Singapore Permanent Residence Scheme for Singapore Work Pass Holders

This is a step-by-step guide for Singapore Permanent Residence application filing relating to this nation’s Professional/Technical Personnel & Skilled Worker Scheme. This is the most commonly used scheme for PR among the ones available in Singapore, and our goal in this article is to provide information about the steps involved with applying under it

The Permanent Residence (PR) scheme is available only to those who hold the Employment Pass. To apply for PR under this scheme, you must be under 50 years old with your spouse and unmarried children below 21 years old included in the application. The procedure to acquire Singapore permanent residence (PR) through the PTS scheme is straightforward, but it requires research, legwork, and attentive decision-making.

This guide will help you to do your Singapore PR application. It is made for people who are not sure how to do it.

Step 1: Decide when to apply for PR

The first question that typically comes to the mind of work pass holders is “How can I apply for my Singapore PR, and when?” Work Pass (WP) holders theoretically may apply the day they start working in the country.

However, one requirement of the application process is proof that you have six months of payslips from your Singapore employer. You should wait at least six months after starting work to apply for PR.

Holders of work passes already in Singapore can apply for PR status, but it also depends on the type of pass they hold as well as the quota set by the government.

You should also make sure you are in good terms with your employer when you are submitting your PR application. The form for the application has a section that is to be completed by the employer.

Step 2: Think about your chances of approval

In addition to the type of employment pass you hold and how long you have been working in Singapore, there are other factors that authorities take into account when reviewing PR applications. These include:

Singapore officials will look at the school you graduated from and your degree.
The more time you spend in Singapore, the likelier it is that the authorities will consider that you are seeking long-term residency.
Employment stability is the key
Credentials of your employer (the more established the company, the better)
Your salary and financial well-being
Your character (such as whether or not you are a law-abiding citizen)
If you have family connections in Singapore, this may be a positive factor.
Your charitable contributions to society such as volunteering, donations, etc.

The government wants to ensure you are a law-abiding resident, that you will not become a high risk if granted permanent residency status and that your departure from the country won’t be detrimental.

Step 3: Decide on PR filing for your children

If you and your spouse are in a joint household, it is essential to determine whether to apply for PR for children.

As per Singapore laws, the main applicant who is granted Singapore citizenship under the first generation PTS scheme is exempted from compulsory military service.

However, all children who are granted PR status via their parents must serve in the nation’s military when they reach 16.5 years old. They will be required to serve two years of full-time national service followed by 40 days of operational ready duty per year until either aged 50 as an officer or age 40 for other ranks.

National Service varies in attractiveness for different parents. Some feel that it will strengthen their child– and make him or her more mature after two years as a worker with the military. Others are horrified at the thought of their child going through any kind of military service; therefore you must think carefully about which National Service to apply to their son based on how attractive.

Step 4: Download documents and review filing requirements

Once eligibility is established, foreigners in Singapore can begin the process by collecting the application forms and going over the requirements.

We recommend you complete an online application by clicking here. You will need to download the two forms listed on our website, Form 4A and Accompanying Notes to Form 4A.

The PR Application Form consists of two parts: the first part is completed by you, and the second part (Annex A) must be completed jointly with your sponsor. This form asks for your and your family’s details. It includes basic information as well as education and work history.

The second part of your application (Annex A) is for your employer, who must explain the nature of their business and confirm whether or not you are employed and what your salary details are. Your employer can choose to sponsor the rest of your application. Later sections in this article will provide guidelines on completing the form.

The second document in the list is a guide to filling out Form 4A. Fill this form out and get ready to submit it along with required supporting documents, as discussed in the following section.

Step 5: Prepare supporting documents

After downloading and reading the necessary documents, you will need to submit your application online. To be considered a first-time applicant, you must start compiling all of the required supporting documents. The list of document requirements is provided in Form 4A’s explanatory notes and document lists. We have additionally compiled some helpful guidelines for consideration.

Scan all supporting documents and keep the original document handy. Upload scanned copies when filling out your PR application online.
If you have any documents that are not written in English, you need to produce an official translation of these documents. The best way to do this is to get your embassy to translate them and stamp them. Make sure that you scan the original document and the translated version of it.
In your resume, there can be things that show if you were good at your job. Like if you had a letter from your old boss, or if you got a good grade on an evaluation. You can get these things from people who have worked with you before.
If you have bought a house in Singapore, include documents that prove it. That will help you get a good financial situation and show that you are going to stay in Singapore for the long term.
Make sure you attach a copy of your CV/resume.
In addition to the resume and work experience, it is also wise to submit a letter of motivation which discusses your love for Singapore, evidence that you have achieved stability in regards to employment and finances, as well as any reasons why you are applying for Permanent Residency.

Singapore is big on paperwork and the accuracy of it. The more you provide, the better. Once you have prepared copies and originals of all the necessary documentation, in addition to following the additional guidelines listed above, you are ready for the next step: Filling out your PR application form.

