Singapore · Permanent Residence
Singapore Permanent Residence for Founders
Singapore has no points test or fixed qualifying period for permanent residence. Most founders apply to ICA on a discretionary basis, while large business owners can use the Global Investor Programme run by EDB.
- Startup route
- EntrePass
- Minimum capital
- None set; one track needs SGD 100,000 raised in one round
- Permanent residence
- No fixed period; ICA decides case by case
- Citizenship
- 2 years as a PR, aged 21 or over
Singapore Permanent Residence (ICA application)
ICA accepts permanent residence applications online from several groups: spouses and unmarried children of citizens or PRs, aged parents of citizens, Employment Pass and S Pass holders, certain students, and foreign investors through the Global Investor Programme. The EntrePass is not named as a separate category, so EntrePass founders should confirm their eligibility with ICA before applying. ICA does not publish a minimum stay. It weighs family ties to Singaporeans, economic contribution, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residence. Approved applicants receive an in-principle approval and complete formalities, including a 5-year re-entry permit that keeps PR status valid during travel abroad.
- Application fee
- SGD 100 per application, non-refundable
- Formality fees
- Entry permit SGD 20; 5-year re-entry permit SGD 50; IC SGD 50
- Processing time
- Within 6 months if documents are complete
- Qualifying period
- None published; ICA decides case by case
- Assessment
- Family ties, contribution, qualifications, age, residence length
- National Service
- Male applicants must check NS liability before applying
Requirements
- Belong to a category ICA accepts, such as an Employment Pass or S Pass holder; EntrePass founders should confirm eligibility with ICA.
- Log in with Singpass, or ICA-issued credentials, to complete the online declaration.
- Provide supporting documents on family, employment, income and residence history.
- Male applicants and sons should review National Service obligations on the CMPB website first.
How to apply
- Register for Singpass early, as approval can take 2 to 5 working days.
- Submit the online application through ICA e-Service and pay the SGD 100 fee.
- Wait for ICA's decision, normally within 6 months.
- If approved in principle, complete formalities and pay the entry permit, re-entry permit and identity card fees.
Global Investor Programme (GIP)
The GIP grants permanent residence to substantial business owners and investors who commit capital to Singapore. Applicants must fit one of four profiles: established business owners whose company has annual turnover of at least SGD 200 million, next-generation owners of family businesses with SGD 500 million turnover, founders of fast-growing companies valued at SGD 500 million or more, or family office principals with net investible assets of at least SGD 200 million. They then choose Option A, investing SGD 10 million in a Singapore business; Option B, SGD 25 million in a GIP-select fund; or Option C, a single family office with SGD 200 million under management. Family office principals use Option C only.
- Option A
- SGD 10 million in a new or expanding Singapore business
- Option B
- SGD 25 million in an EDB-selected GIP-select fund
- Option C
- Single family office, SGD 200 million AUM, SGD 50 million deployed
- Processing time
- About 12 months, per the EDB factsheet
- ICA fee
- SGD 100 processing fee per applicant, non-refundable
- Re-entry permit
- 5 years, renewed if GIP conditions are met
- Family
- Spouse and unmarried children under 21 as dependants
Requirements
- Established business owners need 3 years of track record and a company with at least SGD 200 million turnover in the latest year and on average.
- For a privately held company, the applicant needs at least 30% of the shares; listed companies require being among the largest individual shareholders.
- The qualifying company must operate in one of the industries listed in Annex B of the GIP factsheet.
- Option A and Option C applicants must submit a detailed 5-year business plan with employment and financial projections.
- The chosen investment must be made within 6 months of the approval-in-principle letter.
How to apply
- Submit the GIP application forms to EDB, online and in hard copy.
- Attend an interview with EDB.
- Receive approval-in-principle from ICA, valid for 6 months, and make the investment within that period.
- Submit the investment undertaking and evidence; ICA then issues final approval.
- Formalize permanent residence within 12 months of the final approval letter.
Keeping GIP permanent residence after year five
GIP permanent residence comes with a 5-year re-entry permit, and its renewal depends on what the investor has done in Singapore since approval. Option A investors must have a company employing at least 30 people, at least half of them Singapore citizens and at least 10 of them new hires. Option B investors must keep the SGD 25 million in the GIP-select fund. Option C investors must employ at least 5 additional family office professionals, at least 3 of them citizens, and keep SGD 50 million in EDB-specified investments.
Under all three options, the investor or all dependants who gained PR through the application must have lived in Singapore for more than half of the time. The renewal window opens 3 months before the permit expires, and ICA's electronic system handles the application. EDB warns that without a valid re-entry permit, PR is lost on leaving Singapore. Parents and adult children are not covered by the application itself and instead apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass linked to the investor's re-entry permit.
Questions and answers
Can EntrePass holders apply for Singapore PR?
ICA's published list of applicant groups names Employment Pass and S Pass holders, family members of citizens and PRs, certain students and GIP investors. The EntrePass is not listed separately, so founders on an EntrePass should confirm with ICA whether and how they can apply. ICA sets no minimum residence period and assesses each case on contribution, family profile and length of stay.
How long does a Global Investor Programme application take?
EDB's factsheet estimates about 12 months for a GIP application, provided every supporting document is submitted at the start, and notes that due diligence checks apply. After approval-in-principle, the applicant has 6 months to invest and must then formalize permanent residence within 12 months of the final approval letter.
Can parents be included in a GIP application?
No. Only the spouse and unmarried children under 21 at the date of submission can be included as dependants. Parents and unmarried children aged 21 or over can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass, whose validity is tied to the investor's re-entry permit. Male children who obtain PR as dependants become liable for National Service.
Is the GIP fund option still SGD 25 million?
Yes. Option B requires an investment of SGD 25 million in a GIP-select fund that invests in Singapore-based companies, made from a personal account in the applicant's sole name at a Singapore bank. EDB shortlists these funds on track record, Singapore mandate and sector focus, and states that selection is not an endorsement of any fund.
Official sources
- Apply for Permanent Residencewww.ica.gov.sg
- Global Investor Programmewww.edb.gov.sg
- Global Investor Programme factsheet (updated 5 May 2025)assets.app.optical.gov.sg
- Changes to Global Investor Programme will generate more spin-offs for the Singapore economywww.edb.gov.sg
Reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current requirements with the official authority or a licensed adviser before applying.
Your path in Singapore.
Startup visa
EntrePass for a 30%-owned, venture-backed or innovative company
02Temporary residence
EntrePass renewals tied to business spending and local workforce
03Permanent residence
Discretionary ICA application, or the GIP for large investors
04Citizenship
Apply after 2 years as a PR; other citizenships must be given up