Singapore Identity Card

joymar47 · Post by **joymar47** » Sun, 19 Jun 2005 4:31 am

I am 16 years old female, Singapore-born, but am living in Canada since 7 years old.
After a few years in Canada, my parents got their Canadian citizenship and I as their daughter, automatically got the Canadian citizenship.
But I still wish to return to Singapore to apply for my Singapore Identity Card even though I have the Canadian citizenship by my parents' application. Will there be any problem or complications for me to apply for my Singapore I/C in this case? My Singapore Passport is still valid until 2009.
Will the immigration ever found out of my inherited Canadian citizen by my parents' if I just show them my valid Singapore Passport for my Singapore I/C application?
Can anyone advise me please? I appreciate very much for any tips, etc. Thanks

Pinky · Post by **Pinky** » Mon, 20 Jun 2005 12:05 am

They will surely know. Best is to contact the immigration straight. http://www.ica.gov.sg

Should not be too much of a problem getting a Singapore IC, however, you will be required to give up your Canadian citizenship (correct me if I am wrong on this).

joymar47 · Post by **joymar47** » Tue, 21 Jun 2005 5:47 am

Thanks Pinky for your advise but I am puzzled as to how can they find out about my Canadian Citizenship if I only show them my valid Singapore Passport?
You mean to say that they will still ask me whether I am also a Canadian Citizen no matter what, even with the Singapore Passport for the application? Will they ever find out if I just deny having the Canadian Citizenship because I don't wish to renounce my Canadian Citizenship yet.
I wish to decide whether to be a Singapore Citizen or Canadian Citizen only when I have come to the age of 18 or 21 years old?
Can this be done?
Is there anyone else too who had experiences in applying for Singapore I/C with dual citizenship to advise me on this please? I appreciate any suggestions, etc. Thanks!

elizabeth · Post by **elizabeth** » Tue, 21 Jun 2005 9:49 am

joymar47 wrote:Thanks Pinky for your advise but I am puzzled as to how can they find out about my Canadian Citizenship if I only show them my valid Singapore Passport?
You mean to say that they will still ask me whether I am also a Canadian Citizen no matter what, even with the Singapore Passport for the application? Will they ever find out if I just deny having the Canadian Citizenship because I don't wish to renounce my Canadian Citizenship yet.
I wish to decide whether to be a Singapore Citizen or Canadian Citizen only when I have come to the age of 18 or 21 years old?
Can this be done?
Is there anyone else too who had experiences in applying for Singapore I/C with dual citizenship to advise me on this please? I appreciate any suggestions, etc. Thanks!

You can only hold on to one citizenship. I think you will be given a time frame to chose which citizenship you want to hold. Are you holding a candran PR or the Citizenship.

I dont know how they can find out that you are holding on to Candan Citizship, but when you enter to singapore they will know you have been there for many many years. Call them and find out more.

Pinky · Post by **Pinky** » Wed, 22 Jun 2005 1:57 am

joymar47 wrote:Thanks Pinky for your advise but I am puzzled as to how can they find out about my Canadian Citizenship if I only show them my valid Singapore Passport?
You mean to say that they will still ask me whether I am also a Canadian Citizen no matter what, even with the Singapore Passport for the application? Will they ever find out if I just deny having the Canadian Citizenship because I don't wish to renounce my Canadian Citizenship yet.
I wish to decide whether to be a Singapore Citizen or Canadian Citizen only when I have come to the age of 18 or 21 years old?
Can this be done?
Is there anyone else too who had experiences in applying for Singapore I/C with dual citizenship to advise me on this please? I appreciate any suggestions, etc. Thanks!

You'll be surprised how well linked the governmental departments of different countries are. Further, it would be obvious that you have some kind of residency status in Canada since you have been there for some time. Normally you can hold on to two citizenships, but will have to choose when you reach the age of 21 (pretty sure it's 21, but it could be 18).

Point to note: Never lie about your residency status as it is an offence under Singapore law (pretty sure it's against Canadian law as well). Best thing to do is to talk to a lawyer specialising in Singapore law if you don't want to ask the immigration department or the Singapore embassy.

joymar47 · Post by **joymar47** » Wed, 22 Jun 2005 6:48 am

Right now I am in a fix as I don't want to renounce any of the two citizenships. I think I better postpone appying for my Singapore I/C until I am 18 or 21 years old. I guess you're right, Pinky. I better consult my case with a Singapore lawyer first. I don't want to talk to the Singapore immigration department or Embassy alerting them about my case, right?

Anyway, when I enter Singapore for a visit, Pinky, do you or anybody else there know which passport should I use? Canadian or Singapore passport? I wish to visit Singapore this year hopefully during my school holidays.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions and advices. I really appreciate as many feedbacks as possible please.

traveller · Post by **traveller** » Wed, 22 Jun 2005 7:42 am

Use the Singapore passport to enter Singapore, the Canadian one for Canada and whichever is most convenient for anywhere else. That's what mosr dual passport holders do.

Pinky · Post by **Pinky** » Thu, 23 Jun 2005 1:13 pm

traveller wrote:Use the Singapore passport to enter Singapore, the Canadian one for Canada and whichever is most convenient for anywhere else. That's what mosr dual passport holders do.

Agreed. Always use your Singapore passport to enter Singapore and Canadian one when going into Canada. As for Singapore, alarm bells will start to ring if you use a different passport to enter the country, especially when you have a valid Singapore passport.

Post by **jpatokal** » Thu, 23 Jun 2005 8:03 pm

Pinky wrote:
joymar47 wrote:You'll be surprised how well linked the governmental departments of different countries are.
Yes, as the answer is that they basically are not linked at all!

Point to note: Never lie about your residency status as it is an offence under Singapore law (pretty sure it's against Canadian law as well). Best thing to do is to talk to a lawyer specialising in Singapore law if you don't want to ask the immigration department or the Singapore embassy.

But this is good advice.

spiriticon84 · Post by **spiriticon84** » Fri, 24 Jun 2005 2:44 am

hi joymar...

it is an offence under singapore law to hold to passports, and an even bigger offence to lie to the government about your citizenship status. You could be fined I think.

You can hold on to both till the age of 21, where you MUST renounce one under Singapore law.

At the moment I'm a dual Singapore/UK citizen hanging on to both by the skin of my teeth because I'm over 21 now...and I'm not liking my situation one bit. =/

Be careful....

Pinky · Post by **Pinky** » Fri, 24 Jun 2005 2:57 am

jpatokal wrote:
Pinky wrote:
joymar47 wrote:You'll be surprised how well linked the governmental departments of different countries are.
Yes, as the answer is that they basically are not linked at all!

Point to note: Never lie about your residency status as it is an offence under Singapore law (pretty sure it's against Canadian law as well). Best thing to do is to talk to a lawyer specialising in Singapore law if you don't want to ask the immigration department or the Singapore embassy.
But this is good advice.

I don't mean linked as in one government is able to automatically access records of another government / country, but as in the sharing of information when requested.

By the way, you have been pretty quiet lately JP. Nice to see you "back"

joymar47 · Post by **joymar47** » Sun, 26 Jun 2005 12:06 am

Hi everyone

Thanks for all of your advices, etc. I am glad I entered this forum by chance.
Everyone has been very helpful! Thanks a bunch! I'll be CAREFUL! It sucks to have dual citizenships especially when one has to renounce one of them! Hopefully, when it is time for me to choose between the two citizenships, Singapore has finally accepted dual citizenships.
I must be dreaming, right???

Too bad.

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