How to Get Singapore Citizenship
Key facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 10 years
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Not accepted
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Not acceptedNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship.Authorities can withdraw citizenship from citizens who naturalise abroad.
- Available routes
- Region
- Asia
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
For foreign nationals living in Singapore, this is the ordinary route based on residence. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
- Residence
- 10 years
Person has been resident in Singapore for 12 months immediately prior to the application, and was resident in the country for 10 out of 12 years prior to the application.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
Renunciation of citizenship of another country required.
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Elementary knowledge of English, Malay, Mandarin or Tamil (unless the person has attained the age of 45 or is deaf or dumb). Adequate knowledge of the national language.
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
Oath of allegiance required.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Good character required.
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
For spouses of citizens of Singapore, the rules below set out what this route requires. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is the female spouse of a male citizen, and has been continuously resident in Singapore for 2 years immediately prior to the application. Other conditions: good character, intent to reside permanently in Singapore, renunciation of citizenship of another country, and oath of allegiance.
Descent (citizen parent)
This route covers children of a citizen of Singapore, subject to the conditions below.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Singapore to a citizen. Unless born to a father who is a foreign diplomat, or to a father who is an enemy alien and the child was born in a place then under occupation by the enemy.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born to a citizen by birth, registration or descent. Citizenship is not acquired if the child is not registered within 1 year after birth, or if the child acquired the citizenship of the country of birth and the parent is a citizen by registration. In case the parent is a citizen by descent, the parent needs to have resided in Singapore prior to the person's birth for a total of 5 years or for 2 out of the 5 years immediately preceding the person's birth.
Child of a new citizen
A parent acquiring citizenship of Singapore is the basis of this route. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is the child under the age of 21 of a citizen and is resident in Singapore.
Adoption
This route covers people adopted by a citizen of Singapore, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is the child under the age of 21 of a citizen, is resident in Singapore, and has been adopted by an order of a court in accordance with the provisions of any law in force in Singapore. References to a person's father or to his parent or to one of his parents shall be construed as references to the adopter.
Other family members of citizens
A family tie to a citizen, former citizen or new citizen of Singapore is the basis of this route. The law of Singapore confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is the child of a deceased citizen.
Stateless persons
For people without any citizenship, the rules below show what the law of Singapore provides.
Foundlings
Person is a newborn child found in Singapore of unknown and unascertainable parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Singapore to parents who are not citizens. The government may, where it considers it just and fair and having regard to all circumstances prevailing at the time of the application, confer citizenship upon the person.
Investment
For applicants making a qualifying investment in Singapore, the rules below set out what applies. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is an industrialist investing a minimum amount of $250,000 in Singapore. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation but the '10 out of 12 years' requirement may be waived if the person resided in Singapore for 5 out of 6 years, or at the discretion of the Government.
The Global Investor Programme allows foreign investors investing at least S$2.5 million to apply for citizenship after fulfiling at least two years of permanent residence. Each application is considered based on merits.
Not available in Singapore: Birth in the country, Former citizens (reacquisition), Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Special achievements, Public or military service. Based on the GLOBALCIT coding of the law, updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Singapore does not generally accept dual citizenship.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Authorities can withdraw citizenship from citizens who naturalise abroad
Person acquired citizenship of another country by a voluntary and formal act other than by marriage.
Compare with neighbours
The period of 10 years set under the law of Singapore is also the most common one in South-eastern Asia.
Compare Singapore with all countries in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Cambodia | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Indonesia | 5 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Laos | 10 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
 Malaysia | 10 years | Required, no test | New citizens only |
 Philippines | 10 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Timor-Leste | 10 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Constitution: Art. 123(1), 126, Sections 16-17, Third Schedule.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Singapore Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/singapore/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/singapore/">How to Get Singapore Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Singaporean citizen?
10 years of residence is required for ordinary naturalisation in Singapore, plus further conditions.
Does Singapore allow dual citizenship?
Generally no. The law of Singapore does not accept dual citizenship in either direction.
Do I need a language test for Singaporean citizenship?
Language ability is required for Singaporean citizenship, though no test or certificate is specified.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Singaporean citizenship?
Applicants for Singaporean citizenship are not asked to demonstrate civic knowledge.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Singaporean citizenship?
Yes, you must give up your current citizenship to get Singaporean citizenship.
Can I get Singapore citizenship by marriage?
Yes, the law of Singapore has a route for spouses. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Singapore citizenship by descent?
Yes. A child of a citizen can acquire citizenship of Singapore by descent. Procedure: automatic, discretionary.
Can I get Singapore citizenship by investment?
An investment route is coded for Singapore. Confirm the current terms with the official authority.
Related pages
Also see: Singapore passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.