If you are reading this article, thoughts of applying for PR for your children might have been swirling in your mind for a while now. As parents, it is understandable that you want only the best for your little ones and the fact is that becoming a Singapore PR can go a long way to unlocking endless possibilities for them. One of these includes enrolment in a meticulously curated education system that has consistently placed the country at the top of global rankings year after year. Moreover, this Lion City is home to some of the finest universities, where PRs can enjoy subsidised tuition fees — and all these constitute merely the tip of the iceberg that life as a PR has to offer your young ones.
With such a bright future ahead of them as PRs, we can understand why you might be thinking of leading them towards this status. Read on to find out if they stand a chance.
4 Routes for Your Children to Become Singapore PRs
As of 2019, there are at least four different routes through which your children may become Singapore PRs, including the following:
1. You or Your Spouse are Singaporean PR or Citizen
Your children may be eligible for PR status if either you or your spouse are Singaporean PR or Citizen as long as they are unmarried and under 21 years old.
2. You Are Applying for PR as an EP or S Pass Holder
If you are a PR applicant with either an Employment Pass or S Pass, your children can also become Singapore PR as your dependants within the same application.
3. You Are Applying for PR under the GIP Scheme
Foreign investors who choose to apply for Singapore PR under the Global Investor Programme (GIP) scheme may also include their dependants in their application. This includes their spouse as well as any unmarried children below 21 years.
4. Your Children are Applying for PR as a Student
Finally, your children may also be able to apply for Singapore PR on their own as international students who have been studying in a local institution.
Route 1: You or Your Spouse are Singaporean PR or Citizen
If either you or your spouse is a Singaporean PR or Citizen, any unwedded children you may have — biological or legally adopted — may be eligible for Singapore PR. However, only minors who are below the age of 21 will be considered. Once they are above this age limit, they must search for alternative avenues through which they may attain PR on their own merits, such as the PTS scheme. Neither you nor your spouse may act as their official sponsor in such cases.
Parents of children eligible via this route may apply online using the ICA’s e-PR system using their SingPass to enable your little ones to apply for PR. Once you are logged into the e-PR system, you may upload all the necessary documents within the stipulated time. The following is the list of important documents that you need to compile beforehand:
Documents Required from the Applicants
Attach passport-sized photographs of the applicants, your children, and make sure that the size adheres to all the conditions set by the ICA. You are also required to attach their valid travel papers, including a copy of the page in the passport with all their personal particulars and their valid Immigration Pass. Where applicable, the application must include a copy of their identity card, birth documents or family register that displays both parents names or official household census list. If any of your little ones were adopted, provide a copy of their adoption papers. For those who have had their names changed, either a deed poll or change of name documents is necessary. If they have studied elsewhere, include their highest educational documents. Finally, provide a copy of their Work Pass if they are currently working. In a list, here is what you will need to check off:
- Passport-sized photographs of your child/children
- Copy of the page in the passport with personal particulars
- Copy of their valid Immigration Pass
- Identity card
- Birth certificate, family register or adoption papers
- Copy of their highest educational certificate
- Work Pass is they are currently working in Singapore
- Deed poll or change of name certificate, if there was a change of name
Documents Required from the Sponsor
As their sponsor, you/your spouse must provide a valid identity card. Where applicable, the sponsor must then furnish the application with an official marriage document. If the marriage to which your children were born has ended, the death certificate of their late spouse or divorce certificate, as well as custody papers, are to be provided. Having settled those, provide copies of the sponsor’s highest educational certificates and a letter from the sponsor’s employer, stating position held, date of employment, and a detailed breakdown of their monthly salary from the past six months. To allow ICA to verify this breakdown, the sponsor must retrieve consent letters from Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) and Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB). For self-employed sponsors, submit a Valid Business Registration Certificate, vocational license, and/or occupational license instead of an employer’s letter.
