In a significant announcement for Singapore’s permanent residents (PRs), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has revealed that starting from 1 December 2024, PRs residing outside Singapore without a valid re-entry permit (REP) will have a grace period of 180 days to apply for a new permit before losing their PR status. This change aims to provide more flexibility and clarify the process surrounding PR applications.
What You Need to Know
- Current requirement: PRs must hold a valid REP while overseas.
- Old rule: Previously, PRs lost their status immediately if they were abroad without a valid REP and only had a one-month grace period.
- New grace period: From December, PRs will enjoy a six-month period to apply for an REP before their PR status is forfeited.
The Legislative Background
This reform follows the passage of the Immigration (Amendment) Act, introduced by former Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo and approved by Parliament on 18 September 2023. One of the key drivers for this amendment was to provide clarity and assurance to PRs regarding their status while overseas.
How the New Process Works
MHA indicates that during the 180-day window:
- PRs can still return to Singapore, even if they are outside the country without a valid REP.
- Upon returning, they will receive a PR’s single-entry pass to facilitate their re-entry.
However, PRs must submit their REP applications within this timeframe to retain their status. If an application for an REP is denied, the individual will lose their PR status the day after the rejection.
Impact on PRs
MHA emphasised that these changes serve to reduce uncertainties surrounding PR status, as many PRs had previously faced confusion about their status during the gap between their REP expiry and subsequent reinstatement processes. Furthermore, it has been noted that fewer than 2% of PRs typically lose their status each year for failure to comply with REP requirements.
Future Updates
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will be updating its entry permit conditions for all PRs, with the revised protocols to be made available on their official website by 1 December 2024. Notably, PRs who obtained their status before 1987 or were born before 2005 may witness updates to their entry permit requirements as part of this review.
MHA urges all PRs to renew their REPs promptly before travelling to avoid unnecessary complications when overseas.