown; and
 JPEG image format

Occupation / Industry

6. When completing the offline application form, please input a keyword and click ‘Search’ in order to search for the
correct option under the list. If there is no exact match, applicant may wish to choose the best option available. Please refer
to Appendix A for the full list of available occupations and industries.

Translated Documents

7. Documents not in English must be translated. ICA accepts:

(i) Translations provided by the embassy of the country that issued the document
(ii) Translations produced by a notary public in Singapore or the country that issued the document
(iii) Privately created translations attested by the embassy of the country that issued the document, or
notarised by a notary public in Singapore or the country that issued the document.

8. Please refer to the attached Document List for details on the required documents.

Declaration

9. Declaration forms, one set each for the applicant and parent (if applicable), are required to be downloaded and
printed after login to e-PR system. The signed declaration form must be uploaded via the e-PR system during the submission
of supporting documents.

10. All information furnished in the form must be complete, accurate and verifiable. You may be required to provide
additional information and documents if necessary.

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National Service Liability

11. Under the Enlistment Act, all male Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, unless exempted1 are required to
serve National Service (NS). Following the completion of full-time NS, they will become Operationally Ready National
Servicemen (NSmen). An NSman’s obligation will end at the age of 50 years (for Officers) or 40 years (for other ranks).

12. Male applicants who are granted PR status as a Foreign Student or under their parents’ sponsorship are
required to register for NS upon reaching 16 ½ years old and will be scheduled for enlistment at the earliest
opportunity upon reaching 18 years old. MINDEF allows students to attain educational qualifications up to the ‘A’ Levels
certificate, the polytechnic diploma or an equivalent before they are required to serve NS. They are enlisted at the earliest
opportunity when they have finished such courses, or after turning 18, whichever is later. MINDEF does not grant deferment
for university studies, regardless of whether such studies have begun. All male applicants are required to access
www.cmpb.gov.sg for information on NS deferment, pre-enlistment process and Exit Permit requirements, before
proceeding with this application.

13. Males who are granted Singapore PR, and who were previously Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents, are
liable to be called up for NS regardless of the scheme under which their PR status was granted.

14. Renouncing or losing one's PR status without serving or completing full-time NS will have a serious adverse impact
on applications to work or study in Singapore, or for any long-term immigration facilities in Singapore, whether now or in the
future.

15. For further enquiries, please contact:

Central Manpower Base

Important Notes

16. The grant of permanent residence does not exempt an individual from registration with the relevant professional
bodies or any other statutory conditions as required by legislation governing the regulation of their professions (e.g. doctors,
lawyers, etc.).

17. Ex-Singapore Citizens and Ex-Singapore PRs who have withdrawn their CPF monies would have to refund the full
CPF amount withdrawn if their PR application is approved. A letter of clearance from CPF Board is required for
completion of PR formalities. For further enquiries please contact the CPF Board via the following avenues:

CPF Service Centres

18. You should inform ICA promptly via the e-PR system should you change your residential address before the
outcome of your application is known, otherwise you will not receive important letters relating to the application.

19. ICA collects personal information to administer immigration and registration functions in Singapore. We may share
necessary data with other Government agencies (or non-Government entities authorized to carry out specific Government
services) so as to process any applications you made or to render you a service, to serve you in the most efficient and
effective way, unless such sharing is prohibited by law.

Enquiries on PR Application

20. Applicants may enquire the status of their PR application via iEnquiry (https://ienquiry.ica.gov.sg) or use the
“Enquire Application Status” function in the e-PR homepage.

______________________________
1
Male applicants who are granted PR status under the Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers Scheme or the Investor
Scheme are exempted from NS.

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 Warning

If you knowingly and wilfully falsify or conceal a material fact or submit a false document in relation to any
application, action will be instituted against you and you will be denied all immigration facilities. In addition, you
will face severe penalties provided by the law.

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DOCUMENT LIST FOR PR APPLICATION (FOREIGN STUDENTS)
IMPORTANT! Please ensure that all the required documents are submitted within 7 days/ 168 hours from the time you
start the online application. Incomplete submission will result in non-acceptance of the application during e-PR
submission. Official translations are required if documents are not in English.

A1. Valid travel document with validity of at least 6 months, valid Immigration Pass and passport pages showing
personal particulars and official descriptions;

A2. Identity card (if applicable);

A3. Birth certificate or official household census list or family register showing both parents’ name;

A4. Deed Poll or change of name certificate (if applicable);

A5. Educational certificates (including all tertiary qualifications), transcripts, professional

A6. Your parents’ valid travel documents and passport pages showing personal particulars and official
descriptions;

August 2022