Do new citizens have to serve NS?

[ChenKaiChuang]

I'm aiming to move to singapore. If I get a PR (through employment, not dependant of anything), and then obtained citizenship later, would I have to serve NS? If so, would it be good to wait till 40 to apply for citizenship?

[jalanjalan]

"Male applicants who are granted PR status under the Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers Scheme or the Investor Scheme are exempted from NS."
https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/citizenship/

"But if a foreigner comes to Singapore and becomes a citizen as a mature adult, typically in his 30s or 40s, we exempt him from NS because he did not enjoy any socio-economic benefits like young Singaporeans and also because he would be too old to enlist for full time NS."
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mi ... 02aug22_ps

Don't worry though, you can still volunteer if you meet the criteria
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/oms/safvc/

[sundaymorningstaple]

Excellent!

[Lisafuller]

I'm aiming to move to singapore. If I get a PR (through employment, not dependant of anything), and then obtained citizenship later, would I have to serve NS? If so, would it be good to wait till 40 to apply for citizenship?

No, you are exempt

[Lisafuller]

"Male applicants who are granted PR status under the Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers Scheme or the Investor Scheme are exempted from NS."
https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/citizenship/

"But if a foreigner comes to Singapore and becomes a citizen as a mature adult, typically in his 30s or 40s, we exempt him from NS because he did not enjoy any socio-economic benefits like young Singaporeans and also because he would be too old to enlist for full time NS."
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mi ... 02aug22_ps

Don't worry though, you can still volunteer if you meet the criteria
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/oms/safvc/

What do you think the age cut off is?

[PNGMK]

"Male applicants who are granted PR status under the Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers Scheme or the Investor Scheme are exempted from NS."
https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/citizenship/

"But if a foreigner comes to Singapore and becomes a citizen as a mature adult, typically in his 30s or 40s, we exempt him from NS because he did not enjoy any socio-economic benefits like young Singaporeans and also because he would be too old to enlist for full time NS."
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mi ... 02aug22_ps

Don't worry though, you can still volunteer if you meet the criteria
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/oms/safvc/

What do you think the age cut off is?

For first generation applicants there is no recruitment at all. Not even students who come in and become SC as far as I know.

[NYY1]

For first generation applicants there is no recruitment at all. Not even students who come in and become SC as far as I know.

If one applies under the Student route, he is liable at the PR stage. I don't specifically see the Students exempted when applying for SC? Student to Uni to PTS would avoid NS if you can afford the foreign fees (at all levels of schooling).

https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/PR/apply

Male applicants who are granted PR status as a Foreign Student or under their parents’ sponsorship are required to register for NS upon reaching 16½ years old and will be scheduled for enlistment at the earliest opportunity upon reaching 18 years old. MINDEF allows students to attain educational qualifications up to the 'A' Levels certificate, the polytechnic diploma or an equivalent before they are required to serve NS. They are enlisted at the earliest opportunity when they have finished such courses, or after turning 18 years old, whichever is later. MINDEF does not grant deferment for university studies, regardless of whether such studies have begun. All male applicants are required to access www.cmpb.gov.sg for information on NS deferment, pre-enlistment process and Exit Permit requirements, before proceeding with the application.

[jalanjalan]

What do you think the age cut off is?

I don't see it in the enlistment act but I didn't look very close.

[PNGMK]

For first generation applicants there is no recruitment at all. Not even students who come in and become SC as far as I know.

If one applies under the Student route, he is liable at the PR stage. I don't specifically see the Students exempted when applying for SC? Student to Uni to PTS would avoid NS if you can afford the foreign fees (at all levels of schooling).

https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/PR/apply

Male applicants who are granted PR status as a Foreign Student or under their parents’ sponsorship are required to register for NS upon reaching 16½ years old and will be scheduled for enlistment at the earliest opportunity upon reaching 18 years old. MINDEF allows students to attain educational qualifications up to the 'A' Levels certificate, the polytechnic diploma or an equivalent before they are required to serve NS. They are enlisted at the earliest opportunity when they have finished such courses, or after turning 18 years old, whichever is later. MINDEF does not grant deferment for university studies, regardless of whether such studies have begun. All male applicants are required to access www.cmpb.gov.sg for information on NS deferment, pre-enlistment process and Exit Permit requirements, before proceeding with the application.

The thing is the boys don't stay for NS if they are not invited for PR. It's the usual Singapore stuff up.

[Lisafuller]

"Male applicants who are granted PR status under the Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers Scheme or the Investor Scheme are exempted from NS."
https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/citizenship/

"But if a foreigner comes to Singapore and becomes a citizen as a mature adult, typically in his 30s or 40s, we exempt him from NS because he did not enjoy any socio-economic benefits like young Singaporeans and also because he would be too old to enlist for full time NS."
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mi ... 02aug22_ps

Don't worry though, you can still volunteer if you meet the criteria
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/oms/safvc/

What do you think the age cut off is?

