SINGAPORE EXPATS FORUM
Singapore Expat Forum and Message Board for Expats in Singapore & Expatriates Relocating to Singapore
PR application....
- sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
- Posts: 39764
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
This was previously discussed into the ground; every company is different. The general consensus was only certain MNC financial institutions seemed to pay employer CPF contribution to foreigners. The two examples I recall (one of which I worked for) were StanChart that had a retirement fund of some sort, and Visa that just tacked it on to payroll. My current company doesn't pay it, and I don't expect them to lower my salary if I become PR either.revhappy wrote:In most cases the employer's contribution to CPF is no benefit. Because AFAIK, most companies that I know of will restructure your salary so in effect both the employer's contribution comes from the same original salary so after taking PR your take home reduces drastically.zzm9980 wrote:Yeah. The big money-making benefit (at least to me) is the employers (almost) matching contribution into CPF, and both contributions being tax-free. That'll cover a significant chunk (or all) of most any mortgage.nakatago wrote: The Supplementary Retirement Scheme is available for non-PRs and non-citizens. Functions very similarly to CPF when it comes to contributions (there are differences of course; just don't remember all of them). Participation by companies, however, is optional if not unknown by most companies though.
Some companies, like mine, give the employers contribution to a private pension fund and employees also need to contribute and after applying for PR we move to the CPF so again no benefit there.
There are very few companies where you actually get a real "bump up" in your salary because of the employers contribution.

Really, wow! Can you please advise what details they asked for. Is it just date out, country and date back in? Or is it more detailed? I travel a lot so it makes sense that I start the travel listing now even though I ahve not applied for PR.bluenose wrote:WOW....
Bit of a process this PR stuff.....
I had to note down all the times I had been in and out the country since I became EP.....being in the oilfield....thats a lot!
They want to know all sorts.....even details of my family members that are not applying for PR!
I have an appointment on 14 August....so here's hoping!!
One question.....what are the benefits of PR over EP???
- Strong Eagle
- Moderator
- Posts: 11504
- Joined: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 12:13 am
- Location: Off The Red Dot
- Contact:
This is all happening because of those who have abused PR. They get a PR and promptly move back to India/PRC, contributing little or nothing. They exclude children to avoid NS. They use PR to bring in countless relatives.Steve1960 wrote:Really, wow! Can you please advise what details they asked for. Is it just date out, country and date back in? Or is it more detailed? I travel a lot so it makes sense that I start the travel listing now even though I ahve not applied for PR.bluenose wrote:WOW....
Bit of a process this PR stuff.....
I had to note down all the times I had been in and out the country since I became EP.....being in the oilfield....thats a lot!
They want to know all sorts.....even details of my family members that are not applying for PR!
I have an appointment on 14 August....so here's hoping!!
One question.....what are the benefits of PR over EP???
If you've got a permanent Singapore address, pay Singapore taxes, and travel for "reasonable" periods to other locales, you shouldn't have any issues. OTOH, if you've been out of country for a year... what's "permanent" about that?
I thought I might give PR a shot around next April, the first anniversary of my time living here in Singapore. However, I know from this forum that it would be better if I have paid some income tax here.
UK mentality is to defer paying tax for as long as possible so what I am about to say feels a little alien!
Does anyone know if there is an express method of paying ones income tax? From what I gather the formal bill could arrive anywhere between May and October. What if I wanted to pay it in January or February?
UK mentality is to defer paying tax for as long as possible so what I am about to say feels a little alien!
Does anyone know if there is an express method of paying ones income tax? From what I gather the formal bill could arrive anywhere between May and October. What if I wanted to pay it in January or February?
- Strong Eagle
- Moderator
- Posts: 11504
- Joined: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 12:13 am
- Location: Off The Red Dot
- Contact:
I think one year will be far too short. I applied in 2007 at the end of my EP, and was almost rejected until I submitted the records of the company I created and ran.Steve1960 wrote:I thought I might give PR a shot around next April, the first anniversary of my time living here in Singapore. However, I know from this forum that it would be better if I have paid some income tax here.
UK mentality is to defer paying tax for as long as possible so what I am about to say feels a little alien!
Does anyone know if there is an express method of paying ones income tax? From what I gather the formal bill could arrive anywhere between May and October. What if I wanted to pay it in January or February?
Tax payments matter... it is an indicator of a) how well you can support yourself, and b) how you will contribute to the well being of Singapore, finance wise. If you are a low earner, you won't get PR because you probably won't get your pass renewed. If you are a high earner that pays little or nothing in tax, you'll be seen as cutting corners.
There is an express method of paying income taxes. Your employer will have filed an IR8A form listing your income. You go to the IRAS website, confirm your income, add any other income and expenses/charitable contributions and press the button. You see your total tax assessment, and shortly receive a tax statement.
Yes, I am concerned one year is too short. However, I have relocated here as General Manager and my employer has substantial growth plans. I was going to try writing a supporting letter outlining all the postive things I will be doing for Singapore and my commitment to living here long term. Oh and it's not bulls*it, this is genuinely the plan.I think one year will be far too short. I applied in 2007 at the end of my EP, and was almost rejected until I submitted the records of the company I created and ran.
Tax payments matter... it is an indicator of a) how well you can support yourself, and b) how you will contribute to the well being of Singapore, finance wise. If you are a low earner, you won't get PR because you probably won't get your pass renewed. If you are a high earner that pays little or nothing in tax, you'll be seen as cutting corners.
There is an express method of paying income taxes. Your employer will have filed an IR8A form listing your income. You go to the IRAS website, confirm your income, add any other income and expenses/charitable contributions and press the button. You see your total tax assessment, and shortly receive a tax statement.
I know from this site that tax matters. I don't intend to pay my first year of tax in monthly instalments I will just make the one off payment as early as I can. I am a high earner and employed so I guess I will be paying the tax the government expects so no corner cutting.
Thank you for the advice on express payment.
-
- Manager
- Posts: 1582
- Joined: Wed, 04 Jul 2012 9:45 pm
Hi,bluenose wrote:Well,
3 months after applying for PR with a Singaporean wife, own condo, own company and last 6 years taxes paid.....have heard .....nothing.....![]()
Me thinks this could be a long drawn out process
I applied for my PR at the end of June 2012 and then after 2 months I was asked to submit additional details of my family members, which I did promptly, its already 4 months now and still pending. Fingers crossed,

