Singapore Citizenship SC Process Approval Timeline Sharing

[edusg]

Been looking at this forum for news and updates on Singapore Citizenship SC application outcome timeline and eJourney process.
Now that I got mine approved/completed. Perhaps what I have experienced might be useful for other readers here.


Singapore Citizenship Application

Here it goes:

Applied in Dec 2019 online via ICA website.
All documents submission & payments are done online.
Age early 30s when online application submitted.
Male.
China Chinese.
Income: S$100-S$150K per annum (2017/2018)
Been in Singapore before year 2000.
Bachelor's Degree from one of the Local Uni (NUS/NTU/SMU)
Approved in first half of Feb 2021
EP for 2 years, followed by PR for 2 years, applied for Citizenship.

Singapore Citizenship Approval Notified via Email and on myICA.
Happened that I check myICA and noticed its Approved before seeing the email notification.
Email will only say there's a status change in myICA and you need check via myICA.
There is no physical letter mailed to me by ICA throughout this application/approval process.

On myICA it shows Approved in Principle (AIP) and give you instructions on what to do next.

The eJourney can be done all online without going out of your home, not sure if will remain this way after COVID.
You can start doing eJourney one day after approval.
Completed my eJourney within 7 days, they sent another notification letter on myICA asking you to renounce home citizenship, did mine through the embassy in Singapore.

Once completed eJourney, you can schedule a time-slot via myICA to do the Oath taking, you would need to present the renunciation document when you visit ICA.

After Oath taking they will issue you a temporary paper IC and the actual pink one will be given to you months later + the original Singapore Citizenship Certificate during ceremony in your GRC.

Unlike the earlier posts I have seen, now Passport can be applied in person after Oath taking or next day online, and you will not get it the same day. When applying in person, you drop the completed application form + photo pasted in a box outside ICA Building, that's it.
You need to wait for about a week, unless you can convince the officer with some really legitimate reason why you need it so urgently instead of 7 days later.


Summary:
Time taken for online application to approval: Within 14 months
Time taken after approval + eJourney + Oath taking: within 10 day.



Good luck to all who are waiting for the good news! Things might be a little slower during COVID.

[Dexter21]

Hi
Just want to know if all the documents you uploaded online must be certified true copy?
I inquired about the fees to obtain certification and the amount cost is as follows;
Notarial Cert and SALN = $190 (about that amount)
Documents to be certified is $5/doc subsequent doc is $10.

This is not including the ICA fee of $100.

I have now second thoughts about applying.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Well, the way I see it, it appears you are only "trying your luck". Kind of like buying Toto. If you REALLY wanted SGC you would invest in your application. And yes, if they asked for certified true copies, that exactly what they want.

[edusg]

Hi
Just want to know if all the documents you uploaded online must be certified true copy?
I inquired about the fees to obtain certification and the amount cost is as follows;
Notarial Cert and SALN = $190 (about that amount)
Documents to be certified is $5/doc subsequent doc is $10.

This is not including the ICA fee of $100.

I have now second thoughts about applying.

All documents I have uploaded (issued locally or overseas) were not certified true copy. Just scanned copies.

Having said that, I believe ICA do reserve the right to request (or I should say demand) for "Certified True Copy", including sighting the original for any documents you have submitted. It is a matter of whether they want to or not.

For my application, all documents were scanned copies, that's all. They did not request to see original or certified true copies. Possibly because almost all the documents I have submitted were obtained locally, there is less doubt in locally issued documents.

In any case, you should have the original or certified true copies with you. Just to be sure.

[edusg]

Well, the way I see it, it appears you are only "trying your luck". Kind of like buying Toto. If you REALLY wanted SGC you would invest in your application. And yes, if they asked for certified true copies, that exactly what they want.

Yea, I agree. Citizenship application is a serious decision. There shouldn't be "maybe" or "second thoughts" and etc. Apply only when you're ready to commit and very sure.

