Apply PR for Parents- A Guide

In order to qualify for PR in the little red dot, your case must satisfy the following three conditions;

1. You Are a Singapore Citizen

Only the aged parents of a Singapore Citizen are eligible to apply for PR. If you are a Singapore PR, your parents may only apply for a Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP).

2. You Sponsor Their Application

You must act as your parents' sponsor if your parents apply for PR as Singapore Citizens. If they have the right passes or capital, they would need to obtain the status under the PTS Scheme or Global Investor Programme. However, generally, if parents are retired, then these two options (PTS scheme and GIP are not available to them).

3. You Can Prove Your Relationship to Them

You must provide supporting documents that prove your relationship with your parents during the application process. Failure to do so may result in their application being rejected. Normally your birth certificate showing both parent's name is a way to prove the relationship.

Documents Required for Aged Parents

• Passport Copy
• Birth Certificate
• Photograph as per ICA requirements
• Current Singapore Pass copy (LTVP or Short term visa)
• Official marriage certificate of the parents
• If the parents are working in Singapore, then the following documents are required;
  • Work pass
  • Employer's letter
  • Payslip for the last 6 months
  • Income tax assessment

Documents Required from the sponsor Singapore Citizen child

• NRIC
• Official birth certificate with both of the parent's name
  • Payslip for last 6 months
  • Income tax assessment last 3 years

While applying for PR on behalf of your parents may seem straightforward at first, you might get stuck at some point. Here are four common problems you might run into:

Problem 1: Struggles with the e-PR System

While many applicants may feel comfortable exploring online portals, some applicants may have difficulty using the e-PR System due to its complexity. Since the required documents must be scanned and uploaded onto the portal, the application process may be challenging for those who are not comfortable using a mouse or an iPad. A specialist in immigration can help you with the entire process of submitting your documents.

Problem 2: Family Members Located in Other Countries

Immigration officials require information on your other family members for a straightforward reason — this helps them make an informed decision about your application. If you have siblings in other countries, the immigration officials believe that your elder parents would be in the presence of family members that can care for them and allow them to live out their retirement years in comfort in their former home country. Since you might not be their only caregiver, your parents' chances of acquiring Singapore PR would be lower.

Problem 3: Incomplete Collation of Necessary Documents

We are obviously referring to your parents' documents, some of which can be quite old, maybe 60-70 years old. Therefore, sometimes some of the documents aren't available, or they are in bad shape if they are.

Also sometimes getting new documents may prove difficult.

Problem 4: Documents Presented in Languages Other than English

Your important documents may be presented in a language other than English, depending on their country of origin. In order to get them looked at by immigration officers, you must have them translated into English according to ICA requirements, which can be quite a hassle. Moreover, it is important to keep in mind that a handwritten translation won't suffice. In Singapore, it is necessary to translate the document at the country's local embassy issuing it or at a notary public. The above two authorities can verify and stamp private translations of these records. The submission of documents in a language other than English or that haven't been translated will be ignored.

A Singapore PR is highly revered by many because of the abundance of benefits it offers. In 2018, an article published in TODAY reported that the government limited the number of immigrants who entered the city-state after the General Election in 2011 when foreigners were a big talking point. The authorities have adopted stricter criteria for PR applications to ensure only those who deserve the status are granted PR.

Due to this, applying for Singapore PR is indeed more difficult. However, the ICA takes each submission seriously and vets them thoroughly. In order to be eligible for PR under this scheme, your parents must demonstrate that they are highly functioning and contributing members of the nation. Nevertheless, getting approval for parents' PR has sometimes been problematic.