Temporary residence for Singapore

A temporary residence visa is common for guests who visit the country for short periods. Factors influencing whether this is the correct visa to acquire include the visitor’s home country, duration of stay, and purpose of their visit.

Typically, this visa can be acquired at the border. However, residents of some countries need to obtain Social or Business Visa beforehand.

The visitor needs to satisfy the following requirements:

• An international ID (passport) with at least a half year of legitimacy remaining,

• Adequate financial means to last during the targeted stay,

• Confirmed onward ticket,

• Completion of the disembarkation card,

• A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, depending on which country you are coming from,

• A valid Singapore visa.

Once the visa is approved at the border, it will contain a standardized duration of stay. It is vital that the duration of stay doesn’t overdo the accepted time-period, as it is a punishable fault to do this in the country. It is very easy to obtain an extension, and you must apply for it before your approved time period is over.

Citizenship for Singapore:

In order to become a Singaporean citizen, the applicant has to satisfy several requirements which can sometimes take lots of time. After the completion of all these requirements, a one can officially become a Singaporean citizen after resigning other citizenships.

Options through which one can become a Singaporean citizen:

• 1. Via Birth:

An individual has opportunity to gain Singaporean citizenship if he or she is born in Singapore, his or her parents are legally married with official registration, and at least one of them has Singaporean citizenship.

However, there is one important nuance that should be mentioned, a child whose father is a foreign diplomat and enjoys immunity in Singapore will not be granted Singaporean citizenship even if latter’s mother is Singaporean. As assumed from gender-specific language, a child can obtain Singaporean citizenship by birth if his or her father is Singaporean and mother is a foreigner. However, the case with reversed gender roles is not possible.

• 2. Via Descent:

Individuals born in a foreign country on 15 May 2014, or after it, are considered Singaporean citizen by descent if at least one of the parents has a Singaporean citizenship.

The child can derive Singaporean citizenship from a parent who have lived in Singapore in sum or minimum for five years before the child’s birth or a total of at least two years out of the five years immediately preceding the child’s birth.

Individuals born in a foreign country after 15 May 2004 can obtain citizenship descent only if his or her father had Singaporean citizenship by birth or had registered citizenship at the moment of the birth.

A child can descent citizenship from a parent who is Singaporean citizen by registration, only in the case when he or she do not acquire citizenship of the country where was born.

• 3. Via Registration:

A PR with minimum two years of residence can register for citizenship if latter is employed or married to a Singaporean citizen. After satisfactory finishing National Service in full time basis, a male PR as well as children of Singaporean citizens living in Singapore, have opportunity to apply for citizenship.

Registration is the term used in the Constitution to refer to the process commonly known as naturalization. A person can apply for registration as a Singaporean citizen if he or she has been a Permanent Resident for at least two years and is gainfully employed or married to a Singaporean citizen. However, every application is reviewed on individual basis.

Dual Citizenship

According to the Constitution of Singapore, dual citizenship in unlawful and not permitted.

Note: Although provided for in the Constitution, citizenship by naturalization is no longer granted. The government rather utilizes the established arrangement for citizenship by enlistment to give citizenship to residents.

Work Permit for Singapore

The main and most common type of Singapore work visa is the Employment Pass (EP) issued to foreign professional employees, managers in managerial, executive or specialized jobs, and owners/directors of Singapore companies. It is usually issued for 1-2 years at a time and renewable after that. An EP visa enables one to work and live in Singapore and travel in and out of the country freely without having to apply for Singapore entry visas every time, so this increases the ease of conducting business activities. Another advantage is that possessing an EP allows one to apply for PR in Singapore later.

There are three categories of Employment Pass, which are P1, P2, and Q1 Pass.

Foreigners looking for executive, managerial or specialist positions should have P pass. EP holders of P1, P2 and Q status, are qualified to apply to turn into a Permanent Resident through the Professional, Technical and Skilled Workers plot.

