Single Singaporean mum giving birth overseas

[ShanghaiSG]

Hi all,

Am a Singaporean (by birth) and have been working in Shanghai last couple of years. Due to work reasons, I may not be able to be back in SG to have my baby delivered there.
I’m a single mum, been reading up on ICA website but I am not able to get a clear verdict if my baby will be eligible for Singapore citizenship by descent as I’m not married.
Can anyone provide some advice?

[therat]

https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Overseas-Mission ... 20marriage.

pt 3

[ShanghaiSG]

Thanks for that, I saw this too and on the ICA website shows this : Overseas BornChildren to
Singapore Citizen Parents*
(*where the gestational mother is a Singapore Citizen; or father is a Singapore Citizen and is married to the child's gestational mother at the
time of birth of the child)

I guess in this case I fall into the first category where I am the gestational mother

[sundaymorningstaple]

viewtopic.php?p=862743#p862743

"3. Are an unmarried child aged below 21 born within the context of a legal marriage to, or have been legally adopted by, an SC."

[sundaymorningstaple]

More bad news. I fear the only solution is going to be to try adoption. But whether or not is would be recognized IN Singapore while you are still in China it doubtful.

https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-ar ... singapore/

[NYY1]

Some of the information online (from various sources) is not clear (especially when trying to mix and match / paste together). Suggest to verify with the appropriate people/agency before proceeding.

The Constitution appears to be less restrictive on Citizenship by Descent in the case where the parent obtained SC by Birth (the case here); i.e. 122(2)(b) and 122(3) do not apply (you do need to comply with 122(2)(a) though).

https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CONS1963?Pro ... l=1#pr122-

The cut and pastes from ICA may mean different things. For example, one parent could have obtained SC shortly after the child was born (pending application) or the parent could have missed the one year deadline to register the child. In the latter case, the child would still be eligible to apply, although it does not appear he/she would have a "right" to it.

3. Are an unmarried child aged below 21 born within the context of a legal marriage to, or have been legally adopted by, a Singapore citizen.

Similarly, in the following case I am not sure the description associated with the S$18 fee is inclusive of all of the cases where a child has a right to SC. Instead, it may be that these are just the cases were you pay S$18 instead of S$100.

Overseas Born Children to Singapore citizen Parents*

(*where the gestational mother is a Singapore citizen; or father is a Singapore citizen and is married to the child’s gestational mother at the time of birth of the child)

Best of luck and hope you can get a definitive answer.

[ShanghaiSG]

Yea I’ve been searching online too and those are similar pages that I’ve found.
Hoping to try the forum here to see if I can get any other useful information

[therat]

My suggestion - go directly to the source.
Ask ICA

You didn't mention when you giving birth, if is during covid time. Might can explain why you give birth in China.

[PNGMK]

Hi all,

Am a Singaporean (by birth) and have been working in Shanghai last couple of years. Due to work reasons, I may not be able to be back in SG to have my baby delivered there.
I’m a single mum, been reading up on ICA website but I am not able to get a clear verdict if my baby will be eligible for Singapore citizenship by descent as I’m not married.
Can anyone provide some advice?

You should absolutely attempt to be back in Singapore to give birth if you want a 100% guarantee that your child will have SC. Do not rely on advice from ICA or us. Go for the safe option. Your child will definitely have SC if born in Singapore to a SC mother. In China your child could be born stateless which is a death sentence.