Step 1: Gather the Essential Documents

Before you even begin filling out your application forms, it’s crucial to gather all the necessary documentation. Starting with the core documents first saves you a significant amount of time by allowing you to quickly identify and organize everything you’ll need for your PR or Citizenship application. By tackling the essential documents—such as your NRIC, CV, educational transcripts, and marriage certificates—early on, you ensure that all required materials are in hand before you begin the application process. This proactive approach prevents last-minute scrambling for missing paperwork and reduces the chances of delays later on. With these core documents already prepared, you can focus your energy on filling out the application forms accurately and efficiently, ultimately speeding up the entire submission process.

Core documents to gather include:

• Current NRIC or pass

• Latest CV or resume

• All educational documents (including transcripts)

• Birth certificate

• All travel documents used to enter Singapore

• Foreign national ID (if applicable)

• Marriage certificate and divorce or death certificates from any previous marriages (if applicable)

• All professional qualifications

• Membership certificates (if any)

Ensure that all documents are in the required format: no black-and-white copies, and if your documents are not in English, they must be translated and notarized.

Important Tip: Letter of Employment is Time-Sensitive!

Your letter of employment is a crucial document for your PR or Citizenship application, but it is important to note that it has an expiration date. If you don’t complete your application within the same month that the letter is issued, it may expire and no longer be valid for submission. To avoid the hassle of obtaining a new one, it’s best to prepare your letter of employment closer to the final stages of your application, once most of the other documents are already in place. This will ensure it remains current and avoids any unnecessary delays.

Step 2: Review the MyICA Portal

NOTE: If you skip Step 1 and fail to complete the mandatory document collation, you will face significant challenges when it comes to this step. Completing your submission data, which involves filling in the application information, relies heavily on the details found in your mandatory documents. Without first gathering and organizing these documents, you’ll struggle to accurately fill in the required fields in this step. The information from your documents is crucial for ensuring that all data entered into the application is correct and consistent.

As all immigration professionals and prospective applicants should know, the MyICA portal has undergone extensive changes over the last 6 months. In addition to new implementations like being able to concurrently apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass while applying for Permanent Residency as well as the ability to nominate an alternate sponsor for the application, with effect from June 2024, the forms 4A/4SC/4CO/4AP are now defunct and ICA no longer accepts pre-filled forms. This means that, just as with previous Citizenship applications, all applicants must now manually enter all their information directly into the MyICA portal when submitting their application.

Without the ability to review a pre-filled PDF before submission, applicants must be extra cautious when keying in their details. Unlike the old process, applicants no longer have the opportunity to review a final version of their application before submission, so each field must be checked carefully as it is filled in.

At Heritage, we follow a meticulous and comprehensive 8-step completion and verification process to ensure your application is flawless. Our approach guarantees that every detail is correct (precisely matching the application form’s requirements), accurate (truly reflecting your qualifications and experience), consistent (aligned with all other information provided), and strategically presented (highlighting the best aspects of your profile while staying true to your story). This thorough process minimizes the risk of errors and ensures that your application stands out for all the right reasons.

If you’d like to replicate our thorough approach, the first step is to carefully note down all the required fields relevant to your specific case. Keep in mind that these fields may vary depending on the scheme type you are applying for (e.g., PTS, sponsorship, or citizenship) as well as your family structure. Once you have identified all the necessary fields, attempt to pre-fill them as accurately as possible. Afterward, review each field collectively to ensure consistency and completeness across all sections. This pre-filling and review process will help you identify any discrepancies or missing information before you proceed further, making your application more efficient and precise.

As you work on your application information, take note of some of our key tips for this stage:

Occupation Classification: all 'occupation' fields are limited by ICA's provided occupation list. Review the Singapore Standard Occupation Classification (SSOC) and read the nuanced differences between SSOC Major Group 1 and 2, and SSOC Major Groups 3 to 5. Most professionals in Singapore will have experienced a natural progression through various occupations if they are currently holding a PMET (professional, managerial, executive, and technical) role.

Family Information: most applicants will be required to provide extensive information about their family members i.e. parents and siblings, even if they are not included in the application. While this information might seem unnecessary, if it appears in your MyICA portal, please note that the information is required for ICA’s assessment.