There is no designated waiting period, but one of the documents required is six months of salary record. Therefore you should plan your application at least six months ahead. However, it is advisable for Q1 pass holders to wait at least two years before applying for permanent residency.

You will need to collect and provide the following documents for submission of Employment Pass visa application in Singapore:

• Resume stating some personal information about you and your educational and employment history

• A copy of the personal particulars page of your passport

• A passport standard recent photo

• Copies of educational certificates and past employment tributes

Employment Pass Eligibility Criteria

• The foreign specialist with minimum 3600$ monthly wage.

• Parents of successful Employment Pass holders can also apply for the LTVP, but the successful holder needs to draw a minimum salary of S$12,000 (from 1 January 2018 onwards) in order for them to qualify.

• Generally, a recognized Diploma/Degree qualification from a reputed university is expected.

• Proof of professional qualifications and specialist skills

• Work-related experience

Personalized Employment Pass

This visa is addressed to the top earners (executives and professionals) who value their flexibility and freedom. The visa has many similarities with classic Employment Pass; however its general advantage is that it is bound not to a particular employer, but the employee himself. Also, unlike the Employment Pass, which must be canceled when the pass holder leaves the employer, the PEP is not tied to the employer and is granted on the strength of the applicant’s merit. Personalized EP fits directors and talented individuals who would like to enrich their expertise with a new experience in Singapore, but stay flexible at the same time. In contrary, for visa higer monthly wage is needed rather than in the case of Employment Pass (at least 18k SGD) and has some other limitations, for example,

Requirements for the PEP

• Candidate’s monthly salary should be over 18k SGD (monthly wage should be minimum 12k SGD for the foreigners who upgrade to PEP from P1 EP). To confirm this fact, foreigners must submit bank statements for minimum 3 months as well as salary slips.
• PEP applicants must showcase impeccable educational qualifications (a diploma/degree from a reputable university).
• Candidates must provide prominent occupation-related working experience and a set of valuable skills also represented in documents.
• The same as for the EP, Based on the applicant’s nationality, which doesn’t play a significant role, but can entail additional paperwork.
• Candidates are eligible to apply for PEP if they are under the pension age; nevertheless, older applicants favorably should represent more impressive experience.
• A valid passport

S Pass Singapore (Work visa)

S Pass, which is a work permit designed for mid-skilled workers, is assessed on multiple criteria including specialty educational qualifications, skills, monthly wage, professional experience, and job type. The S Pass also was mid-level skilled foreigners who earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $2,200 to work in Singapore. Employers must make S Pass applications on, behalf of a job candidate.

Criteria one has to meet to be eligible for this kind of work visa:

• A fixed monthly salary of at least $2,300. The salary should reflect the work experience. Depending on the experience, applicants need higher salaries to qualify.

• Diploma or professional qualification. Technical certificates, such as courses for qualified technicians or specialists, may also be considered. The certification should include at least one year of full-time study.

• Professional experience.

Work Permit

Singapore is also willing to welcome foreign unskilled labor force arriving from Asian countries and seeking employment in such fields as construction, services, manufacturing, process, marine etc. Employment benefits of the Work Permit developed for this category of foreign workers are adjusted with limitations and strong requirements for the employer (bond, quotas, levies, and appropriate health coverage). This visa is intended only for working purpose and doesn’t provide any residence option. The government controls that all WP holders adhere to their underlying working reason for entry.

Requirements for Work Permit

For foreign workers:

• Only citizens from certain approved Asian countries are allowed to apply for this visa, such as India, China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Hong Kong, and so on.

• Candidate must be older than 18 years and no older than 50 (58 for the Malaysians).

• Candidates’ must provide a valid passport.

• Foreigner’s educational qualifications are also being taken into consideration; high skilled labor is beneficial for companies as they have to pay lower levy for them.

• WP holders are permitted to work only according to the specifications of their working visas. However it is unlawful for them to work in other place or to hold a personal business. For these, they have to apply for a new work permit.