tsuhas wrote:I am holding Singapore PR but currently living outside Singapore for the past three years. I have left Singapore 7 months after getting PR. I have Son (4 years old) and wife and all of us are holding valid Singapore PR. Both my wife and son are living with me outside Singapore for the past three years.
a) Our PR is valid for one more year but would like to know whether we can renew the PR from outside Singapore? This is because we have plans to come back to Singapore after some time.
b) If a is not possible what is the best way to retain the our PR for ever OR for next five years.
Your PR is not what expires by the way. It is you Re-Entry Permit that has to be renewed at 5 or 10 year intervals. (generally 5 if granted on Technical Merit or 5 or 10 if for family ties).
a) Only in rare instances (if at all) is it possible to renew from outside Singapore. Primarily, you would have to be working for a Singapore company and seconded to an overseas office or possibly had gone overseas on a sabbatical from a local employer to complete an MBA for instance. Otherwise, no. Or at least I've never hear of one being renewed from outside the country. I have heard cases of returning PR's who have been out of the country and inadvertently let the re-entry permit expire. (schooling in every case that I hear of) They can apply to ICA upon entry at immigration and if approved they will have to pay a fine for letting it lapse or not renewing prior to departure.
On the other hand, If you had just left in order to go to Aus or the US or Canada in order to obtain PR there as well (yes, Virginia, people do collect PR's - or try to keep as many bolt-holes open as possible - for some reason very popular with Indian Nationals in the IT industry) then you are in for a rude awakening. You will be required to furnish tax returns for the past three years (which is something of a joke as they can check with the CPF/IRAS just as easily - and probably do just to ensure the facts). Once it has been proven that you are NOT contributing to the economy or taxes to their coffers, you need for PR will become nil in their eyes. They aren't stupid.
b) Without having worked here for the past 4 years I'd say you chances of renewing your re-entry permit are chancy at best. It is pretty obvious, even to the densest of immigration officers that you are only keeping your PR as a convenience.
You can retain you PR indefinitely until you die without a re-entry permit PROVIDED you are resident in Singapore and NEVER leave the country (even to go to JB or Batam). Doing so without a valid re-entry permit would mean you would be effectively canceling your PR. (this does not, however work for a son who obtained PR - they have to formally renounce their PR before 13 to avoid NS).
