{"id":19390,"date":"2026-10-21T06:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T06:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/vivos.com.sg\/?p=19390"},"modified":"2026-10-22T07:49:55","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T07:49:55","slug":"singapore-citizenship-by-investment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/vivos.com.sg\/blog\/singapore-citizenship-by-investment\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Singapore Offer Citizenship by Investment? (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
No. Singapore does not offer citizenship by investment. Investors can get Permanent Residence (PR) through the Global Investor Programme, which starts at S$10 million. After at least two years as a PR, aged 21 or above, they may apply to ICA for citizenship, which is discretionary and requires giving up any other nationality.<\/strong><\/div>\n

Written by the VIVOS team (MOM Employment Agency Licence 24S2425) and reviewed by Ray Tay. Figures checked against the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Economic Development Board (EDB) on 22 October 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n

Key facts (October 2026)<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Question<\/th>\nAnswer (checked 21 October 2026)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Citizenship by investment?<\/td>\nNo. There is no programme that grants Singapore citizenship in exchange for an investment or donation.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Main investor route<\/td>\nGlobal Investor Programme (GIP), run by EDB. It leads to Permanent Residence (PR), not citizenship.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GIP minimums<\/td>\nOption A: S$10 million in a Singapore business. Option B: S$25 million in a GIP-select fund. Option C: single family office with at least S$200 million AUM, at least S$50 million deployed in EDB-specified Singapore investment categories.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
When you can apply for citizenship<\/td>\nAfter at least 2 years as a PR, aged 21 or above<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ICA processing time<\/td>\nICA states that applications are processed within 12 months once all documents are in order<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Government fees<\/td>\nS$100 at submission; S$70 certificate and S$10 IC (age 15+) on completion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dual citizenship<\/td>\nNot allowed for adult citizens. Applicants aged 21+ renounce their foreign citizenship before registration.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Service<\/td>\nMale citizens and PRs are liable for NS under the Enlistment Act 1970 unless exempted. Sons granted PR under a parent\u2019s sponsorship must register at 16 and a half and are enlisted after turning 18.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Is there a Singapore citizenship by investment programme?<\/h2>\n

No. Several Caribbean and European countries have run programmes where a set donation or property purchase leads to a passport. Singapore does not have one. For adults, citizenship is granted by registration, and only after a period living in Singapore as a Permanent Resident.<\/p>\n

What Singapore does have is an investor route to PR: the Global Investor Programme (GIP), administered by EDB. Many websites describe the GIP as “Singapore citizenship by investment” because it is the first step on a path that can end in citizenship. That label is misleading. The GIP decision gives you PR. The citizenship decision comes years later, from a different agency, on different criteria.<\/p>\n

For a full walk-through of how we structure residency and citizenship planning for founders and families, see our Singapore citizenship by investment and residency route<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

How do investors get Singapore PR?<\/h2>\n

The GIP has three options. The thresholds below have applied since 15 March 2023, when EDB tightened the programme.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
GIP option<\/th>\nInvestment<\/th>\nConditions to renew the Re-Entry Permit after 5 years<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Option A<\/td>\nAt least S$10 million (paid-up capital counts) in a new or expanding Singapore business<\/td>\nBusiness hires at least 30 employees, at least half of them Singapore citizens, at least 10 new hires<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Option B<\/td>\nS$25 million in an EDB-shortlisted GIP-select fund<\/td>\nInvestment maintained<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Option C<\/td>\nSingapore single family office with at least S$200 million AUM; at least S$50 million deployed in qualifying Singapore assets<\/td>\nS$50 million kept deployed; at least 5 family office professionals hired, at least 3 of them Singapore citizens<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Each option comes with a five-year Re-Entry Permit. To renew it for another five years, EDB requires both the economic condition shown above and a residence condition: the investor or their dependants must have lived in Singapore for more than half the period. Meeting only one of the two leads to a three-year renewal. Renewal depends on meeting the conditions above, so the GIP is a commitment to build or fund something in Singapore, not a one-off payment. We compare the three options in detail in our Global Investor Programme guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Most founders do not start with the GIP. The more common path is to set up a Singapore company, relocate on a work pass such as the Employment Pass or EntrePass, and apply for PR under the PTS scheme once settled. Our PR via the PTS scheme guide<\/a> covers eligibility and timing for that route.<\/p>\n

Who can apply for Singapore citizenship?<\/h2>\n

ICA lists several eligibility categories. The ones relevant to investors and founders are:<\/p>\n