Singapore PR Application Documents

As much as the application form itself is extremely important, and getting anything wrong on your application form or leaving something out can result in a rejected application, so too can a single supporting document, missing a page or submitting a file of bad quality, or even naming the files incorrectly can cost you your application.

One of the common mistakes made by an applicant is to start completing the form before they have all their supporting documents ready. You also should be sure that you are indeed eligible to apply for PR status. Your eligibility status can be assessed by a firm like SPIC before you begin the application process on the e-PR system with the Immigration Checkpoints Authority. From the moment that you begin completing the Singapore PR application form on the e-PR system, you will only have seven days in which to complete the form before it is submitted automatically.

While completing the first part of the form, the ICA actually suggests that you download the form and complete it offline and only upload it again; when you fill out this part of the form, take great care to get the details correct. This is the page where you record your address and other biographical content.

Individuals who hold PR do not require an entry visa to travel outside of Singapore, and it is the first step in obtaining a citizenship certificate. Applying for PR with a child provides evidence of dedication to spending the rest of your life as a Singaporean, seeing as the child will be raised and educated in Singapore. It makes it easier to obtain PR from the Singapore government. While any person can fill in an application form, there are specific conditions that must be met for the applicant to be successful. SPIC, with your consent, provides a comprehensive service which will include assistance with anything from the IRAS consent form to your search for the perfect time and package with which to apply for PR to the final leg of your journey towards a Singapore citizenship certificate.

Before you sign yourself over to the mercy of the ICA, let us help you account for the essential parts of your application. Allow us to explain the value and purpose of the IRAS consent form; let us assist with your proof of identity and compiling your application pack in the correct order. Allow us to help create and bring to life your permanent residence goals.

Passport-Sized Photograph

Along with your online application and your IRAS consent form, you will need to submit a digital passport-sized photo (in colour) for your Singapore permanent residence (PR) application form. If your application is successful, then this photo is used on your NRIC, so there are stringent regulations for this photo. If you are not 100% sure of what a passport photo should look like, you can find a suitable example online.

The ICA is not able to create your PR profile without this photo.

Size

A passport-size photo measures 35 mm in width and 45 mm in height with no border. A digital version should be 400 x 514 pixels and not bigger than 1MB. The only accepted format is JPG (or JPEG).

Background

The background must be plain white. There should be no marks on the background that might distract the viewer. A white background makes your image more defined.

Quality of Camera

If you use a digital camera to take the photo yourself, you will need a camera with at least a 2-megapixel resolution. Anything with a lower resolution will not have adequate quality. The image should be clear, the focus should be good, and there should be no blurry sections in the photo.

Photograph Finish

It is only really a problem if you are scanning an image that was already printed. The finish must not be shiny. Shine can create blemishes that block features or distract the viewer.

Subject

You should be in the middle of the frame of the photo. Your eyes should be open, and your full face must be in view and easy to see. The best way to do this is to put the camera at eye level, about a meter away from your face, depending on the camera’s focal length. The only time that you can wear headgear is for religious purposes as long as it is something that you wear daily. You should also keep your glasses on if you wear them daily.

Travel Documents and Passes

An essential part of your supporting documents is your valid travel documents. Such as your immigration passes and your current passport. The pages from your passport that are needed include anything that shows your personal biographical details, including your passport number and full name.

An important consideration that you should keep in mind is that your passport will need to remain valid for the entire review period of your application. So that will be at least six months from the entry date.

Examples of a valid immigration pass are:

Student’s Pass

A full-time international student will hold a student’s pass. Students will also need to submit an acceptance or registration letter from a Singaporean educational institute.

S-Pass

This is a pass issued by the Ministry of Manpower to mid-level skilled workers. You must have relevant work experience and be suitably qualified. The minimum salary for this kind of pass is $2,300 per month. Any application with an S-Pass is under the Professionals, Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers Scheme (PTS).

Employment Pass

An Employment Pass is held by white-collar workers such as managers and executives living and working in Singapore. You will need to be suitably qualified and earn at least $3,600 a month.

Dependant’s Pass

This pass is given to the children or spouse of an EP or S-Pass holder as long as they live in Singapore with the EP or S-Pass holder.

Personalised Employment Pass

EP holders are issued with a Personalised Employment Pass if they have a high income. It is much more flexible and not tied to an individual employer.

Entrepreneur Pass

The entrepreneur pass is reserved for foreign investors who have a private company approved for operation in Singapore.

Short Term Visit Pass (STVP)

Anyone who is in Singapore for a limited time is given an STVP. Usually, an STVP is also given to people who are waiting for a different kind of pass.

Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)

People who are in Singapore for longer periods can hold an LTVP, but for no longer than 2-years. It is also common for people who recently graduated from a Singapore university and are now seeking employment.

