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Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has detailed the requirements for permanent residents (PRs) to apply for or renew a Re-Entry Permit (REP).
Who Is Eligible to Apply
To be eligible for a REP or its renewal, an applicant must have PR status and a valid travel document with at least three months’ validity remaining.
Renewals must be submitted online through the ICA’s e-Service within three months of the permit expiration date, and no supporting documents are required unless the ICA specifically requests them.
PRs who are overseas and do not have a Singpass account can apply through the nearest Singapore Overseas Mission, but they must do so at least two months before the current REP expires.
One critical detail concerns passport changes. PRs who obtain a new passport of the same nationality must promptly update their REP with the new passport details using the transfer of REP function.
The ICA notes that clearance as a PR at the point of entry can only be granted if the REP contains the correct, up-to-date passport information.
Those whose REP is not in order should inform the immigration officer about their PR status upon arrival.
Fees and Processing Times
A fee of S$10 is charged for each year, or portion thereof, of the approved REP. Each permit issued incurs a separate fee, and the new REP is not considered an extension of the previous one; its validity period begins on the date of issuance following successful payment.
Payment for online applications must be completed within 14 days of approval; otherwise, the application will be automatically withdrawn.
Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards, American Express credit cards, internet direct debit from DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB, and Standard Chartered Bank accounts, and PayNow are all accepted payment methods.
The average processing time for a REP application is one week, excluding the day of submission; however, ICA notes that some applications may take longer.
Applicants who applied online can view the results via the e-Service portal. Those who provided an email address during the application process will also be notified of the results via email.