Singapore Permanent Residence - Benefits and Drawbacks

Obtaining Singapore permanent residence lets you enjoy many of the benefits and rights given to full citizens but it also comes with certain obligations that you should be aware of.

As a permanent resident of Singapore, you and your family are free to live, work and buy property in the country and be a part of Singapore society. As a Singapore PR, you are are eligible for a range of perks such the ability to travel in and out of the country freely and priority entry to Singapore's public education system for your school-going children. In the workplace, your employer is required to make monthly contributions to a compulsory pension scheme, and you do not need to acquire fresh working visas when changing jobs.

While you are given many rights as a Singapore PR, the government also has rights upon you. One of them is military service, which is compulsory on your sons (if they are also PRs) once they reach 18.

Thousands apply for Singapore permanent residence

According to government statistics, an estimated average of 36,000 foreigners a year were given permanent residence over the past decade. In 2006 alone, about 57,000 people were confirmed as Singapore PRs. There are estimated to be about 350,000 permanent residents in Singapore from a population of 4.59 million people, as of June 2007, and the numbers are increasing.

A Singapore permanent resident's application takes approximately 3-6 months to process and is open to those under 50 who had been living and working in Singapore for at least six months and, in certain cases, foreigners who are not physically residing in the island-state. For more information on various PR schemes, see Singapore Permanent Residence schemes.

Preference is given to those who can contribute to Singapore's society and economy in terms of work experience, qualifications, professional skills and income potential. Many apply for Singapore permanent residence soon after working the required six months under Employment Pass category.

PR benefits and obligations

Those who succeed in their PR application can enjoy a range of benefits that comes with the PR status. The main advantage is the right to stay in Singapore without visa restrictions. Once you obtain your Blue Card, which is the identity document given to you once you receive your permanent residence status, you have the right to live in Singapore and you can leave and enter the country as you wish.

As a Singapore PR, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 are also eligible for similar status while your foreign parents are able to receive long-stay visas. If your children are school-aged, they are high on the priority list, behind citizens, to enter public schools of your own choosing. Non PRs are at the bottom of the list and are often left with no choice when it comes to schools.

Permanent residence in Singapore also enables you to change jobs without having to worry about re-applying for a work permit. Employment pass holders must cancel their working visas if they want to change employers, which involves adherent risks such as having your fresh employment pass application rejected or delayed, forcing you to leave Singapore. Permanent residence removes those risks and hassles.

Singapore permanent residents who have jobs are also obliged to join the Central Provident Fund (CPF) scheme, in which your employer and you contribute a minimum amount each month to your pension fund. According to KPMG, the CPF which is only compulsory for citizens and PRs of Singapore, helps you out financially when it comes to health care, home-ownership, family protection and growing your assets. By deducting your contribution from your salary, you are able to enjoy a form of tax relief.

There are other financial benefits from being a Singapore PR in that you more easily borrow various loans such as a housing loan if you want to buy a property.

Permanent residence also opens the door to full Singapore citizenship, should you wish one day to take on Singapore nationality. It may take two or more years, but it is the only path to obtaining a Singapore passport apart from being born to a Singapore citizen.

One aspect of Singapore permanent residence that concerns many foreigners who have young sons is national service. Under the Enlistment Act, all male Singapore citizens and permanent residents are liable to register for national service upon reaching 16 and a half years of age. They must serve two years when they are 18. This is followed by 40 days of Operationally Ready National Service every year until they are 50, for officers, and 40, for other ranks. On average, 500 young men who obtain permanent residence through their parents enter compulsory national service each year.

When buying property, permanent residents are only allowed to buy second-hand units of government HDB flats while only citizens can purchase new ones.

Nevertheless, the advantages of having permanent residence has convinced thousands of foreigners to apply every year. With Singapore encouraging the arrival of professionals and those who can contribute to the country's welfare, the PR population will continue its steady rise and more foreigners will be able to make the most of the extra benefits and new-found rights they receive as Singapore permanent residents.

Next Topic: Step-by-step guide to Singapore PR application filing

Other Related Topics

Singapore Immigration | EntrePass | Employment Pass