Identification and Profile

Identification documents are essential to include. For example:

• Birth certificate or an,
• Identification card
• Change of name certificate (if applicable)
• Family register, or
• Family census

The ICA wants to be able to identify you but also your family, especially if they are in Singapore as well.

Identity Card

Not all countries issue identity cards, but should your country issue such a card, a copy must be included. Alternatively, a copy of your citizenship certificate should be included.

Deed Poll or Change of Name Certificate

This is only necessary if you have changed your name at some point.

Birth Certificate/Official Household Census List/Family Register

Birth certificates are essential. If you do not have one, you can supplement it with a family census or registry list. These documents must include both of your parents’ names. Alternatively, a letter from an appropriate authority figure should be included. This letter must indicate where your children and spouse are as well.

Higher Education Certificates

It is not necessary for all applicants to provide a higher education certificate, but the following applicants should include such a certificate:

• Children of current permanent residents or Singapore citizens
• The spouse of a current permanent resident or citizen
• An S-Pass or Employment pass holder who is in Singapore under the PTS Scheme
• A foreign investor under the Global Investor Programme Scheme (GIP)
• International students

Professional Memberships Licenses, or Vocational Trade Certificates

Applicants under the GIP and PTS schemes need to upload any such certificate that they might have. Spouses, children, and elderly parents of permanent residents and citizens do not need to submit these.

All Tertiary Level Educational Transcripts

Transcripts at a tertiary level are important and should include all relevant information pertaining to the modules studied. They are included with the corresponding certificate.

All Tertiary Level Educational Certificates

All tertiary-level certificates must be included. Any higher education certificate that you have needs to be included as well. In some instances only the highest qualification certificate needs to be included, but if that specification is not stipulated, it is best to include a certificate for each of your qualifications.

Employment Paperwork

Applicants must submit paperwork stating their current employment status. Only if you are still a student does this not apply. PTS scheme applicants can include testimonials that were issued by previous employers. If you are self-employed, you should include your Valid Business Registration Certificate, including the names of any partners and all of your occupational licenses.

If your paperwork or visa is connected to specific employers, you should include payslips for the last six months that clearly show your monthly salary. Consent forms from the IRAS should also be included. The IRAS consent form is an important part of the application form. The IRAS consent form needs to be included even if you are self-employed.

The following information should be included in your payslip:

• Your basic salary
• Overtime breakdown
• Allowance breakdown

General Specifications and Final Tips

There are some general specifications that apply to all documents; you need to make sure that each of your documents complies with the following:

• A maximum of 2MB is allowed.
• PDF format is advised.
• If documents are not in English, a notarised translation must be included.

Remember your password when registering on the ICA site, and keep the link at the ready so that you can easily access the page to monitor the status of your application and to access the support links and services provided on the site.

Be wary of optional documents and other additional documents. Submitting too much paperwork can count against you. Officers need to go through countless records and content and log hours and hours to find appropriate candidates, so it is best not to create more things for them to read than is absolutely necessary.

You will be able to download a copy of your submitted application. This is a good idea to keep as a sign of the instance that was created on the website. It can be presented to information and services authorities should something go wrong and will serve as proof that you submitted.

Should something change while you wait for feedback that might make you more eligible or might otherwise impact your application, such as the birth of a child, the death of parents, a change of address, obtaining new qualifications, etc., it is best to provide the ICA with written notice of these changes. It might extend your waiting time, but it is a better equivalent outcome than having them discover after the fact that details have changed. Especially for students who might have just been waiting for results on exams or tests and have since completed their qualifications.

IRAS Consent Form

The IRAS consent form gives the Inland Revenue Authority permission to verify financial information provided related to your income tax, international tax, any provident fund, supplementary retirement scheme, etc. Although it is only one of the respective forms that needs to be included in your PR application, it is very important.

The IRAS consent form is easily obtainable online and usually includes a download button that can be utilised free of charge. It is a one-page document that requires your name, the name of the business entity you obtain a salary from, your NRIC number, the unique business entity number, your signature and the date. If you are an entrepreneur, you still need to provide an IRAS consent form for income tax purposes and can include details in your explanatory notes.

If you have any uncertainty about your IRAS consent form, please bring it to the attention of your consultant, as it is essential to us that you understand the entire process. The IRAS consent form is only one part of the PR application process, and in your search for all your documents, it is easy to miss this one because it is not a document that you often work with.

Professional Help

It is helpful for some people to keep a checklist of all the things that you need to do for this application and to make absolutely sure that you are eligible. We can also help with applications for aged parents, etc. There are many resources and services available that can offer support during this process. Success is key, so feel free to contact us about our services at any point during the process. It is always good to make sure that all of the information provided is completed correctly, including the consent form. In your search for all the documents, it can be easy to miss something like the consent form as it is not a form that you often work with.

We have several professionals on staff in the PR application department who can ensure that you are supported. Our goal is to enable you to complete on your form everything correctly and thus give you the key to your future as a Singaporean permanent resident.