-
- Manager
- Posts: 1582
- Joined: Wed, 04 Jul 2012 9:45 pm
See above. Probably too late. You'll have to try again for next years quota. If you hadn't screwed up the application in the first place (missing details? more like you didn't list them all) you'd be ok. Singapore is cutting down HARD on PR - miss a dot on an i or a cross on a t and you're round filed.Callput wrote:Hi,bluenose wrote:Well,
3 months after applying for PR with a Singaporean wife, own condo, own company and last 6 years taxes paid.....have heard .....nothing.....![]()
Me thinks this could be a long drawn out process
I applied for my PR at the end of June 2012 and then after 2 months I was asked to submit additional details of my family members, which I did promptly, its already 4 months now and still pending. Fingers crossed,
Now I'm called PNGMK
- sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
- Posts: 39764
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
Thanks, I have been stalking on this forum for quite sometime now and have gained immense knowledge out of it. I must thank all the experts here who have posted so much information, it helped me a lot while deciding on my PR application.offshoreoildude wrote:See above. Probably too late. You'll have to try again for next years quota. If you hadn't screwed up the application in the first place (missing details? more like you didn't list them all) you'd be ok. Singapore is cutting down HARD on PR - miss a dot on an i or a cross on a t and you're round filed.Callput wrote:Hi,bluenose wrote:Well,
3 months after applying for PR with a Singaporean wife, own condo, own company and last 6 years taxes paid.....have heard .....nothing.....![]()
Me thinks this could be a long drawn out process
I applied for my PR at the end of June 2012 and then after 2 months I was asked to submit additional details of my family members, which I did promptly, its already 4 months now and still pending. Fingers crossed,
Anyways, I hadn't missed anything on the original application, I have read that there are others also who have been asked to submit additional details about family members.
Regarding the timing of application during the year, I really hope that they hold on to my application until next year, for consideration into next year's quota, if there is such a thing

-
- Manager
- Posts: 1582
- Joined: Wed, 04 Jul 2012 9:45 pm
You don't think there's a quota? Maybe not in exact numerical terms but someone somewhere says - "enough have got in this calendar/financial/Chinese/political year/month/period".Callput wrote:Thanks, I have been stalking on this forum for quite sometime now and have gained immense knowledge out of it. I must thank all the experts here who have posted so much information, it helped me a lot while deciding on my PR application.offshoreoildude wrote:See above. Probably too late. You'll have to try again for next years quota. If you hadn't screwed up the application in the first place (missing details? more like you didn't list them all) you'd be ok. Singapore is cutting down HARD on PR - miss a dot on an i or a cross on a t and you're round filed.Callput wrote: Hi,
I applied for my PR at the end of June 2012 and then after 2 months I was asked to submit additional details of my family members, which I did promptly, its already 4 months now and still pending. Fingers crossed,
Anyways, I hadn't missed anything on the original application, I have read that there are others also who have been asked to submit additional details about family members.
Regarding the timing of application during the year, I really hope that they hold on to my application until next year, for consideration into next year's quota, if there is such a thing
Now I'm called PNGMK
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
Newborn Child SPR Application Pending - Citizenship application
by Sportyygurl88 » Thu, 08 Jul 2021 12:16 pm » in PR, Citizenship, Passes & Visas for Foreigners - 9 Replies
- 3877 Views
-
Last post by singaporeflyer
Wed, 01 Sep 2021 11:01 am
-
-
- 4 Replies
- 3155 Views
-
Last post by greenseinsein
Thu, 30 Dec 2021 5:51 am
-
-
PR Application Chance for Fiance
by kk123 » Sun, 04 Feb 2018 11:39 pm » in PR, Citizenship, Passes & Visas for Foreigners - 3 Replies
- 2320 Views
-
Last post by Pinningfor2
Fri, 23 Feb 2018 10:13 pm
-
-
- 2 Replies
- 5828 Views
-
Last post by Ignorant1
Wed, 04 May 2022 4:16 pm
-
-
SC Application - Get married during Approval-In-Principle period
by eyesyen » Wed, 14 Feb 2018 9:28 am » in PR, Citizenship, Passes & Visas for Foreigners - 0 Replies
- 1834 Views
-
Last post by eyesyen
Wed, 14 Feb 2018 9:28 am
-
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests