[UPDATED] Major Changes to Singapore's Citizenship, PR and LTVP Application Procedures
On 26th June 2024, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authorities (ICA) has streamlined procedures and improved transparency by implementing multiple modifications to its Citizenship and Permanent Residence (PR) application processes. Below is a detailed summary of the major modifications that may impact applicants:
Changes to PR Application Processes
· Removal of the Offline Form 4A:
Applicants submitting their PR applications no longer have access to the offline Form 4A, following a process similar to the previous Citizenship application system. This implies that all necessary documents and information must be prepared in advance before they login to ICA’s e-services portal to complete the online form. The system allows applicants to save their form as a draft for up to 7 days before it is automatically discarded if not submitted.
· Additional Information on Family Members:
Providing detailed information about your immediate family member is now a crucial part of your PR application. This includes information regarding their job status, company address, salary, and job description. This supplementary data attempts to provide a clearer picture of the applicant’s family background and financial stability.
· Annex A Document Update:
Your current company’s Annex A is no longer required for submission, but you must still provide financial details about both your past and present employers on the online application form. Specifically, applicants need to fill out information regarding the company’s turnover for the last three years, paid-up share capital, and manpower strength.
· Streamlined PR Eligibility for Student Pass Holders:
Previously, Student Pass holders could only apply for Singapore Permanent Residency (PR) after residing in Singapore for a minimum of 2 years and sitting for at least one of Singapore’s national examinations, such as the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (GCE) N Level, O Level, A Level, or being enrolled in the Integrated Programme (IP).
With the recent changes, Student Pass holders no longer need to meet the 2-year residency requirement. They can now apply for Singapore PR as long as they have passed at least one national examination.
Changes to the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) Processes:
· Expanded Family Eligibility for Student Pass Holders
Fathers and grandfathers can now accompany foreign students holding a valid Student Pass in Singapore. Previously, only mothers and grandmothers were permitted to apply for the LTVP to accompany their child studying in Singapore on a Student Pass. Please note that either the parent or grandparent may apply for the LTVP.
· Sponsorship Now Available for Foreign Parents of Younger Singaporean or PR Children
Singaporean or PR children under the age of 21 can now sponsor their aged foreign parents for the LTVP. Previously, only children above the age of 21 could sponsor their aged parents for this LTVP. But the caveat is, younger Singaporean or PR children must find a local sponsor to apply for their parent’s LTVP. The local sponsor must be Singapore or a PR and aged 21 and above.
Changes to Citizenship Application Processes
· Enhanced Transparency On The Eligibility Criteria:
The ICA has provided further clarification on the eligibility criteria for aged parents and spouses of Singapore Citizens.
Previously, aged parents could apply for citizenship directly through their Singaporean child. However, the ICA now requires that aged parents first obtain Permanent Resident (PR) status before they are eligible to apply for citizenship.
Similarly, for spouses of Singapore Citizens, the ICA now mandates that they must be PRs for at least 2 years and have been married for at least 2 years before they can apply for citizenship. Previously, PR spouses of Singaporeans could apply for citizenship after residing in Singapore for 2 years.
Changes to LTVP, PR and Citizenship Application Processes
· Extended Validity of Certificate of Employment (COE):
The validity period for the Certificate of Employment has been extended from 1 month to 3 months. This modification gives applicants more time to obtain and submit their COE. Moreover, accompanying applicants are now required to submit their six months’ worth of payslips and overseas tax assessments, enabling ICA to conduct a more thorough verification of income and employment history.
· NS Deferment Eligibility Clarification:
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has clarified its stance on National Service (NS) deferment eligibility by adding a new section to its website. This update offers applicants a clearer understanding of the requirements and criteria for deferring NS obligations.
· Disclosure of Overseas Residency:
An applicant must now specify the reason for their international travels if they have spent more than six months living abroad in the previous six years. This requirement seeks to shed more light on the applicant's overseas activities.
Other Notable Changes
· CIT Application Submission PDFs:
Applicants who submitted their Citizenship applications before the recent changes will recall that ICA did not provide downloadable PDFs of the submitted forms. But now, the submitted application forms are available for download in PDF format.
· Application Fees for Multiple Products:
Applicants eligible to apply for multiple products, such as the Long-Term Visit Pass and Permanent Residence, within a single application will now pay a combined application fee of S$130. This fee structure is introduced to streamline the process and reduce individual application costs. Applicants will be informed of this option at the start of their application
· Processing Time Adjustments:
Applications will generally be processed within six months, provided all required documents are correctly submitted. For applications involving multiple products, the processing time will be based on the product with the longer processing duration. Some applications may experience extended processing times depending on their complexity and the number of products applied for.
For detailed guidance on the changes imposed by ICA, consider consulting with E&H Immigration Consultancy. Visit www.eh-immigration.com for more information.
