Singapore PR (REP) Requiremnt

[Godfather_Justin]

Hi Hi guys,

I have some doubts in the condition/requirement for renewing Singapore PR (REP) status:

- Is there minimum length of stay in Singapore in every 5 years (Normal REP is 5 years) in order to maintain one's Singapore PR status? How long?
- For sponsored spouse PR, is salary, education level, income tax still important for REP renewal? if not, then what is important?

Thank you

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hi Hi guys,

I have some doubts in the condition/requirement for renewing Singapore PR (REP) status:

- Is there minimum length of stay in Singapore in every 5 years (Normal REP is 5 years) in order to maintain one's Singapore PR status? How long?
- For sponsored spouse PR, is salary, education level, income tax still important for REP renewal? if not, then what is important?

Thank you

It used to be you needed to be in Singapore at least 3 out of the five years with at least 2 of them the last two years (I think there is an escape clause if you are working directly for a local employer who sends you to djakarta for a year to keep tabs on their subsidiary there as is still paying you in SG dollars and paying into your CPF, but other than that, it seems to be getting pretty grim if you aren't here the last two years (there are cases where they have found their REP renewed for only 12 months to give you time to shift operations back home again, if they suspect a ruse or just abusing the gift of PR.

There as been talk of cutting the REP period from 5 to 3 years. I don't know if that has happened yet or not, but I reckon it's on the drawing board. If you are talking about a dependent PR, no, you don't have to meet the income and other requirements AS long as your sponsoring spouse still qualifies for the REP. If you are married to a SC I don't think it matters if you are female. Male I'm not sure. I've always been working when I renewed mine although I found out that if you are on a Family Ties PR after the age of 55 you don't need to show employment (I went through a dry patch of 15 months during which my REP expired and I didn't renew for 15 months (never left the little red dot either!). Under 55 and male? I don't know.

[ecureilx]

It used to be you needed to be in Singapore at least 3 out of the five years with at least 2 of them the last two years (I think there is an escape clause if you are working directly for a local employer who sends you to djakarta for a year to keep tabs on their subsidiary there as is still paying you in SG dollars and paying into your CPF...

There's a friend of mine in Brunei for 6 plus years, his pay paid in Singapore And Cpf contributed, family living in Singapore.... Never had any problem

And another who had his own company, employed 3 locals, and spent most of 2+ years of his REP overseas, at the tail end of 5 years, and had his salary and cpf paid in Singapore but no family member here, saw his REP rejected.

On appeal he was offered a 1 year REP. As he told me.

ICA looks at more than one factor when deciding, I believe.

[Godfather_Justin]

It used to be you needed to be in Singapore at least 3 out of the five years with at least 2 of them the last two years (I think there is an escape clause if you are working directly for a local employer who sends you to djakarta for a year to keep tabs on their subsidiary there as is still paying you in SG dollars and paying into your CPF, but other than that, it seems to be getting pretty grim if you aren't here the last two years (there are cases where they have found their REP renewed for only 12 months to give you time to shift operations back home again, if they suspect a ruse or just abusing the gift of PR.

Hi sms,

nice to see your reply again, you are still super active in this forum, helping and reaching out to many confused dudes...so my question is simple, if the dependent PR needs to be out of SG for more than 3 years, does she/he still be given 5 years REP? As in the extension requirement is based on her/his length of stay in SG or based on the sponsor's (since from your reply i can tell the Gov actually look at the sponsor's capabilities rather than the person herself/himself) ?

[Godfather_Justin]

It used to be you needed to be in Singapore at least 3 out of the five years with at least 2 of them the last two years (I think there is an escape clause if you are working directly for a local employer who sends you to djakarta for a year to keep tabs on their subsidiary there as is still paying you in SG dollars and paying into your CPF...

There's a friend of mine in Brunei for 6 plus years, his pay paid in Singapore And Cpf contributed, family living in Singapore.... Never had any problem

And another who had his own company, employed 3 locals, and spent most of 2+ years of his REP overseas, at the tail end of 5 years, and had his salary and cpf paid in Singapore but no family member here, saw his REP rejected.

On appeal he was offered a 1 year REP. As he told me.

ICA looks at more than one factor when deciding, I believe.

Hi ecureilx,

I can understand ICA's decision based on your example, but my doubts are on dependent PR....

[sundaymorningstaple]

It used to be you needed to be in Singapore at least 3 out of the five years with at least 2 of them the last two years (I think there is an escape clause if you are working directly for a local employer who sends you to djakarta for a year to keep tabs on their subsidiary there as is still paying you in SG dollars and paying into your CPF, but other than that, it seems to be getting pretty grim if you aren't here the last two years (there are cases where they have found their REP renewed for only 12 months to give you time to shift operations back home again, if they suspect a ruse or just abusing the gift of PR.

