Many of Singapore’s benefits are only available to Singapore citizens or permanent residents. So, what benefits can be enjoyed after becoming a Singapore citizen?
Visa Benefits
As the world’s most powerful passport, the Singaporean passport not only leads in the number of visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries but also bestows you with a range of citizen privileges once you have it.
The Singaporean passport allows visa-free access to around 190 countries and regions, and you can enjoy a 15-day visa-free entry to China.
In addition, holding a Singaporean passport allows you to sponsor your spouse and children for a green card, unconditionally sponsor your parents and in-laws to reside in Singapore, and obtain multiple-entry visas.
Housing Benefits
After becoming a citizen, there’s no additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) when purchasing your first residential property. However, PR and foreign individuals still need to pay 5% and 30% additional ABSD when buying their first residential property. Foreign individuals cannot purchase HDB properties, and PRs can only buy a resale HDB when both spouses have been PRs for at least three years.
So, when you become a citizen, as long as one spouse is a citizen, you can apply for a first-hand HDB (also known as BTO). It’s worth noting that after becoming a Singapore citizen, you can also purchase landed houses, which is something that’s not possible for PRs or foreigners.
Education Benefits
Singaporean citizens enjoy free primary and secondary education, and when it comes to admissions at Singaporean government schools and public universities, they prioritize citizens first, followed by permanent residents, dependents on long-term visit passes, and international students.
To nurture talent, the Singaporean government invests significantly in education. Singaporean citizens receive substantial subsidies from kindergarten through university:
1. Kindergarten: Citizens pay lower fees compared to permanent residents, and they may receive childcare subsidies when enrolled in locally registered child care centers.
2. Primary School: Citizens attend government primary schools for free.
3. Secondary School: Citizens pay a nominal fee of SGD 5 per term, and the fee remains stable.
4. University: Tuition fees at local public universities vary based on nationality.
These subsidies and education incentives underscore the commitment of the Singaporean government to provide affordable and high-quality education for its citizens.
Employment Benefits
In addition, Singaporean Permanent Residents (PRs) can apply for PR status for their spouses and children under the age of 21, as well as apply for Long-Term Visit Passes for non-Singaporean parents.
Once you become a Singaporean PR or citizen, you have the freedom to resign from your job and change employers without being constrained by any work permits.
If you are not a Singapore Permanent Resident or citizen, leaving the city-state can be challenging without a valid work permit.
CPF Benefits
After becoming a Singaporean citizen, the CPF (Central Provident Fund) contribution rates are fixed. Employers are required to contribute 17% of your monthly salary, while you only need to contribute 20% of your monthly salary.
Childbirth Benefits
The Singaporean government allocates approximately 2 billion SGD annually to the National Population and Talent Division to encourage citizens to have children. As long as one spouse is a Singaporean citizen and the child is born a Singaporean citizen, they can enjoy childbirth benefits.
First, there’s a one-time cash gift. The government rewards 8,000 SGD for the first two children and 10,000 SGD for each subsequent child. Additionally, the government establishes a Child Development Account for each child and periodically deposits funds into it to support parents in raising their children.
As per statistics, the first child can receive a total of 6,000 SGD in the account, the second child can get 9,000 SGD, and for the third and fourth children, each can receive 12,000 SGD, and every subsequent child can receive 18,000 SGD. There is a one time cash gift.
