Becoming a Permanent Resident (PR) in Singapore is a process that offers considerable advantages, and it’s well worth considering if you’re working in the country for an extended period.
After working in Singapore for at least six months on any standard work pass (Employment Pass, EntrePass, S Pass, or Personalized Employment Pass), you’re eligible to apply for Singapore PR status. As of 2016, there were more than half a million Singapore PR holders living in the country, and that number grows larger every year. According to Immigration Solutions in Singapore the Singapore PR status enables you to enjoy many of the same rights and benefits offered to full citizens. It’s also one step further down the path to becoming a full citizen yourself.
Advantages of being a Singapore PR include:
* Enter, leave, and live in the country without the need for Singapore visas. You can use a Blue Card as a comprehensive identity document instead.
* Ability secure long-stay visas for close family members (e.g. parents).
* Enjoy benefit coverage for spouses and unmarried minor (under 21) children. School-aged PR children are prioritized for public school access just behind full citizens.
* Ability to change jobs without applying for new work permits. The visa reapplication process can cause delays or deal-breaking problems when moving from job to job; becoming a Singapore PR removes this risk.
* Ability to enroll in the Central Provident Fund scheme, which provides significant tax advantages on your pension savings. The CPF scheme allows you (and your employer) to make monthly contributions to a pension fund. This money can be used to meet major expenses, including home buying, health care, protecting your family, and more.
* Preferential treatment in borrowing money, e.g. for housing loans. The credit required to buy a home is more freely available to Singapore PRs than those who merely hold a work visa.
* Ability to purchase government HDB flats on a second-hand basis. (Brand new HDB flats are sold to full citizens only.)
* Be eligible for transition to full citizenship after maintaining Singapore PR status for an extended period. This includes the ability to obtain a Singapore passport and enjoy all of the other rights offered to native-born Singapore citizens.
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