About 120,000 applications are submitted each year, but only around 30,000 can be approved. Since 2009, the number has been cut by 50%, making it increasingly difficult to obtain Singapore PR.
Current Situation with Singapore PR Applications
In 2014 there was a plan to approve approximately 30,000 Singapore PRs each year. This rate will likely be in place until 2030. This necessarily means that the majority of applications received by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority are rejected.
The Checkpoints Authority upholds extremely strict criteria to maintain this number of approvals for Singapore PR. The ICA should bear in mind that Singapore citizens are selected from the pool of Singapore permanent residents that are approved. No one can apply for Singapore citizenship unless they are already a Singapore permanent resident.
These factors make it essential that you have your Singapore PR chances evaluated by a professional agency before submitting.
The Value of Application Evaluation by a PR Application Agency
In preparation for your application for Singapore permanent residence, you should consider having your case professionally evaluated. The value in this lies in preparing the best possible application package to secure the highest approval chances.
A professional consultation firm, like SPIC, will have all of the latest information related to Singapore PR applications, and beyond that, we have extensive experience with the Singapore PR application process. Even if you have already been unsuccessful in a previous application, we can certainly assist with immediate or future applications for Singapore PR.
Evaluation Criteria for Singapore PR Applicants
There are three overarching criteria that play into your success as a PR applicant. Namely, your economic background, your formal education, and your social integration with Singapore society.
Economic Background
Your past and current employment circumstances are applicable here. This includes both the companies you worked for and the positions you held. It is important that your economic background indicates continuous progress throughout your career. Your current state of employment is also important. Having a stable job is a positive point in your application.
Adding something meaningful to your local community is essential, so it will count in your favour if you are working in Singapore for a local business and not an international company. The ICA needs to be sure that you are going to contribute reliably to the economy in Singapore.
Formal Education
For this, they specifically look for prestigious institutions and courses. The more prestigious the institution, the better your chances of approval. Remember to include all of your education, not just the main one, highest, or first. Signs of constant improvement will certainly count in your favour. Remember that Singapore supports lifelong learning.
Social Integration
This aspect is often considered less important by applicants, but it is actually extremely important in your Singapore permanent residence. Again, this is important because the Singapore government wants to ensure that people who are granted PR status will add meaningfully to their local community.
You need to be able to show that you learned about Singapore’s culture that you understand the society. They need to see that you are making a positive impact on your community. This means that volunteer work is extremely essential. However, be wary that volunteering must be sincere. If the ICA thinks that you are just volunteering for the purpose of getting Singapore PR status, then they will likely not grant it.
Secondary Factors
The three main criteria are not assessed in a bubble. There is a need for holistic assessment; therefore, the checkpoints authority evaluates a lot of other criteria as well. For example, family ties, how long you have been in the country, and how many applications they have received so far. The competition is fairly steep, so you have to far exceed expectations before your application will be considered.
Improving Chances of Being Granted PR Status
There are some minimum eligibility criteria to keep in mind. Remember that meeting the minimum criteria is not nearly good enough to be approved simply because the competition is so steep.
People who can apply are the following:
- Elderly parents of a Singapore citizen (in this case, a PR status is not enough)
- The spouse of a Singapore PR or Singapore citizen
- A Foreign investor in Singapore
- Unmarried children who are below the age of 21. They must have been born within a legal marriage or have been legally adopted by a Singapore PR or Singapore citizen
- A student who is studying in Singapore
- An S-Pass or Employment Pass Holder
There are a number of schemes that you can apply through
- Foreign Artistic Talent Scheme
- Global Investor Programme (GIP Scheme)
- Professional, Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers Scheme (PTS Scheme)
There are more schemes, but these are the most popular. The vast majority of people who are granted PR status apply through the PTS Scheme. You should consider carefully which Singapore PR Scheme you are going to apply with. You might find that more than one Singapore PR scheme applies to you, but it is extremely important that you select the correct one.
If you are not sure how to select the correct one, it is a good idea to contact a professional consultation agency like SPIC to help. We will be able to guide you to find the best scheme for your PR application.
Evaluation Questions to Consider For Singapore PR Application
There are some standard questions that you need to consider when you want to apply for Singapore permanent residence. We will discuss each question briefly to give you an idea of where you might stand in terms of your permanent residence application.
Are you married to a Singapore permanent resident or a Singapore citizen?
If you are married to someone with Singapore citizenship or PR, then you will likely be applying through them as your sponsor. It is always helpful to have family members who are already residents or citizens as it shows that you are dedicated to making Singapore your permanent home. Applying on your own, without any family, can be difficult.
What kind of pass are you holding?
The ICA would be interested in the kind of pass that you have because it impacts the kind of addition you make to Singapore’s society. A foreign student, for example, will have a long future ahead of them and can add a lot to society if they are dedicated to doing so.
Foreign professionals can add to various industries. There are specific industries in Singapore that are more in demand than others, for example, the communications industry or the scientific industry. Will you be adding to Singapore’s arts world? Singapore’s arts are very important to the government as it promotes their culture.
According to the PR schemes, if you are applying through the skilled worker scheme, which profession are you in and what position do you hold? Do you have a personalised employment pass, or are you an entrepreneur? If you have an employment pass, you can actually apply for permanent residence through the Singapore Economic Development Board as well.
What is your monthly salary?
Your salary matters for your PR application because you need to be a valuable asset to the economy to get Singapore permanent residency. A Singapore foreign investor applying through the GIP scheme is always a great asset, but your chances will be based on how much you have invested.
Number of Years Living in Singapore
No matter which one of the PR schemes you apply through, you need to prove that you are serious about making a home in Singapore. You will likely not be granted PR status if you are spending vast amounts of time overseas.
Furthermore, once you have PR status, you should be aware that neglecting your re-entry permit can result in one losing one’s PR status.
Highest Level of Qualification
The prestige and acclaim of your qualifications and the institutions that you got them from are important. Any promising contribution you will make to the job industry is important. You need to ensure job stability to be successful in the application process.
How old are you?
Your age will impact your application as well. If you are marrying age but are not married, you should probably have immediate family members in Singapore to be successful. Singapore authorities need to be sure that you are serious about making this move permanent.
If you have young children, remember that second generation male Singapore citizens are subject to compulsory National Service. This military service is not applicable for male applicants but might be for their male children. They will be starting their National Service at age 16,5 and will be completing full-time NS for two years at the age of 18 years. If you are applying for PR, bear this military service in mind for your children.
Industry of Occupation
Some industries are more in demand than others. If you are working in an in-demand industry, then you are more likely to be approved. Therefore, when you apply for permanent residency, it is important to carefully state your employment history.
What country are you coming from?
Unfortunately, there are some nationalities that struggle more than others to be successful. This will also impact your entry visa, re-entry permits, and exit permit.
How long have you been married?
The answer might not adversely affect your application, but it is considered. Newlyweds are more likely to start a family once they get permanent residency or Singapore citizenship, but older individuals might be looking to settle down and retire with their citizenship or permanent residency.
Do you have children together?
The answer to this will likely have similar implications to the above answer.
Does the applicant have any community involvement in Singapore?
There is a good chance that someone who has large local investments can apply through the Investor scheme. Once you applied PR with large investments in Singapore, then you can expect a better result on your application.
Why SPIC?
We offer a free consultation where we can discuss all of the above fees of different schemes and applications, etc. We can help you choose the correct scheme for your application, and we guide you through the entire process, from the initial application down to processing stamp duty fees, etc.
The help of a professional agency can bring you great peace of mind and greatly increase your chances of success. Take a look at our contact details and contact us today.
APPLY FOR SINGAPORE PR 2023/2024 
