Why should you apply for Singapore citizenship?

Why should you apply for Singapore citizenship?

From employment opportunities accessible healthcare to high-quality education and housing, it’s no wonder that Singapore has been named as one of the best cities to live in Asia. With Singapore citizenship, the means and opportunities to grow are plentiful, making this sunny island one of the best places to relocate to.

 
If you are enchanted by the bustling city, it is high time you consider applying for a Singapore citizenship.

Singaporean Business meeting

 

1. Employment opportunities

Most companies in Singapore are more inclined to hire a pool of Singaporean or Permanent Resident (PR) workers instead of foreigners, as there is less paperwork, formalities and costs involved. As such, employers find the process of hiring Singaporeans more seamless and much less time-consuming.

 

This means that as a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, you are more likely to be hired or promoted or to get an employment contract from Singapore companies. Furthermore, Singapore citizen parents have enhanced paid childcare leave opportunities and an infant care subsidy.

 

2. Ease of buying properties

When it comes to buying properties in Singapore, only Singaporeans (21 and above) are entitled to buy and rent apartments from the Housing & Development Board (HDB). In addition to that, only a Singaporean citizen is allowed to rent a subsidised HDB flat only if they satisfy the eligibility criteria. As a Singapore citizen, you can enjoy housing subsidies.

 

Being a citizen in Singapore also means getting to pay only a fraction of the costs when the government upgrades the HDB flats. PRs, on the other hand, are expected to pay the full cost of upgrading. Unlike Singapore citizens, PRs do not have the freedom to purchase any type of private residential property without the approval from the government.

 

One of the benefits of Singapore citizenship is thus having easier access to housing subsidies and apartments.

 

3.Access to CPF

The Central Provident Fund (CPF) is a mandatory social security savings plan for all working Singaporeans and PR. It helps provide the citizens with a sense of security in their old age. Here’s a breakdown of what the CPF entails:

  • Home Ownership: Citizens are able to use their Ordinary Account to finance their home under the CPF housing schemes. An HDB flat may be purchased under the Public Housing Scheme or a private property under the Residential Properties Scheme.
  •  Family Protection: The Dependants’ Protection Scheme helps families to tide over the first few years in the event an insured member meets with an untimely death or suffers from terminal illness or total permanent disability
  • Home Ownership: Citizens are able to use their Ordinary Account to finance their home under the CPF housing schemes. An HDB flat may be purchased under the Public Housing Scheme or a private property under the Residential Properties Scheme.
  • Healthcare: Both members and their dependents can utilise Medisave to pay for hospitalisation costs. It is also used for specific outpatient treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. They can also access the endowment fund (MediHealth).

 

Access to the Central Provident Fund is a clear advantage and can help you ensure that your medical expenses and retirement are taken care of. You will also be able to own property if you are a Singapore citizen or permanent resident. You will also be able to access CPF savings schemes if you have PR status.

 

4.Healthcare coverage

Singaporeans get to enjoy a significant amount of subsidies for medical appointments too! However, subsidies at public hospitals for PR are 10% less than Singapore citizens of the same income level. For instance, a Singaporean patient who’s in a Class C ward and receives a monthly income of $3,200 and below will get a hospitalisation subsidy of 80%. On the other hand, a Singaporean PR who’s in the same class ward and earning the same income range will only get a hospitalisation subsidy of 70%. Foreigners, however, are not entitled to any hospitalisation subsidy. Learn more about hospitalisation subsidies here.

 

There are great healthcare benefits, including subsidies to look forward to as one of the benefits of Singapore citizenship or for permanent residents. Although you still lose out on a 10% subsidy as a Singapore citizen, you should remember that people who are not permanent residents receive no subsidy whatsoever. All Singapore citizens have access to the community health assist scheme as well.

 

5.Parenthood benefits 

Being a Singaporean parent comes with multiple perks. When couples welcome their first and second child, they will receive a total of $8,000 in cash over a period of 18 months. For the third and subsequent child, parents will receive $10,000 in cash over a period of 18 months. On top of that, the government has also recently introduced the latest Baby Support Grant, where parents of Singaporean children born between 1 October 2020 and 30 September 2022 will receive $3,000.

 

Only Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents will have access to these benefits. Even a third and fourth child, as well as any subsequent child, is subsidised if you are a permanent resident.

 

Singapore citizen children also enjoy access to Singapore healthcare subsidies on medical fees. There are also things like the baby bonus scheme and parenthood tax rebate to consider. The grandparent caregiver relief fund can also offer assistance to grandparents who are caring for children.