- Valid identity card
- Official marriage certificate, death certificate of their late spouse or divorce certificate
- Copies of Sponsor’s highest educational certificates
- Letter from the sponsor’s employer, stating position held, date of employment, and a detailed breakdown of their monthly salary from the past 6 months
- Consent letters from IRAS and CPF
- Valid Business Registration Certificate, vocational license, and/or occupational license if applicable
Route 2: You Are Applying for PR as an EP or S Pass Holder
If you are planning to apply for PR as an Employment or S Pass holder, the Professional, Technical Personnel and Skilled Worker scheme (PTS scheme) includes an option to add your dependents to your application. The term ‘dependants’ in this case includes your spouse or unwedded children who are below the age of 21, allowing you the opportunity to apply PR for them, too. Similar to the previous category, only those who are below the age of 21 may be included. Once they are above this age limit, they must attain PR on their own merits.
To include your children as dependants during your PR application, you have to provide their necessary supporting documents for them. You may then access the e-PR system using your SingPass and upload the following documents:
General Documents Required from All Applicants
In this scenario, both you and your little ones are the applicants, with you as the main applicant. Attach your passport-sized photographs, making sure that the size adheres to all the conditions set by the ICA. You are required to attach valid travel documents per applicant, including a copy of the page in your passports with all their personal particulars. The submission must include copies of your identity cards, birth certificate or family register that displays both parents names or official household census list. If any of you have changed names since birth, a deed poll or change of name certificate is required.
Documents Required from the Main Applicant
As the main applicant, you are to attach copies of your Employment Pass or S Pass as well as your highest educational transcripts, vocational trade papers, and professional license/membership certificates. Upload copies of payslips from the last six months, along with a letter from your current employer. This letter must state your current position, date of employment, and salary breakdown. Additionally, it must be dated within one month from the date of submission and addressed to the Controller of Immigration. If you are self-employed, attach a Valid Business Registration Certificate and occupational license instead of an employer’s letter. Finally, include a consent form from IRAS to allow ICA to verify the information that you provide. Where possible, provide copies of testimonials from the previous employers, describing your previously held positions, last drawn salary, and employment durations. Check against this list to ensure that you have all that you need:
- Passport-sized photographs of each applicant
- Valid travel documents per applicant
- Copy of the page in your passports with all their personal particulars
- Birth certificate, family register or adoption papers
- Deed poll or change of name certificate, if there was a change of name
- Copy of your Employment Pass or S Pass
- Highest educational certificates, transcripts, vocational trade certificates, and professional license/membership certificates
- Copies of payslips from the last six months
- Letter from your current employer stating your current position, date of employment, and salary breakdown, dated one month from the date of submission and addressed to the Controller of Immigration
- Consent form from IRAS to allow ICA to verify information that you provide
- Valid Business Registration Certificate and occupational license instead of an employer’s letter, if you are self-employed
Documents Required from their Dependants
To include your children under your approved list of dependants, furnish the application with their passport-sized photograph. Ensure that the photograph adheres to the size requirements set by the ICA. If any of them were adopted, please provide a copy of their adoption papers. For those who have had their names changed, either a deed poll or change of name certificate is necessary. In this route, there is no need for them to submit copies of any education or employment paperwork.
- Passport-sized photographs of your dependent
- Birth certificate, family register or adoption papers
- Deed poll or change of name certificate, if there was a change of name
Route 3: You Are Applying for PR under the GIP Scheme
Your children can become Singapore PRs if you are applying for PR under the Global Investor Programme (GIP) scheme. Handled by the Economic Development Board (EDB), rather than the ICA, the GIP allows you to include your spouse and any unmarried children below the age of 21. However, this means that any children of yours who are either married or above 21 years of age cannot become PRs via this scheme. To remain in Singapore, they can apply for a 5-year Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) instead. Nevertheless, for those who are eligible for PR through this scheme, prepare the necessary documents for your dependants:
Documents Required from Your Children
Compile notarised copies of your children’s passport-sized photographs and travel documents, including passports, as well as their birth documents or family census or household registry. As their sponsor, you must write about their background in detail, including their names, age, and, where applicable, their current employment. If they were adopted, ensure that you include their adoption papers. For any children from any of your previous marriages, attach a notarised copy of the death certificate of your late spouse or divorce document. Otherwise, attach a notarised copy of your current marriage certificate instead. Finally, if they have had any name changes, add a notarised copy of the relevant deed poll or change of name certificate.