Step 6: Completing the PR application form

The application form for PR is not hard. You can use the guidelines below to make it easier.:

Write down your education and employment history. Write it in the order that you did the work.
In the education qualifications section, you should list your high school diploma and anything higher. You don’t need to list any other educational details before this.
If you cannot produce a document to prove that you graduated from school, don’t list it on your application. Otherwise, an authority might send a letter telling you to show them the document, and this can slow down the process of getting your visa.
You will also need to list details about your spouse and children in this form. If you are not applying for PR for any of your family members (spouse or children), you will still need to provide their details in the application. For each of the family members, there is a field where you will indicate whether or not you are applying for PR for this family member.
Ask your employer to fill out the Annex A form. This is a page in your permanent residence application form called “Annex A to Form 4A (Application for Permanent Residence)”. Your boss can fill it out and that will show that they agree with what you said about yourself on this form. It does not mean that they are sponsoring you, but it does show that they agree with what you wrote down here.

In actuality, submitting the PR application will take you longer than expected. You might end up spending hours on this form instead of 30 minutes depending on your circumstances. Following of this guide will discuss the next steps to be taken with your application as it proceeds through processing, even if it is approved or rejected.

Step 7: Submit PR application

Prior to submitting your PR application, be sure that you have the following requirements met:

-Completed our online form
-Received a completed Annex A back from your employer
-Prepared the required documents

You need to submit your PR application and supporting documents on the online site. Make sure that all of them are up-to-date.

It is a simple procedure of submitting your PR application along with the necessary documents to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA) via their online submission form.

Step 8: Wait for results

Most people find the most difficult part of the process is waiting for a result. The more anxious you are, the worse it will be, and there’s no way to speed up the process either. You may as well feel at ease either way.

It takes an average of 6-12 months before you get a letter from ICA notifying you on the outcome of your PR application. Their processing time may be longer or faster, and it varies quite extensively.

This is solely at the discretion of the ICA. If you do not receive the letter after 6 months and are anxious to know the status, you can call ICA and they will inform you of the current status of your PR application.

Most of the time, you will not be told the status of your home unless it has been approved or rejected. You won’t know if it is under processing or anything else. In reality, the operator answering your phone probably does not know all of the details about your application. He or she can only see what is on the computer system.

Step 9: Upon Approval

If your application has been approved, congratulations! An approval letter will be sent to you and upon receipt, you will need to make an appointment with ICA within 2 months to complete the formalities. You will need to go to Room 05 on Level 5 of their building in order to finish your PR formalities.

You can schedule an appointment with ICA electronically on their website. Officials will collect all depositions from you and finish the necessary formalities (signing, fingerprinting, etc.). The approval letter will tell you what papers to bring. You should read the letter carefully before you go. The following would be required:

Approval letter
Travel documents for yourself and your family (if they were included in the PR application)
2 recent colour passport-size photos for yourself and your family (if they were included)
Your EP and your family’s DPs
You can submit your results of the medical check-up which you and your family must do, as specified in the approval letter. Typically this includes an HIV blood test and chest x-ray. The approval letter should provide a format for the medical report, which cannot be issued more than three months before submission to ICA.
The EP-152, which should be completed and signed by your employer, confirms that you are still employed in the same company as was declared on the application form.
The government charges a fee for registering your work pass, re-entry permit and entry permit. Specific amounts will be outlined in the approval letter. Payments must be done through NETS or Cash card only.

The police officer will tell you when to come back to collect your ID card. You will need to make another appointment before you can get this.

At the end of all the formalities, you should have the following items:

An NRIC is a card you can use to prove that you are a Singapore PR holder. It is used when applying for things, like when you want to get a mobile phone or bank account. Children do not get an NRIC until they turn 15 years old.
You will get a PR certificate. It is mostly for safekeeping, but it could be useful.
When you apply for PR (permanent residency), you will get a stamp in your passport. This stamp will allow you to leave and enter Singapore without needing a visa. The PR is usually given for five years and can be renewed afterward. So if you are traveling, make sure that the stamp is valid until your return date.

Once you have finished your PR application, you are an official Singapore permanent resident. You now have the freedom to live and work in Singapore without visa restrictions, priority government school placement for your children and compulsory participation in the CPF scheme, which will grow your pension fund. Remember these things too:

Tell your boss about your new PR status. He or she will need to get a copy of your ID card to update records and will also need to start making contributions to the CPF fund for you.
Inform banks so they can update your bank account personal details.

Step 10: Handling PR Rejection

Most people who receive a rejection letter will be tempted to give up and withdraw from the process. Remember, there is no limit on how many times you can apply for PR in Singapore, so keep trying. You should wait at least 6 months before you get your PR again. If you are rejected, it is unlikely that you will be approved if there have not been any changes in your circumstances. For example, if your salary has been higher, or if you have new qualifications. It would be a waste of time to re-submit your application without any significant changes or improvements.

Professional Help

Should you use a professional company to help you with your Singapore immigration? It depends on what you want. You can do it by yourself, if you think that’s right. But most of the time, an experienced person can look at your application and give good advice about it.