What Exactly Are the Advantages of Becoming a Singapore Permanent Resident (PR)?
If you enjoy the lifestyle in Singapore and plan to make this international metropolis your long-term or permanent home, you might consider applying to become a Singapore Permanent Resident (PR).
A Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) is a foreign national who has been granted residency status in Singapore, which allows them to live in the country permanently.
Those holding a Singapore work pass, such as an Employment Pass (EP), Personalised Employment Pass (PEP), Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass), EntrePass, or S Pass—and have worked in Singapore for at least six months—are eligible to apply for Singapore Permanent Resident status (PR, also sometimes referred to as a “Singapore green card”).
⚠️Please note that individuals holding a Work Permit (WP) are not eligible to apply for Permanent Residence (PR).
According to 2024 data, a total of 5.44 million Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) holders reside in Singapore.
When a PR leaves Singapore, they need to hold a valid Re-Entry Permit (REP) to retain their PR status. If they stay overseas without a valid REP, they will lose their permanent residency and will be considered a foreign visitor upon their next entry into Singapore.
PR status does not expire, but PR holders need to pay close attention to the validity of their REP, which has a maximum validity of five years.
Related Articles:
Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs) enjoy many of the benefits and rights granted to official citizens, including advantages in work, education, healthcare, retirement, property ownership, loans, tax rates, travel, and lifestyle.
As a Singapore Permanent Resident, you can enjoy the following advantages:
- No separate visa required. You can live in, enter, and leave Singapore without applying for a separate Singapore work visa or travel visa. The government will issue you a blue card—yes, you read that right, Singapore’s “green card” is actually a blue card—which serves as your identity document for permanent residence in Singapore as a foreigner.
- Visa convenience for relatives and friends. You can apply for Singapore Permanent Residence (PR) for your spouse and unmarried children under 21. You can also apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass for your parents. If a PR has relatives or friends visiting Singapore, the PR holder, with a Singpass and acting as the applicant’s sponsor, can use the Submission of Application for Visa Electronically (SAVE) system to apply for a Singapore tourist visa on their behalf. Additionally, a PR can act as a sponsor for relatives and friends from their home country who wish to study in Singapore.
- Priority in education. If you have school-aged children, they will have priority second only to Singapore citizens when it comes to school selection, allowing them to enter public schools of your choice. PRs also enjoy subsidized school fees.
- Secure retirement with the CPF scheme. Singapore Permanent Residents can flexibly contribute to one of the world’s most comprehensive and advanced mandatory social security schemes—the Central Provident Fund (CPF) plan—and withdraw their CPF savings in a lump sum upon reaching the retirement age of 55. Enjoy the financial and tax benefits provided by the Singapore CPF scheme. Under the CPF plan, before you turn 55, you and your employer contribute monthly to your CPF account at rates of 17% and 20% of your monthly salary respectively. These funds can be used for purposes related to healthcare, home purchase, family protection, and asset enhancement.
- Benefits for property purchase and loans. PRs have an advantage in credit ratings and can apply for various loans with higher borrowing priority, such as housing loans when purchasing property. Singapore PRs are also eligible to buy HDB resale flats (only Singapore citizens can buy new HDB units).
- Tax benefits. When buying property in Singapore, there are significant differences in the taxes payable by citizens, PRs, and foreigners. For example, compared to the 60% Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) that foreigners must pay, Singapore PRs only need to pay a 5% ABSD.
- Opportunity to obtain the highly-valued Singapore passport. After becoming a Singapore PR and residing for a specified number of years, you become eligible to apply for Singapore citizenship. You will then be able to obtain a Singapore passport and enjoy the same rights as locally-born citizens.
- More job opportunities and ease of starting a business. Benefit from the stable Singapore job market and enjoy ample employment opportunities. If you wish to start your own business, you can choose from different business structure options and enjoy various government grants to help launch your enterprise.
- Greater job stability. You are free to change jobs without having to re-apply for a Singapore work pass. If you hold a Singapore work visa and want to switch jobs, you would have to cancel your old visa and apply for a new one, risking delays or rejection. It is much easier for a PR to find a job in Singapore, as employers can save on the costs and responsibilities associated with handling an employee’s immigration status.
- World-class healthcare. Enjoy comprehensive and high-quality healthcare facilities at public and private hospitals, polyclinics, and private clinics.
⚠️Please note that along with the rights you enjoy as a Singapore PR, the government also has certain rights. For example, if you have a young son who is a Singapore PR, he must register for National Service (commonly known as “NS”) by the age of 16.5 and serve for two years upon turning 18. Thereafter, they are required to participate in 40 days of reservist training annually until they are 50 (for officers) or 40 (for other ranks).
In conclusion, becoming a Singapore Permanent Resident (PR)—a process of trading the “green card” for a “blue card” that typically takes about 6-12 months, although some applications may require longer processing times—will provide you with many opportunities to live, work, and invest in Singapore.
For further enquiries, please get in touch:
WeChat: sgleokwek
Telegram: sgleokwek
WhatsApp: Message us