- Passport-sized photographs
- Notarised valid travel documents
- Copy of the page in your passports with all their personal particulars
- Birth certificate, family register or adoption papers
- Deed poll or change of name certificate, if there was a change of name
- Letter by sponsor listing the child’s background in detail, including their names, age, and, where applicable, their current employment
- Notarised copy of your current marriage certificate
- Notarised copy of the death certificate of your late spouse or divorce, if the child is from a previous marriage
Route 4: Your Children are Applying for PR as a Student
Last but certainly not least is a route that offers one of the highest chances of success. As students, your children can become Singapore PRs if they have been living in Singapore for more than two years and meet any of the following additional requirements:
- Passed a national examination eg. Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE)
- Enrolled in the Integrated Programme
Students who wish to apply for PR can use their FIN to log in to the e-PR system on their own. This is the only route through which they can apply for PR without you, their parents, as their sponsor. Instead, they will be assessed mostly by their own merits. Therefore, they need to prepare the following documents if they wish to go through this route:
Documents Required
All international students who wish to apply for PR must attach their valid travel documents. This includes copies of the page of their passport that shows their personal particulars and Immigration Pass. On top of this, where applicable, they must submit copies of their identity card, birth certificate or family register or official household census list. They are then required to upload copies of their highest educational papers and transcripts, vocational trade certificates as well as any professional license or membership certificates awarded to them. Finally, you must provide them with copies of the relevant passport pages and valid travel documents from you and your spouse to complete their application.
- Valid travel documents
- Copies of the page of their passport with personal particulars
- Identity card, birth certificate or family register or official household census list
- Copies of their highest educational certificates and transcripts, vocational trade certificates
- Copies of the relevant passport pages and valid travel documents of parents
Important Notes for Children Applying for Singapore PR
Applying for and holding onto the Singapore PR status comes with obligations and challenges. Firstly, any male children who are approved as PR will be obliged to enlist and serve National Service (NS) once they reach 16.5 and 18 years of age, respectively. They are also expected to serve 40 days of Operationally Ready National Service (ORNS) annually until the male reaches 40 or 50 years of age, depending on their rank.
Only those who are pursuing GCE ‘A’ Levels or Polytechnic Diploma (or equivalent) full-time may be granted deferment of NS if they meet the list of requirements set by the Ministry of Defence. Moreover, losing or renouncing their PR without serving NS can spell dire consequences for any plans that they may have to live, work, or study in Singapore. Thus, you would have to think carefully about applying PR for your male children if this is something that you wish to avoid.
Finally, the ICA does not merely hand out PR approvals based on the ability to meet these basic requirements. Instead, they will take a more holistic approach to assess each application to ensure that the status is appropriately granted. Therefore, it is also important to consider where you and your children stand in the following aspects:
1. Ability to Integrate into Society
The ability to integrate into society is perhaps one of the most influential determiners that can affect your PR application. The ICA is looking for candidates who can seamlessly bond with Singaporeans. Therefore, those who have lived here for years, formed ties with Singaporeans, and can converse comfortably in one of our four national languages are at an advantage. These are likely reasons why international students have the highest PR approval rate at approximately 80% from 2008 to 2017. Compared to the average applicant, students are more likely to have spent years living and breathing local culture while interacting with local peers. If you are applying for PR with or for your child, ensure that your entire family displays these traits.
2. Qualifications and Skills
The applicant’s qualifications and skills are major considerations taken by the ICA to assess any application — the same goes for applicants taking any of the above routes. Thus, if you are an important figure in your children’s applications, you need to prove the relevance of your qualifications and skills in order for them to become PRs, too. However, if they are applying on their own as students, they will be assessed based on their own set of skills. Once again, this is yet another reason why students frequently meet with success when applying for PR. Having studied here, they are more likely to hold the necessary recognised qualifications.
The Final Word
Selecting the most suitable route for your children to become Singapore PRs depends entirely on your family. Existing Singapore PRs and Citizens might find that it makes sense to help your little ones obtain the status through Route 1. If you are here on an Employment Pass or S Pass or wish to invest in a local company as a foreign investor, applying as a family unit through either Route 2 or 3 might increase your odds. Meanwhile, children who meet the requirements should attempt to apply for PR on their own terms as a student through Route 4.
If you require any assistance with this, please do not hesitate to engage our specialists at Paul Immigrations. Our team of experts can help narrow down these options for you and guide you with the application until the very end.