[Dexter21]

Just wondering if ICA is aware of the processing fee of getting a certified true copy just to upload it over the system. The firm I inquired about told me that this certification is for a single authentication. Meaning if in case ICA ask for more documents to upload then another fee of such amount need to pay. What if ICA needs only one document?

[Dexter21]

I don't mind paying if I already got the approval but investing so much for an application that has uncertainties put me to think twice. I hope ICA reconsidered this new ruling.

[bcheng74]

I don't mind paying if I already got the approval but investing so much for an application that has uncertainties put me to think twice. I hope ICA reconsidered this new ruling.

What new ruling is it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[singaporeflyer]

I don't mind paying if I already got the approval but investing so much for an application that has uncertainties put me to think twice. I hope ICA reconsidered this new ruling.

First - did ICA ask you for certified true copies to be uploaded? In most of the cases they asked for scanned copies only. When someone asks for certified true copy they USUALLY wont ask you to upload that. They will ask for the certified true copy to be sent physically to them. This way they know what you sent to them is a certified version of the original.

I have had copies does for main page 5 dollars and additional pages 1-2 dollars. This is certified true copy and not Notarization.

Secondly, you said you wont think if your application was approved to go ahead and CTC.

Think from ICA's view in case they really asked for it. Why should they spend their time and money to vet through your application, when there is a chance that it may not be genuine? That's why they ask for CTC? But I have not come across this where they ask for Scanned CTC to be uploaded

[edusg]

I don't mind paying if I already got the approval but investing so much for an application that has uncertainties put me to think twice. I hope ICA reconsidered this new ruling.

Its part and parcel of the application, applicable to many other applications as well such as VISA to enter certain countries.

To some people having a computer, scanner, printer, is added costs. If you're the "unlucky" one and needs to submit Certified True Copies/Notarised Certificates/etc, then you will incur more costs.

[thelitguy]

Just curious, how long did it take before you received the letter from ICA asking to renounce your citizenship on myICA?

[edusg]

Just curious, how long did it take before you received the letter from ICA asking to renounce your citizenship on myICA?

After I received my Approval In Principle (AIP) in ICA Citizenship Portal, I took 2 days to finish the e-Journey and the letter mentioning renunciation was sent via the same portal after another 7 days or so.

[Resilas]

Thank you, edusg, for sharing your experience.

I have some questions regarding the oath taking. I tried to google but couldn't find the answer, so I hope someone on this forum can help me.

1. How long does ICA give for oath taking after renouncing my citizenship of birth? Or is it counted from the time final approval letter is issued?

2. I heard that the deadline for oath taking can be extended. How long is the extension? Is it a standard number of days/weeks, or is it different for everyone?

3. How many time can I request for extension? Just in case the renunciation process takes longer than expected.

For some personal reason, I want to avoid the month of October so I'm trying to plan for before or after October.

[singaporeflyer]

Thank you, edusg, for sharing your experience.

I have some questions regarding the oath taking. I tried to google but couldn't find the answer, so I hope someone on this forum can help me.

1. How long does ICA give for oath taking after renouncing my citizenship of birth? Or is it counted from the time final approval letter is issued?

2. I heard that the deadline for oath taking can be extended. How long is the extension? Is it a standard number of days/weeks, or is it different for everyone?

3. How many time can I request for extension? Just in case the renunciation process takes longer than expected.

For some personal reason, I want to avoid the month of October so I'm trying to plan for before or after October.

1. Oath taking can be done only after you renounce your current citizenship. You need to book an appointment for Oath Taking which will happen when Citizenship formalities are completed.

2. You can extend it by writing into ICA. It is case by case and based on if ICA feels your case is valid to give an extension. But are you willing to renounce your current citizenship and be without any citizenship/passport?

3. There is no fixed number of times or documentation to say you can ask for extension N times. But people in ICA are helpful if your need is genuine.

[Resilas]

Thank you, singaporeflyer, for your reply.

Good point about being without citizenship.
I heard from my fellow citizens that the renunciation process can take 1-3 months (depending on luck?). Trying to gather all information I can find so that I can plan accordingly.
I'm almost done with the eJourney, just short of giving 1 online feedback.