Annual Turnover for Current Employment: please note that the figures indicated here for Y1/Y2/Y3 must correspond to your company's declared annual turnover in their EP Online (EPOL) portal with as registered with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

Step 3: (Optional) Collate Supporting Documents

While the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) does not disclose specific information about PR approvals or rejections in order to prevent bad actors from attempting to game the system, they have published a list of key factors that guide their assessment process. ICA evaluates applicants based on considerations such as family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, professional qualifications, age, family profile, and length of residency. These factors help ICA assess an applicant’s ability to contribute to Singapore’s growth, their potential to integrate into society, and their long-term commitment to putting down roots in the country. Understanding these key considerations can help applicants better align their profiles to meet ICA’s expectations.

NOTE: If you haven't already made sure of this in Step 1, gather your professional qualifications and memberships and add them to your pre-filled submission information. There should be relevant sections to declare such information.

As for further documents -- the sky is the limit; you can include the following types of documents:

• Newsletters featured

• Articles published

• Research papers published

• Seminar events hosted

• Seminars or events attended

• Media visibility

• Charity contribution receipts

• Proof of community involvement

• Financial-related documents

• Property or car ownership documents

• Reference letters from friends and family based in Singapore, your colleagues, mentees, and supervisors addressed to the ICA

• A cover letter containing sections that address the above considerations, addressed to the ICA. (Tip: make it as clear, concise, and as factual as possible)

Step 4: Time-Sensitive Documents

Now that you are done with the necessary prep work (congratulations!), you can now gather the remaining time-sensitive documents. These items are:

• Letter of employment (for applicants & core family members who are currently employed, whether in Singapore or overseas)

• Your last 6 months' payslips (for applicants & core family members who are currently employed, whether in Singapore or overseas)

• Your last 3 years' tax assessment (for applicants & core family members who are currently employed overseas only)

Step 4: Begin the Application Process

Now that you have all the mandatory documents, your submission information, and supporting documents ready, you can begin the application process. If you are currently married and your spouse is residing with you in Singapore, do ensure that they have an active SingPass login as they will need to endorse the information you have keyed in,

Enter the MyICA portal and login with your SingPass; navigate to 'Application for Permanent Residence'/'Application for Citizenship' and set up your application. Please note that at this point, you will need to indicate all individuals seeking to become Permanent Residents or Citizens.

Review the quoted application fee carefully; it should be SGD $100.00 per individual included in your application. For example, if you are a family of five but only you are applying for residency or citizenship, the application fee should be SGD $100.00. However, if all five family members are applying, the fee should be SGD $500.00.

If you are submitting a sponsorship case, you may also add an application for a Long-Term Visit Pass, provided the individual is eligible. In this case, the application fee will increase to SGD $130.00 per applicant.

Once you have confirmed the correct individuals included in the application, proceed to fill in the required application fields using the information you’ve gathered. Then, upload all the necessary documents to the MyICA portal to complete the submission process.

If your spouse is currently employed in Singapore, you have the option to designate them as an alternate sponsor for your application. This allows you to grant ICA the flexibility to consider your spouse as the primary applicant, should they determine it necessary during the evaluation process. By opting in, you provide ICA with the consent to switch the primary applicant if required, offering an added layer of flexibility to your application.

Your submission is successful once you have made the payment for the ICA application fees. Be sure to save a copy of your submission reference and details filled in for your records. You may need to refer to it later during the processing of your application.

Step 5: Stay Proactive After Submission

Once your application is submitted, it’s important to stay proactive. ICA may request additional information or documents. If there are any changes in your personal situation, such as a change of address, new job, or salary increase, be sure to update your application accordingly.

Step 6: Prepare for Potential Follow-Ups or Rejections

Although you’ve completed everything to the best of your ability, there is always a possibility that the ICA may require further clarification or adjustments. This is particularly common if there are discrepancies or missing information.

In case of a rejection, don’t panic. Instead, carefully review any feedback provided by the ICA. If necessary, you may choose to appeal or reapply with additional documentation to strengthen your case.

Step 7: Celebrate Your Successful Application

After submitting your application and addressing any follow-up requests, all you can do is wait for ICA’s decision. The process can take several months, so be patient.

Conclusion: When to Seek Professional Help

While this guide provides a solid foundation for completing your PR or Citizenship application independently, some applicants may find it beneficial to seek professional assistance. Immigration specialists can help with document verification, guide you through the application process, and ensure that your application meets the standards we have developed after years of case management experience, giving you confidence that your application is completed to the highest quality.

Whether you choose to apply on your own or seek expert support, thorough preparation, attention to detail, and staying informed are essential to ensuring your PR or Citizenship application meets all necessary requirements.

Good luck with your application!