For first generation applicants there is no recruitment at all. Not even students who come in and become SC as far as I know.

Really? Then why wouldn't everyone apply?

[Lisafuller]

For first generation applicants there is no recruitment at all. Not even students who come in and become SC as far as I know.

If one applies under the Student route, he is liable at the PR stage. I don't specifically see the Students exempted when applying for SC? Student to Uni to PTS would avoid NS if you can afford the foreign fees (at all levels of schooling).

https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/PR/apply

Male applicants who are granted PR status as a Foreign Student or under their parents’ sponsorship are required to register for NS upon reaching 16½ years old and will be scheduled for enlistment at the earliest opportunity upon reaching 18 years old. MINDEF allows students to attain educational qualifications up to the 'A' Levels certificate, the polytechnic diploma or an equivalent before they are required to serve NS. They are enlisted at the earliest opportunity when they have finished such courses, or after turning 18 years old, whichever is later. MINDEF does not grant deferment for university studies, regardless of whether such studies have begun. All male applicants are required to access www.cmpb.gov.sg for information on NS deferment, pre-enlistment process and Exit Permit requirements, before proceeding with the application.

That sounds more like what I know to be the case, I remember a few of my friends who had sons who ended up becoming citizens/PRs, and ended up having to serve.

[Lisafuller]

What do you think the age cut off is?

I don't see it in the enlistment act but I didn't look very close.

As far as I know there isn't a hard cut off, which is why I find quite intriguing. It must be so nerve-racking to apply as someone who's on the edge of their 20s.

[NYY1]

For first generation applicants there is no recruitment at all. Not even students who come in and become SC as far as I know.

If one applies under the Student route, he is liable at the PR stage. I don't specifically see the Students exempted when applying for SC? Student to Uni to PTS would avoid NS if you can afford the foreign fees (at all levels of schooling).

https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/PR/apply

Male applicants who are granted PR status as a Foreign Student or under their parents’ sponsorship are required to register for NS upon reaching 16½ years old and will be scheduled for enlistment at the earliest opportunity upon reaching 18 years old. MINDEF allows students to attain educational qualifications up to the 'A' Levels certificate, the polytechnic diploma or an equivalent before they are required to serve NS. They are enlisted at the earliest opportunity when they have finished such courses, or after turning 18 years old, whichever is later. MINDEF does not grant deferment for university studies, regardless of whether such studies have begun. All male applicants are required to access www.cmpb.gov.sg for information on NS deferment, pre-enlistment process and Exit Permit requirements, before proceeding with the application.

The thing is the boys don't stay for NS if they are not invited for PR. It's the usual Singapore stuff up.

OK, I interpreted your original statement as students who come here and become SCs (first PRs) via the designated student tracks. There are undoubtedly foreign students that receive many years of MOE education here but do not become PR/SC as students and later obtain these statuses via the working route (and never have to serve).

[PNGMK]

For first generation applicants there is no recruitment at all. Not even students who come in and become SC as far as I know.

If one applies under the Student route, he is liable at the PR stage. I don't specifically see the Students exempted when applying for SC? Student to Uni to PTS would avoid NS if you can afford the foreign fees (at all levels of schooling).

https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/PR/apply

Male applicants who are granted PR status as a Foreign Student or under their parents’ sponsorship are required to register for NS upon reaching 16½ years old and will be scheduled for enlistment at the earliest opportunity upon reaching 18 years old. MINDEF allows students to attain educational qualifications up to the 'A' Levels certificate, the polytechnic diploma or an equivalent before they are required to serve NS. They are enlisted at the earliest opportunity when they have finished such courses, or after turning 18 years old, whichever is later. MINDEF does not grant deferment for university studies, regardless of whether such studies have begun. All male applicants are required to access www.cmpb.gov.sg for information on NS deferment, pre-enlistment process and Exit Permit requirements, before proceeding with the application.

That sounds more like what I know to be the case, I remember a few of my friends who had sons who ended up becoming citizens/PRs, and ended up having to serve.

The boys are second gen PR in your case (my {PR} friends who had sons = 2nd gen). No escape for them. For a first gen student who is not under his parents sponsorship who then becomes PR who then becomes SC I don't believe they are liable for NS. Very rare (these are normally boys sent over here under study mama's or into boarding hostels on their own under a student pass).

[smoulder]

A couple of years ago, I was told by an ICA officer that a male PR (under the FTS scheme) under the age of 40 *might* be asked by MINDEF to serve NS, if the country needs it. It therefore stands to reason that a new citizen under the age of 40 might also be asked to do so if it's needed. However, the thing is that, there are no known cases of this actually happening. The ICA officer did mention that too.