Information on returning to Singapore (PR, Citizenship.....)

[Coming back]

I am returning to Singapore later this year to take up a new position with an MNC in senior management.

I lived in Singapore from January 2008 to December 2010 and have since moved around to other countries. As far as I remember you have to live in Singapore for a certain amount of years before you can apply for a PR or Citizenship and my question is whether my 3 year stay a few years back still counts or if you start all over again if you leave and come back?

Can anyone enlighten me?

[zzm9980]

Hard to say. Assume it will start over, and be pleasantly surprised if it helps you get approved.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I would have to agree. Especially now.

[Mi Amigo]

The other thing to keep in mind is that PR stands for Permanent Residence, so it (and citizenship too, obviously) is intended for people who genuinely want to settle permanently in Singapore. Unless / until you are certain that you want to do that (and not continue to 'move around to other countries'), you would do better to stick to an Employment Pass, or if you meet the new application criteria, apply for a PEP.

The government, citizenry and genuine long-term resident population are all very unhappy about PR 'abusers' who pretend they want to settle here in order to get PR, but then disappear off to another country as soon as a better offer comes along. I'm not necessarily saying that you fall into that category, but this is how a PR application might appear if you were to submit one soon after returning here.

[Coming back]

The other thing to keep in mind is that PR stands for Permanent Residence, so it (and citizenship too, obviously) is intended for people who genuinely want to settle permanently in Singapore. Unless / until you are certain that you want to do that (and not continue to 'move around to other countries'), you would do better to stick to an Employment Pass, or if you meet the new application criteria, apply for a PEP.

The government, citizenry and genuine long-term resident population are all very unhappy about PR 'abusers' who pretend they want to settle here in order to get PR, but then disappear off to another country as soon as a better offer comes along. I'm not necessarily saying that you fall into that category, but this is how a PR application might appear if you were to submit one soon after returning here.

I am completely in line with that. I actually wanted to stay in Singapore and had no intention of leaving but the company I worked for moved me and either I moved with them or had to find another job to stay. I couldn't find a job at that point in time so I had to relocate. Now I found one and hopefully I can go back and stay.

[Wd40]

Sometimes I wonder, whether the true meaning of PR holds valid for a tiny city state like Singapore. The OP is a perfect example of how hard it is to find a job here, when you lose one, compared to say a larger country with several cities.

Add to that, the fact that once you lose your job, there is no jobless benefits or any kind of social security so I wonder, when a PR loses his job and hence quits the country is it abuse or not.

[ProvenPracticalFlexible]

Sometimes I wonder, whether the true meaning of PR holds valid for a tiny city state like Singapore. The OP is a perfect example of how hard it is to find a job here, when you lose one, compared to say a larger country with several cities.

Add to that, the fact that once you lose your job, there is no jobless benefits or any kind of social security so I wonder, when a PR loses his job and hence quits the country is it abuse or not.

It is not that complicated; different systems work in different ways, I'd expect a PR to know how the system works before signing in.

In a low tax country (Singapore): individuals are supposed to try to take care of themselves and save for the rainy day. aka manage your own risk and decide how much to save for the rainy day and how much to spend.

In a high tax country (most of western Europe): government takes care of you if you lose your job, (well its paid by someone else but government policies anyway).

Good things about low tax system is that it motivates (forces) people to take any job, even if it's not a dream job. (or do you really think all the Singaporeans driving taxis are in their dream job).

Bad thing is that Singapore system assumes that people are able to plan for themselves, which obviously is not the case, (worst ones are people who even complain about the CPF payments (how government is stealing their money) but at next sentence say that government should take better care of old and unemployed.