ICA requires originals, with official translations for anything not in English, certified via embassy, notary or attestation.
Singapore GuidesPasses & residency
PR DOCUMENTS
ICA requires original documents, with official translations for anything not in English. Three certification routes are accepted: via an embassy, via a notary public, or privately translated and then attested. Every person listed as an applicant must log into ICA e-Service with their own Singpass, review the form and provide their declaration before the application can be submitted; Singpass approval takes 2 to 5 working days. Submission costs S$100 per application, non-refundable regardless of outcome, with S$20, S$50 and S$50 payable on approval. Processing runs about 6 months where documents are complete.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Document form | Originals; official translations for anything not in English |
| Certification routes | Embassy, notary public, or privately translated and attested |
| Singpass | Each applicant reviews and declares individually; account approval 2–5 working days |
| Who submits | The EP/S Pass holder personally; no agent can file it |
| Submission fee | S$100 per application, non-refundable |
| On approval | Entry Permit S$20, five-year Re-Entry Permit S$50, Identity Card S$50 |
| Processing | About 6 months where documents are complete; some longer |
One misconception first: ICA asks for original documents, not photocopies with a stamp. Anything not in English also needs an official translation. For applicants from mainland China, Taiwan or Hong Kong, essentially every identity document falls into that category.
As for which documents, ICA provides a checklist matched to your eligibility category — and this matters, because the requirements differ by category: EP or S Pass holder, spouse, child, aged parent, student. There is no single universal list. Work from the checklist for your own category before assembling anything.
ICA accepts three, with equal effect. The difference is time and cost:
1. Embassy legalisation. Handled by the issuing country's mission in Singapore or Singapore's mission abroad. The most formal route, usually the slowest, and constrained by embassy appointment windows.
2. Notary public. Certified by a notary. Usually the least friction, particularly where notarisation was already done in the country of origin.
3. Private translation plus attestation. Translate first, then have the translation attested as true. The most flexible option, provided the form of attestation meets requirements.
In practice the slow part is never choosing the route — it is the cross-border round trips: a document is prepared abroad, one item turns out to be missing, it goes back, and returns again. Start this the moment you decide to apply, not once the form is filled in.
This is where families most often stall. Everyone listed as an applicant — spouse, children above the relevant age — must log into ICA e-Service individually, using their own Singpass (or the unique credentials ICA issues to those ineligible for Singpass), review the form and provide their declaration. Only once all of them have done so can the application be submitted.
Singpass approval takes 2 to 5 working days. So the correct order is: get every applicant registered for Singpass first, then start the form. Doing it the other way round leaves a completed form that cannot be submitted for several days.
This section is worth quoting directly, because it determines how to read every "PR handled for you" service on the market.
ICA states plainly that it does not support nor endorse the services offered by these commercial entities or consultants. It advises applicants to exercise caution when engaging them, and states that ICA shall not be responsible or held accountable in any way for any loss you may suffer as a result.
ICA also notes that it does not regulate the advertising or immigration consultancy industries; complaints about false advertising claims are referred to the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore.
Read together, the conclusion is straightforward: no third party influences ICA's decision, and "guaranteed approval" or "an internal channel" does not survive contact with the process — a PR application must be submitted by the applicant using their own Singpass. For the overall process and ICA's assessment factors, see EP to PR.
Working backwards:
Step 1, first: every applicant registers for Singpass — 2 to 5 working days.
Step 2, in parallel: assemble documents against your category's checklist, and arrange certification and translation. This step is cross-border and the least controllable — allow generous time.
Step 3: complete the form, have everyone review and declare, submit and pay S$100.
Step 4: wait roughly 6 months.
Step 5, on approval: pay S$20 + S$50 + S$50 and complete formalities to collect the identity card.
Note that ICA's six months runs from successful submission — it does not include the time spent preparing documents.
ICA requires originals, with official translations for anything not in English, certified via embassy, notary or attestation.
Requirements differ by eligibility category. EP holders, spouses, children and aged parents each have their own list.
Wrong order. Every applicant must review and declare with their own Singpass, and account approval takes 2–5 working days.
ICA states it does not support or endorse consultancy services and accepts no responsibility for resulting losses. The applicant must submit.
The boundary first: you submit it yourself. We do not file for you and we do not promise outcomes — under ICA's process, nobody can.
We do three concrete things. The checklist: establish which eligibility category applies, list the documents for that category, and mark which need certification and which route is fastest. The records: as a licensed corporate service provider we already hold your company, employment, CPF and tax records — precisely what ICA looks at when weighing economic contribution — and we keep them consistent and unbroken. The schedule: start the cross-border certification early, so a completed form is not left waiting on a single notarised certificate.
ICA requires original documents, with official translations for anything not in English. Translations may be certified via an embassy, a notary public, or privately translated and then attested.
No. Requirements depend on your eligibility category — EP or S Pass holder, spouse, unmarried child under 21, aged parent, or student in Singapore. Work from the checklist ICA provides for your category.
Yes. Everyone listed as an applicant must log into ICA e-Service individually to review the form and provide their declaration before the application can be submitted. Singpass approval takes 2 to 5 working days, so register everyone before starting the form.
S$100 per application on submission, non-refundable regardless of outcome. On approval: Entry Permit S$20, five-year Re-Entry Permit S$50, and Identity Card S$50.
ICA states that it does not support nor endorse the services offered by such commercial entities or consultants, advises applicants to exercise caution, and accepts no responsibility for any loss suffered. ICA also does not regulate the immigration consultancy industry. The application must be submitted by the applicant using their own Singpass.
Sources: ICA (PR application documents and official translation requirements, Singpass and declaration process, fees, processing time, and ICA's published statement on commercial entities and immigration consultants). Verified August 2026; requirements change, so refer to ICA for the latest. This article is general information and not immigration or legal advice.
The checklist and the certification route both depend on your eligibility category. Tell us your status and family situation and we build the list and schedule the cross-border certification.
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