There are many qualities to like about living in Singapore. Its low crime rates, political stability, and thriving economy, among other elements. And as an expat accustomed to residing on this sunny island for years, you are undoubtedly thinking about becoming a permanent resident (PR).
First, you will need to check the Singapore permanent resident eligibility criteria to see if you qualify for permanent residence status. Should you fulfil all the criteria, congratulations! You are undoubtedly excited to begin your Singapore PR journey. But before you do, you should read up on the mistakes to avoid during your application. Here are the common errors to note during the process.
Mistake #1: Rushing the process
As the saying goes, “Patience is a virtue”. While you may fulfil the Singapore PR requirements once you have worked in the country for a minimum of 6 months, it might work out better for you to delay your application. Waiting until you have worked in Singapore for a longer period of time is beneficial for you, as your application will look more impressive.
Mistake #2: Filling in the wrong details
Another byproduct of rushing your application for PR in Singapore is the likelihood of committing a careless mistake when you fill out your PR application form. Given the numerous supporting documents required for submission, it is easy for you to overlook an inconsistent detail or note down the wrong information. Doubly so when you are in a rush and neglect to check everything before submitting your application.
Regardless of the cause of the error, a single mistake may prove to be costly, causing your application to be rejected. Therefore, it is crucial for you to fill in the information in the form exactly as detailed in your supporting documents. Once the form is completed, take the time to double-check the documents to check if you overlooked any details or fill in the wrong information.
Mistake #3: Leaving non-English documents untranslated
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) stipulates that any non-English document accompanying an application for PR in Singapore needs to be translated. So if your supporting documents are in your native language, you need to get them translated beforehand.
Furthermore, the ICA has specified that it only accepts translation from three specific places:
- The high commission or embassy of the country that issued the document;
- A notary public in Singapore or the country that issued the document;
- A private translator attested by one of the above places.
Failure to comply with the aforementioned criteria will result in a rejection. These measures also apply to your education certificate and visa, so do not neglect to get them translated as soon as possible.
Mistake #4: Uploading incompatible documents
One of the most common mistakes we notice when candidates apply for Singapore PR online is the failure to upload their supporting documents in accordance with the requirements of the ICA. As a result, the agency will reject these documents, which will impact the candidate’s application process.
So before you apply for Singapore PR online, make sure your documents adhere to the ICA’s specific guidelines. Here are the criteria to follow for your passport photo:
- Must be in JPEG format
- Width of the photo: 400 X 514 pixels
- The file size must be below 1MB
If you are utilising a scanned image, ensure the photo has no shine and your face is completely visible. The picture also has to be taken within three months of your application process, and no alterations or edits are allowed.
Do note that your face should not be obstructed, so your hair needs to be kept out of your face and eyes. There are slight exceptions to this rule. For example, if you usually wear glasses or have a religious head-wear, you are allowed to keep them on even if they obscure your face.
For the other supporting documents, ensure they are uploaded in either PDF or JPEG format and are under 2MB. If they do not match either criterion, you need to convert them to the appropriate format and compress the files to make them smaller.
Mistake #5: Submitting an incomplete form
Once you begin your application process, you only have seven days to complete the form and upload all the necessary documents. Therefore, we always advise our clients to keep a checklist of their supporting documents and organise them neatly into separate folders before they apply for Singapore PR online. Doing so minimises the risk of omitting any crucial information.
While it might seem like there are numerous things to do for your PR application, amplifying your chances of committing a mistake, fret not. If you have taken all the precautionary steps and perused your application before submitting it, you can be confident your submission is error-free.
However, if you remain concerned about your application, we advise seeking out the help of a PR application agency. At Singapore Immigration Partners, our consultants have plenty of experience helping expats with their application for PR in Singapore. You can rest assured that our team can advise you on your application accordingly to ensure it is error-free, thereby enhancing your chances of getting approval. Feel free to contact us today to learn more about our services.