When ICA approves a Singapore permanent residence (PR) application, it issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA). You are not a PR yet. To obtain PR status, the applicant (and the sponsor where required) must complete the PR formalities in person at the ICA Services Centre within the validity period of the IPA, bringing the documents ICA specifies, and pay the fees: S$20 for the Entry Permit, S$50 for a five-year Re-Entry Permit and S$50 for the Singapore Identity Card, according to ICA’s PR application page. For applications submitted on or after 26 June 2024, the instructions are shown in ICA e-Service; for earlier applications they are in the IPA letter. Once formalities are completed, your status changes, which affects your work pass, CPF and travel.
Raffles Corporate Services works with a panel of experienced Singapore law firms who offer cost-effective and efficient legal service and advice. This article is general information only and is not legal advice.
This guide is for professionals, company owners and families who have just received an IPA, and for employers of new PRs.
Step by step after the IPA arrives
- Read the instructions carefully. Log in to ICA e-Service (or read the IPA letter for older applications) and list every document and condition, such as a medical examination.
- Check the deadline. Formalities must be completed within the period stated. If you cannot, ICA’s FAQs say the main applicant or sponsor may request an extension through ICA e-Service. Ask early.
- Medical examination, if required. Only some applicants need one; the instructions will say. Ensure the report will still be acceptable on your appointment date.
- Book an appointment. Book your slot at the ICA Services Centre through e-Service within the IPA’s validity.
- Prepare documents. Bring originals of the documents listed. ICA states that formalities cannot be completed if any required document is not produced.
- Attend in person. The applicant and sponsor attend, complete the formalities and pay the fees.
- Collect the Identity Card. ICA’s guidance indicates the IC must be collected within a stated period after formalities; follow the instructions you are given.
Note that the IPA itself does not guarantee entry if you are travelling in the meantime. ICA says entry remains subject to prevailing requirements and assessment at the checkpoint.
Fees at completion
| Item | Fee (ICA) |
|---|---|
| Entry Permit | S$20 |
| Re-Entry Permit (5 years) | S$50 |
| Singapore Identity Card | S$50 |
ICA says all fees are non-refundable and that other applicable fees may be notified separately. The S$100 application fee was paid at submission.
What changes once you are a PR
Your work pass
ICA states that an Employment Pass is cancelled once PR status is granted, after completion of PR formalities. A PR does not need a work pass to work in Singapore. Employers should update their records and confirm with MOM’s guidance that the pass status is correctly reflected, and HR should obtain a copy of the new IC for the employment file. Our article on COMPASS and EP criteria explains the pass rules that no longer apply.
CPF
PRs and their employers contribute to CPF. For the first two years of PR, graduated contribution rates apply unless the employer and employee jointly opt for full rates; full rates apply from the third year. Payroll needs updating from the month PR is obtained; see an employee becomes a PR mid-month: the first CPF payroll and CPF contribution obligations.
Travel and the Re-Entry Permit
The Re-Entry Permit lets you keep PR status while travelling. Travelling without a valid REP can lead to loss of PR. Diarise its expiry and renew in time; see our guide to the Re-Entry Permit.
Company roles
A PR counts as “locally resident” for the Companies Act requirement that every company has at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore. A founder who was relying on a nominee director may be able to take that role personally, subject to the company’s own needs. Update ACRA records for any change in identification details.
National Service
Male PRs, particularly second-generation PRs, may have National Service obligations. Read ICA’s and MINDEF’s guidance before deciding on applications for sons.
Checklist for employers and company owners
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Copy of new IC on HR file; update payroll identity | HR / payroll |
| Switch CPF rates (graduated or opted full) | Payroll |
| Confirm work pass records reflect PR status | HR |
| Update ACRA officer particulars if the person is a director | Company secretary |
| Update bank KYC records | Finance |
| Diarise REP expiry | Employee |
Example
Example only, not a client case. A founder on an Employment Pass, sponsored by her own Singapore company, receives a PR IPA with her husband and daughter included. She checks e-Service, books a joint appointment, and has the medical examination done for the family members who need one. After completing formalities, the company’s payroll switches her to graduated CPF rates from that month, HR files her IC, and the company secretary updates ACRA with her new identification details. She later considers whether she can act as the company’s resident director.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work for a different employer after becoming PR?
Yes. PRs do not need a work pass to work in Singapore.
What happens if I miss the IPA deadline?
Ask ICA for an extension before it expires. If the IPA lapses, you may need to apply again.
Can I use the IPA letter to re-enter Singapore?
ICA says possessing a PR IPA does not guarantee entry; entry is subject to prevailing requirements and checkpoint assessment.
Can I give up PR later?
Yes, but it has consequences for CPF and future applications; see renouncing Singapore PR.
Planning to apply for Singapore PR?
Contact the Raffles Corporate Services team at [email protected] or on WhatsApp at +65 8501 7133 or +65 9018 0072. We work with immigration specialists at Singapore law firms who can prepare your application and the cover letter submitted to ICA, and we can update your company’s payroll, CPF and ACRA records once your PR is granted. ICA decides every application, and no adviser can guarantee approval. Our main guide to the Singapore PR application covers eligibility and documents.
Tiffany Goh, Raffles Corporate Services