 

There are also further tax incentives for parents to consider, such as the parenthood tax rebate, baby bonus scheme, working mother’s child relief, and the savings account known as the Child Development Account.

 

At this point, the ICA is only considering a child born within a legal marriage or who is legally adopted.

 

6. Education subsidies and bursaries

All Singapore citizen students are entitled to an Edusave account, where they will receive yearly contributions for educational purposes. This Edusave scheme is an initiative by the government to make the most of opportunities for all Singaporean children. For primary school, the yearly contribution is currently $230, and $290 for secondary school. The scheme grants Singaporean students who thrive in both academic and non-academic activities and covers those study full-time in a government-aided or government or junior college (JC), centralised Institute (CI), independent school, Institute of Technical Education (ITE) or special education school.

 

Singaporean children also get to enjoy subsidised school fees as compared to PR students. Here’s a rundown of the recent school fees in 2020, according to Ministry of Education (MOE):

 

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Government Schools (school fees per month) Singapore Citizens Permanent Residents Foreigners
Primary School Free SGD 180 SGD 440-700
Secondary School SGD 5 SGD 320 SGD 720-1,250
Pre-University (JC / CI) SGD 6 SGD 400 SGD 980-1,600
Others (school fees per annum)
ITE SGD 406-626 SGD 5,023-7,833 SGD 13,470-20,480
Polytechnics SGD 2,800 SGD 5,600 SGD 10,000
Universities (NUS, NTU, SMU) Depending on school and programme
Subsidy/Schemes
Edusave scheme Eligible Not eligible Not eligible

 

7.Travel freedom

Singapore passport holders get to enjoy visa-free access or visa on arrival access to over 192 countries and territories. You’ll be glad to know that Singapore was ranked 1st in travel freedom on the Henley Visa Restrictions Index in 2021.

 

There are overall very few travel restrictions for a Singapore permanent resident.

 

Applying for Singapore Citizenship

The Singapore citizenship application can be quite complex and time-consuming. However, the wealth of benefits you get from obtaining citizenship makes it all worthwhile. For those intending to apply for Singapore citizenship, please ensure you give ample time to plan ahead.

 

When you become a Singapore citizen, you will have to renounce any other citizenships you might hold. Singapore does not allow for dual citizenship. If you are still motivated to apply, then call us today to help you with your application to become a Singapore citizen.

 

National Service Requirement

All male Singapore citizens under the age of 18 years have an obligation to full time National Service upon reaching the age of 18 years. Once this full time service period has passed, male Singapore citizens enter into Operationally Ready National Service, which lasts until the age of 40 or 50 years, depending on their rank.

 

Singapore Citizenship Benefits

There are several other benefits accessible to Singapore citizens that someone with a foreign citizenship in Singapore will not have. Singapore citizen households have access to all of the benefits listed above as well as things like the Primary Care Partnership Scheme. There are also housing amenities that only Singapore citizens can access.

 

Things to know about Singapore citizenship
  • If you are successful in your Singaporean citizenship application, then you will receive an actual Singapore citizenship certificate.
  • Singapore does not allow dual citizenship, so you will have to renounce any other citizenship status that you have elsewhere to complete the process of becoming a Singapore citizen.
  • Singapore citizens must get their very own Singapore passport, you cannot use your old one from previous citizenships.
  • Parents of a Singapore citizen child also enjoy additional unpaid infant care leave if they meet the criteria.
  • Parents of a Singapore citizen child can furthermore apply for things like the Parenthood Incentives Baby Bonus Cash Gift.
  • Singapore citizens also have different income tax payable rates than foreign nationals.
  • Children born overseas who become Singapore citizens might need a new birth certificate.
  • Foreign students pay higher tuition fees than locals.
  • In order to go to any official office in Singapore, it is best to make an appointment date online.
  • One of the first things you receive as a Singapore citizen is an Approval in Principle letter that will contain additional instructions before the process is finalised.
  • You can check your application status online even if you did not apply using the online platform.
  • Raising children in Singapore is an interesting experience due to Singapore’s low birth rate.

 

For more information, feel free to contact one of our consultants.

 

Singapore Professional Immigration Consultancy (SPIC) is an immigration consultant that has assisted many foreigners and PRs alike in laying the foundation of their roots in Singapore. Learn more about SPIC’s Singapore citizenship application services and enjoy a seamless application process and great approval rates. 

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