Singapore Permanent Residence Schemes

Thousands of people have become Singapore permanent residents every year but not all go through the same application process. Permanent Residence (PR) application can be applied for the whole family i.e. the applicant himself plus the spouse and unmarried children under 21. If you have elderly parents, you as a Singapore permanent resident are able to apply for your parents PR with you acting as their sponsor.

Note: If you are currently living in Singapore on a work pass and want to know about applying for Singapore PR, refer to the step-by-step PR Application Filing Guide.

Although, most foreigners become Singapore permanent residents after working in the country for 6 months to 2 years, there are other paths leading you to Singapore PR status.  This guide provides an overview of the different permanent residence schemes available in Singapore so you can decide on the one that best suits your needs and circumstances.

The lure of gaining Singapore permanent residence through a variety of schemes has convinced thousands of foreigners of diverse backgrounds to set up home in the island-state, one of Asia’s most stable and developed countries and a key financial hub.

It's estimated that an average of 36,000 foreigners received permanent residence annually over the past decade, with 57,000 people joining the Singapore PR status in 2006 alone. The number of PRs in Singapore as of June 2009, which is estimated to be about 553,000 from a population of 4.9 million people, and the numbers are increasing.

As a permanent resident of Singapore, you will enjoy most of the benefits and rights afforded to citizens. The range of benefits include the right to live in the country without visa restrictions, higher priority public schooling for your children, more freedom to buy property and participation in the retirement fund scheme. etc. At the same time, you are required to make certain commitments, such as sending your sons to compulsory two-year military service once they reach 18. For more details, see Singapore PR Benefits and Obligations.

Permanent Residence Scheme 1 - Working Professionals

Known as Professionals/Technical Personnel & Skilled Worker scheme (or simply PTS scheme), this scheme is for foreign professionals who are working in Singapore at the time of applying for Singapore permanent residence. The PTS scheme is the easiest and most assured route to Singapore PR. It's estimated that more than 90% of the people obtain their Singapore Permanent Residence through this scheme.

The key requirement under this scheme is that you must be working in Singapore at the time of application. This means you must first relocate to Singapore on a work visa of type Employment Pass, Entrepreneur Pass, or S Pass.

You must show a minimum of six months’ worth of salary pay slips, hence you must have stayed and worked in the country for at least that amount of time before applying. For detailed information about this scheme along with step-by-step filing procedure, see PR Application Filing Guide.

Permanent Residence Scheme 2 - Investor Scheme

You can also invest your way to Singapore permanent residence through Investor Scheme. Under this scheme, you may apply for PR for yourself and immediate family by starting a business or investing in Singapore.

The scheme has three levels:

• Invest at least S$1 million in a startup company or expand an existing business.
• Invest at least S$1.5 million in a startup company, expand an existing business or an approved Singapore-incorporated venture capital fund or Singapore-incorporated foundation or trust that focuses on economic development.
• Invest at least S$2 million in a startup company, expand an existing business, or an approved Singapore-incorporated venture capital fund or Singapore-incorporated foundation or trust that focuses on economic development. Residential property can be bought with a maximum of 50 per cent of the investment amount.

Apart from funds to invest, you must also have a good business track record, an entrepreneurial background and a business proposal or investment plan. For more information, see Singapore Permanent Residence for Investors. 

Permanent Residence Scheme 3 - Foreign Artistic Talent

Singapore is keen to promote itself as an arts hub. If you have a talent for arts, photography, dance, music, theatre, literature and film, you can apply for Singapore permanent residence through Foreign Artistics Talent scheme. To qualify for this scheme, you must be a well recognized artist in your own country, preferably with an international reputation.

Permanent Residence Scheme 4 - Landed Permanent Residence (LPR)

The LPR Scheme is open to individuals who have either top notch education or professional background. As a rule of thumb, you must be in the top 1% of your competitive landscape on a global basis. To give you an idea, a graduate degree or a PhD from Stanford University would be considered top notch education. Once approved, you must relocate to Singapore within one year and find employment to fully secure your Singapore Permanent Residence status. For more information, refer to Landed Permanent Residence Scheme.

The Government of Singapore welcomes the arrival of professionals and other foreigners who are able to make a positive contribution to the country’s development and economy. There are various permanent residence schemes in place to help you obtain Singapore permanent residence through the means that is most relevant to your situation.

Other Related Topics

Singapore Immigration | EntrePass | Employment Pass