Singaporean Citizenship –Settling in “the Lion City”

Singapore is best described as a city-state. An island situated right at the Malay Peninsula’s tip, Singapore is a country as well. Despite being compact in area, Singapore is quite a giant in stature. An economic giant, to be precise.

Known as the most modern city in South-East Asia, Singapore offers a unique blend of many cultures. The Chinese, the Malay, the Arab, the English, and the Indian all co-exist in perfect harmony in Singapore.

As per the data by the CIA World Factbook for Singapore–

Population	5,995,991 (July 2108 est.)
Net Migration Rate	12.7 migrant(s) per 1000 of population (2018 est.)
Ethnic Groups	Chinese 74.3%, Malay 13.4%, Indian 9%, others 3.2% (2018 esd.)

Note.- In the above, “Indians” includes Indian, Sri Lankan, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi.

Even with development, Singapore has managed to preserve its ecological treasure and heritage.

There are many reasons for becoming a citizen of Singapore. High quality of life and accessible healthcare are the top reasons for people migrating to Singapore. High-paying jobs also hold their own charm.

Moreover, once you get hold of a Singapore passport, you can travel to about 190 countries without a visa.

Interested? Read on.

Let us now see who are eligible for applying for Singaporean citizenship.

To be eligible, you must fall under any of the following categories –

§ If you are 21 years old and have also been a Permanent Resident in Singapore for a minimum of 2 years on the date of filing your application

§ If you are the aged parent of a citizen of Singapore. Also, you must have a Permanent resident permit as well.

§ If you are a student with a Permanent Resident Permit. You will be required to have held your Permanent Residence Permit for a minimum of one year. Additionally, you will be expected to have been living in the country for over three years. To be eligible, you must also have passed a national exam or should be a part of the Integrated Programme (IP).

§ If you are the child, below the age of 21 and unmarried, of a Singaporean citizen. You can either be adopted or born out of a legal marriage.

§ If you are the spouse of a citizen of Singapore. You should have been married for a minimum of two years at the time of applying for citizenship. Also, you must have been a Permanent Resident of Singapore for at least two years.

Do keep in mind that Singapore does not offer the option of dual citizenship. You will have to give up your current citizenship after you complete your Singapore Citizenship Journey (SCJ).

Every person aspiring for the citizenship of Singapore is expected to pass the SCJ. Launched in 2011, the SCJ aims at acquainting new citizens with Singaporean history, facilitating their understanding of the Singaporean values, and for providing opportunities for meaningful interaction with the locals.

Singaporean citizenship opens up the horizon for you in terms of growth potential. Nonetheless, it also comes with its share of responsibilities. A citizen of Singapore has to comply with the Exit Permit. Every Singaporean male aged above 13 years has to get an Exit Permit to leave the country if they have not done their National Service already.

National Service (NS) is a mandatory conscription. Every PR and citizen of Singapore has to complete Full Time National Service once they are 18 years old. NS can be served in the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), or the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). The duration of the NS would be 2 years.

Singapore, despite its share of responsibilities, comes with a host of opportunities as well. Keep all those in mind when you look for countries to migrate to.

Y-Axis offers a wide range of visa and immigration services as well as products to aspiring overseas immigrants including Y-International Resume, Y-LinkedIn,  Y-Path for Working Professionals and Job Seeker, and Y-Path for Licensed Professionals.

If you are looking to Study, Migrate, Visit, Invest, or Work in Singapore, get in touch with Y-Axis, the World’s No. 1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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