Even at a young age, you can start thinking about where to retire. While many opt to stay in their home country, some would wish to spend the rest of their lives in a foreign country. A few of the possible reasons could be safety and security, cost of living, climate, family or simply they just love the place they’ve visited or where they worked for many years. One of the many places that would entice a better retirement is in Singapore. It’s a good country offering great benefits to its citizens. So before you settle down permanently, you should know the requirements for Singapore citizen application.
Acquiring Singapore citizenship requires a full commitment and you should be willing to renounce prior citizenship as holding dual citizenship there is not allowed. There’s no shortcut in the application process but to understand each step to become a naturalized citizen.
What are your chances for the grant?
Permanent Residence (PR)
If you are currently a work pass holder and have worked in the country for at least six (6) months, then you are eligible for a PR application. If your PR Application has been approved, you can apply for citizenship after two (2) years.
Economic Contribution
One of the many factors to consider is your contribution to the social and economic development of Singapore. They’ll check your monthly salary slips for the past 6 months or if you have any existing business anywhere in the country.
Family Ties
Depending on your condition, you may apply due to any of the following:
- If your spouse is a Singapore citizen and has been married for 2 years or more;
- If your spouse is a Singapore citizen and has been married for 2 years or more;
- If your spouse is a Singapore citizen and has been married for 2 years or more;
Education
Another thing is if you are a Permanent Resident studying in Singapore for more than 3 years (of which, at least one year as a PR); and have passed at least one national exam (such as PSLE, GCE ‘N’/‘O’/‘A’ levels), or are in the Integrated Programme (IP).
Once your eligibility is confirmed, you can push through your Singapore citizen application. Be mindful of the documents and other requirements because once you fail, reapplication would buy another time. For processing, it usually takes 6 to 12 months but some may take even longer. Once the application is approved, you can avail of the Passport travel freedom (visa-free access to some countries), employment perks, subsidized executive condos, and studio apartments, Central Provident Fund, Edusave Scheme for your children, medical fund, election, and many others.
Enjoy these benefits while preparing for your retirement. Save enough for a) daily living expenses like food, transport, utilities, etc., b) Old age contingency costs, and c) emergency funds. Remember, getting older means more medical bills, not to mention the inflation rate.
The above discussion is simply a guide for getting citizenship and planning for retirement. It’s always up to you to decide.