Singapore Plans to Welcome 30,000 Foreigners Every Year as New Citizens. Apply Now!

Singapore is facing a significant decline in its birth rate, which dropped to a historic low of 0.87 in 2025. This means the current generation is not producing enough children to sustain the population in the long run. Without intervention, the citizen population could begin shrinking by the early 2040s. Bringing in new citizens is the government's way of ensuring the country's workforce, economy, and social systems remain stable and sustainable for the decades ahead.

The government plans to grant citizenship to between 25,000 and 30,000 people annually over the next five years. In 2025, approximately 25,000 citizenships were granted. The exact number each year will be adjusted based on how demographic trends, including the fertility rate, evolve over time. This gives the policy enough flexibility to respond to changing conditions rather than following a fixed annual number.

Singapore expects to grant around 40,000 Permanent Residencies each year over the next five years, up from the 35,000 granted in 2025. Permanent residency is the established pathway toward citizenship, so increasing PR numbers directly supports the government's longer-term goal of growing and sustaining the citizen population through managed immigration.

There are several eligibility routes. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of Singapore Citizens or PRs can apply under the family scheme. Aged parents of Singapore Citizens are also eligible. Professionals holding an Employment Pass or S Pass can apply under the PTS scheme. Students who have passed at least one national examination and resided in Singapore for a qualifying period may also be eligible. Each category comes with its own documentation requirements and is assessed individually by ICA.

ICA takes a comprehensive approach rather than relying on a single criterion. Salary and employment stability carry significant weight, with most approved applicants earning at least SGD 4,000 per month. Educational qualifications, length of stay in Singapore, age, and active community involvement are also factored in. Younger applicants tend to have stronger profiles statistically, though a well-rounded application can be competitive at any age. The overall assessment is about genuine, long-term commitment to Singapore.

Most PR applications are processed within four to six months from the date of submission. More complex cases can take between nine to twelve months or longer. Ensuring all documents are complete, up to date, and properly translated before submission is the most effective way to avoid delays, as incomplete applications often result in ICA requesting additional information, which extends the timeline further.

Applicants must have held PR status for a minimum of two years before applying for citizenship. ICA then evaluates the application based on consistent employment history, tax contributions, CPF contributions, and the depth of integration into Singapore society. Citizenship approval is entirely at ICA's discretion and there is no guaranteed outcome. A strong record of economic contribution and community involvement considerably strengthens an application.

While more slots are being made available, the assessment standards remain the same. The increase is driven by demographic necessity, not a relaxation of criteria. With more people applying alongside the increased targets, competition remains real. ICA continues to look for applicants who demonstrate genuine commitment to Singapore through their professional contributions, family ties, and integration into the local community. A thorough, well-prepared application remains essential.

From December 2025, if you leave Singapore without a valid Re-Entry Permit, you are given a 180-day period to apply for a new one or return under a single-entry pass. If the Re-Entry Permit application is unsuccessful within that period, PR status is permanently lost. It is strongly advisable to check the validity of your Re-Entry Permit well before any travel and to renew it at least three months before it expires to avoid any complications.

Yes. The government has clearly stated that this policy will be reviewed by 2030, taking into account changes in the fertility rate and broader demographic trends at that time. The current targets are not permanent commitments; they are calibrated responses to present conditions. Depending on how the population situation develops over the next few years, the intake numbers could be revised upward or downward accordingly.