Hi sms,

nice to see your reply again, you are still super active in this forum, helping and reaching out to many confused dudes...so my question is simple, if the dependent PR needs to be out of SG for more than 3 years, does she/he still be given 5 years REP? As in the extension requirement is based on her/his length of stay in SG or based on the sponsor's (since from your reply i can tell the Gov actually look at the sponsor's capabilities rather than the person herself/himself) ?

Okay, I don't have anything to support this except for my gut reaction. The dependent PR holder has to be either a minor, a spouse or an unmarried female child over the age of 21 who is not employed. If the spouse (as in your case) returned to your country for a temporary period of time, I don't think it would matter, but if she has returned home to work and is not paying taxes to Singapore, then I could see her losing her PR as she isn't dependent on you as she isn't in Singapore.

Additionally, Singapore is look for way of reducing the PR population and the fact that if she's been gone for 2 or 3 years, then she isn't a Permanent Resident at all. Leaving for a month on home leave is one thing but the fact that she has not been living here might throw a spanner in the works. But how they will know is another kettle of fish. It would be easy for ICA to check and see that she left and had been gone for a considerable length of time, but I know there are people who have returned to their own country to give birth and returned year later with no problem. But other than than that, I'm afraid I don't know. I think I'd be prepared for the worst, unless it's a situation where the spouse had to return home to look after aging parents which can be documented, I can't think of another reason to spend that long away as a PR unless she gave birth to a male child and doesn't want to get PR for the male child due to the NS issues. That is one of the things that they WILL be looking for. If that's the case, I think I'd be making a Plan B.

[PNGMK]

Try not to renew until after the new GE (2016).

[bro75]

There are some incidences (anecdotal) that ICA has required the sponsor PR and dependent PRs to appear at the ICA personally before the REP was renewed.

[ecureilx]

There are some incidences (anecdotal) that ICA has required the sponsor PR and dependent PRs to appear at the ICA personally before the REP was renewed.

And I recall another friend who was on dependant PR, by marriage to an SC, and divorced after two kids, both Sc, had his REP period trimmed when he went for renewal.

He is gainfully employed in Singapore, btw.

I know it's nowhere near OPs situation but ... just an example of how unpredictable ICA can be nowadays

[Godfather_Justin]

Okay, I don't have anything to support this except for my gut reaction. The dependent PR holder has to be either a minor, a spouse or an unmarried female child over the age of 21 who is not employed. If the spouse (as in your case) returned to your country for a temporary period of time, I don't think it would matter, but if she has returned home to work and is not paying taxes to Singapore, then I could see her losing her PR as she isn't dependent on you as she isn't in Singapore.

Additionally, Singapore is look for way of reducing the PR population and the fact that if she's been gone for 2 or 3 years, then she isn't a Permanent Resident at all. Leaving for a month on home leave is one thing but the fact that she has not been living here might throw a spanner in the works. But how they will know is another kettle of fish. It would be easy for ICA to check and see that she left and had been gone for a considerable length of time, but I know there are people who have returned to their own country to give birth and returned year later with no problem. But other than than that, I'm afraid I don't know. I think I'd be prepared for the worst, unless it's a situation where the spouse had to return home to look after aging parents which can be documented, I can't think of another reason to spend that long away as a PR unless she gave birth to a male child and doesn't want to get PR for the male child due to the NS issues. That is one of the things that they WILL be looking for. If that's the case, I think I'd be making a Plan B.

Hi sms,

let me share with more details:

- Husband is SC (Chinese) - sponsor
- Wife is PR (Chinese) - dependent
- Son is SC
- Wife is not working when PR application is approved
- Wife does not plan to work in the next 5 year (taking care the son)
- Wife and son need to move to another country for minimally 3 years (grandparents are living in the country)
- Husband has a stable salary based job in SG and permanently living in SG.

Thannk you

[Godfather_Justin]

Try not to renew until after the new GE (2016).

The dependent PR just got the PR approved this year, given 5 years REP

[Godfather_Justin]

There are some incidences (anecdotal) that ICA has required the sponsor PR and dependent PRs to appear at the ICA personally before the REP was renewed.

They are husband and wife, so no issue for them to go to see officials tgt...

[sundaymorningstaple]

Gut feeling is they won't have a problem as the son is SC already so I'm assuming this is nothing to do with future NS. How old is the son? Is he schooling, or still a toddler? If a toddler and she's gone back to look after her folks, I thing she'll be okay.

[Godfather_Justin]

Gut feeling is they won't have a problem as the son is SC already so I'm assuming this is nothing to do with future NS. How old is the son? Is he schooling, or still a toddler? If a toddler and she's gone back to look after her folks, I thing she'll be okay.

Toddler...

[ful babu]

I would believe that ICA has an automated process with preset rule to judge an individual. I remember renewing my REP about a year ago, I did it on a Saturday, around midnight and it was immediately approved. Only thing in addition they asked me, if I was employed full time (in Singapore? , don't exactly remember) ... anecdotally I am not from a preferred race (use search if curious) but I would imagine REP portal is linked with one's residency status and length.