Paul Immigrations Reviews – Benefits of becoming a Singaporean PR

For all of my complaints about living in Singapore (mainly the heat, and prohibitively expensive housing and cars), I still think, in terms of security, economic stability and job opportunities, there are not many cities that can top the sunny island. This is why many people are still looking out for opportunities on how to become a Singapore PR holder.

In fact, from 2015 to 2018, Singapore was voted best place for expats to work and live. After this 4-year reign, the city-state slipped to 2nd place, topped by Switzerland, in a HSBC annual league table of best places to work and live.

Even though we’d dropped off from 1st to 2nd overall, when it comes to consideration for expats with children, Singapore is ranked 1st.

Singapore from a Citizen’s Perspective

As a Singaporean living here for the past 40 years, here are my views on what makes the island-city attractive:

1. Excellent Infrastructure: We’re an extremely small but super well connected City State. The train and bus network allows you to get to pretty much anywhere in the city with ease.
2. Great location within APAC: Nestled in the centre of APAC, it’s easy to plant yourself here as homebase, and explore South East Asia from Singapore. Tourist hotspots in the region like Bali, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh and even Perth are a short flight away, allowing for amazing long weekends for the travel bug.
3. Competitive Economy: We’re a hotbed for companies looking to expand their operations out to APAC. The government is extremely supportive of the startup environment and is heavily involved in several schemes that make starting or operating a business out of the country easy and fuss-free.
4. Low Crime Rate: Our stringent legal system, alongside a stricter policy where it comes to possession of weapons and drugs has given the City State (especially in the 90s and early 2000s) a reputation of boring, but really really safe.
5. No Natural Disasters: We’re not located along any natural fault line, so we’re not prone to earthquakes and volcanoes on land. On sea, we’re surrounded by Malaysia and Indonesia and the Philippines.

Benefits of being a Singaporean PR (SPR)

So, besides being a physically awesome location to work out of, what are some of the benefits of being a PR in Singapore?

1. VISA ease: As a SPR, you don’t have to apply for separate VISAs each time you leave or enter the country for either work or travel. Definitely a time and cost saver!
2. Work Permit Ease: If you wanted to change jobs in Singapore while holding a work permit, you’ll have to re-apply for a new work permit, and risk getting rejected, but if you’re a PR, you can switch jobs freely.
3. Real Estate: As a SPR, you qualify for housing by the HDB (Housing Development Board), and also pay lower stamp duty fees.
4. Childcare and Education: You also qualify for subsidies for childcare and primary and secondary school education for your children.
5. Pathway to Citizenship: Lastly, but also very importantly, if you truly love and want to settle down in Singapore, PR is the first step toward getting that Citizenship.

Process of Applying for a Singapore PR

This all sounds great, but applying to be a Singaporean PR can be a challenging process. There are many documents to fill up, you’re competing with a bunch of qualified folks, and the entire process can take up to 6 months, and even then, it’s not a sure thing. First things first, you’ll need to know if you qualify to apply for PR. You can apply if you:

• are the spouse of a Citizen or PR
• are an employment or S pass holder
• are an entrepreneur or investor meeting the Global Investor Programme (GIP)
• are an elderly parent of a Citizen
• are an unmarried child under 21 years of age, of a Citizen or PR.

So, who can help with this process?

Paul Immigrations Reviews: How an Immigration Consultancy can help you

If you’re seriously considering applying for PR, a professional services firm like Paul Immigrations will be able to provide you with services to ensure you get the best possible chance at that PR application.

What services do Paul Immigrations Provide?

In engaging the consultancy firm to help with your PR application process, you will be supported every step of the way. Whether you’re a first time applicant, or a re-applicant, they have the right support team and experience to guide you through the process. Afterall, they have helped over 15,000 applicants with their PR journey.

Step 1: Complete Client Interview via Phone

As a first step, the Immigration Consultant (IC) will engage with you on a phone interview, where they will conduct a complete audit of information gathering. This includes confirming the type of work pass the client is holding, and if he or she has any ties with any the nation’s Citizens or Permanent Residents. They will also run a profile assessment of you, to gauge overall eligibility and chances for getting a PR. These include your age, length of stay in Singapore, salary levels and other information.

Step 2: In-Person Consultation

Following the first round of interview with you, the IC will arrange a follow up appointment, this time in person. This session aims to review everything that was done during the phone interview, and verify eligibility, as well as going through the various factors that will affect the PR approval for your particular scenario. It is also during this time, that the potential client will then be able to decide if they do want to enlist the services of Paul Immigrations to assist with the entire process.

Step 3: Documentation Review

Once you’re happy with the profile assessment and proceeds with enlisting their help, you’ll be requested to submit your documents to the Immigration Specialist (IS). This will be vetted by the IS, and he or she will advise accordingly.

Step 4: Finalised Paperwork and Cover Letter

The IS will proceed to complete the application form on your behalf, and also work with you to craft a personalised cover letter. This is a very important step, and a huge value that is provided, because the letter emphasizes the commitment and value you will bring to the Singaporean society at large.

Step 5: Submission of Documents

Once all the paperwork is complete, the IS will guide you with the steps to successfully submit the application.

Step 6: Outcome of Application

As we all know, not every application will be successful. Whatever the outcome, Paul Immigrations will be on hand to guide you on your next course of action.

Note: the entire process can take between 4 to 6 months to assess each application.

At the end of the day, no matter your preferences and choices, I think one of the most important factors to consider in a place to work, live and play, is that it needs to give you an ease of mind. Given the still developing Covid-19 situation and seeing how Singapore responded and went from one of the first and highest infections outside of China to how it has controlled and limited the number of community spread, I can honestly say it gives me a peace of mind, knowing the government is doing all it can to ensure our safety.

If you are keen on starting your PR application journey, you can do so here.

This article is written in collaboration with Paul Immigrations.