After PR approval in Singapore, the checklist is simple but time-bound: book a completion of formalities appointment with ICA, attend in person with your documents, pay the fees, do a medical exam if required, and collect your Entry Permit and Re-Entry Permit before registering for your NRIC. You become a Permanent Resident only once these formalities are done, not on the day the approval letter arrives.
Your In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter has a deadline. Based on ICA practice for long-term immigration facilities, the IPA is valid for about three months from the date of issue, and an application can be withdrawn if formalities are not completed in time. This guide walks through every step, the exact fees as of 2026, and the points that catch people out, such as renouncing or retaining a previous citizenship and National Service for sons.
Key Takeaways
- You are not a PR yet: approval is an In-Principle Approval (IPA); you become a PR only after completing formalities at ICA and collecting your Entry Permit.
- Deadline: the IPA letter is valid for about three months from issue; complete formalities before it lapses or the application can be withdrawn.
- Fees as of 2026 (ICA): Entry Permit S$20, 5-year Re-Entry Permit S$50, and Identity Card S$50.
- Medical and NRIC: a medical exam may be required (report accepted within three months of issue), then you register your NRIC (the blue IC).
- Other obligations: tell your employer (CPF contributions start, Employment Pass is cancelled), check the rules on your original citizenship, and register sons for National Service.
What PR Approval Actually Means
When ICA emails the result, a successful applicant receives an In-Principle Approval, not the PR status itself. ICA states that successful applicants are granted permanent residence status only once they have fulfilled the necessary conditions. In practice that means attending the completion of formalities appointment, paying the fees and collecting the Entry Permit and Re-Entry Permit.
The IPA letter is the master document. It lists who is approved, the fees payable, the documents to bring and, importantly, the date by which formalities must be done. Read it in full before booking anything, because the exact requirements can differ between applicants and dependants.
Watch the IPA Deadline
Approval does not last forever. Going by ICA practice for long-term immigration facilities, the IPA is valid for roughly three months from the date of issue. If formalities are not completed within that window, the approval can be withdrawn and you would have to apply again. Treat the date on your letter as a hard stop and book your appointment early.
The Post-Approval Checklist (Step by Step)
Below is the full sequence from approval to NRIC. Fees shown are ICA figures as of 2026; confirm the exact amounts and document list against your own IPA letter, since it overrides any general guide.
| Step | Action | Fee or document |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Read the IPA letter and note the deadline | IPA letter (no fee) |
| 2 | Prepare documents listed in the IPA | Passport, IPA letter, photos, supporting documents |
| 3 | Do the medical exam if required | Medical Examination Report (accepted within 3 months of issue) |
| 4 | Book the completion of formalities e-Appointment | Via ICA e-Service (no booking fee) |
| 5 | Attend the appointment at ICA in person | All approved applicants must attend |
| 6 | Pay the Entry Permit fee | S$20 per person |
| 7 | Pay the Re-Entry Permit fee (5 years) | S$50 per person (S$10 per year) |
| 8 | Pay the Identity Card fee | S$50 per person |
| 9 | Have your photo and fingerprints taken for the NRIC | Included in the IC registration |
| 10 | Collect or await delivery of the NRIC (blue IC) | Issued after registration |
Booking the e-Appointment
Use the ICA e-Service to choose a date and time for the completion of formalities appointment at the ICA Services Centre. Book as soon as your documents and medical report (if needed) are ready, since slots fill up and the IPA deadline keeps running. All approved applicants named in the IPA, including dependants, normally need to attend in person.
Documents and Fees to Bring
Bring your passport, the IPA letter, recent passport-size photographs in the required format, and any supporting documents your letter asks for. As of 2026, ICA charges S$20 for the Entry Permit, S$50 for a 5-year Re-Entry Permit (calculated at S$10 for each year, or part thereof), and S$50 for the Identity Card. Pay all fees at the appointment unless your letter says otherwise.
Medical Exam and NRIC Registration
Some applicants must complete a medical examination before the appointment, using ICA's Medical Examination Report form. ICA accepts the report only if it is submitted within three months of the date it was issued, so time the medical close to your appointment date rather than far ahead.
At the appointment, ICA captures your photo and fingerprints and registers you for the NRIC, the blue identity card that marks your new status. The physical card is issued after registration. Once you hold the Entry Permit, you are a Singapore Permanent Resident, and the NRIC is your main local identity document from then on.
The Re-Entry Permit Matters More Than People Think
The Re-Entry Permit (REP) is what lets you leave and return to Singapore while keeping PR status. ICA issues an REP when you complete formalities. From 1 December 2025, ICA tightened the rules: a PR can lose PR status if they leave Singapore without a valid REP and do not apply within 180 days of departure, if an REP expires and they do not renew within 180 days, or if an REP application is rejected. Keep the REP valid and renew it on time, well before it lapses.
Tell Your Employer, Sort CPF and Cancel Your Work Pass
Becoming a PR changes how you are treated at work. Once your status takes effect, CPF contributions begin for both you and your employer, and your existing work pass should be cancelled because it is no longer needed.
- Update your employer: give HR your PR date and NRIC so payroll can switch you from a work pass holder to a PR.
- CPF starts: employer and employee CPF contributions begin once you are a PR; graduated rates apply in the first two years for many new PRs.
- Cancel the work pass: the Employment Pass, S Pass or other work pass should be cancelled with MOM once PR takes effect, as the two are not held together.
- Dependants: if family members were on Dependant's Passes tied to your work pass, sort out their status alongside your own.
Doing this promptly avoids being charged both work pass levies and PR-rate CPF, or holding a work pass you are no longer entitled to.
Citizenship, National Service and Other Loose Ends
A few decisions sit outside ICA's counter and deserve thought before and after you complete formalities.
Keeping or Renouncing Your Original Citizenship
Singapore PR status does not require you to give up your existing citizenship; many PRs retain their home passport. Whether you can hold both depends on your own country's laws, since some nations restrict or revoke citizenship in certain situations. This is a personal legal question, so check your home country's rules rather than assume. PR is also distinct from citizenship; if you later naturalise as a Singapore citizen, renunciation rules then apply.
National Service for Sons
Male PRs registered under their parents (often called second-generation PRs) are liable for National Service. They must register with the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) and are generally liable from around age 16.5. MINDEF has warned that renouncing or losing PR status without serving full-time NS can lead to serious adverse consequences for future applications to live, work or study in Singapore, so plan early if you have sons approaching enlistment age.
After the NRIC: Practical Updates
Once you hold your NRIC, update your bank, insurer and other records with your new status. PRs can be eligible to buy certain HDB resale flats (subject to rules and timelines) and face different stamp duty treatment from citizens, so factor that into any property plans rather than rushing in straight after approval.
Frequently Asked Questions About the post-approval PR steps in Singapore
How long do I have to complete formalities after PR approval?
Going by ICA practice for long-term immigration facilities, the In-Principle Approval letter is valid for about three months from the date of issue. If formalities are not completed within that window, the application can be withdrawn, so book your e-Appointment early and follow the exact date on your own letter.
What fees do I pay after PR approval in Singapore?
As of 2026, ICA charges S$20 for the Entry Permit, S$50 for a 5-year Re-Entry Permit (S$10 for each year), and S$50 for the Identity Card. These are paid at the completion of formalities appointment. Always confirm the amounts against your IPA letter.
Do I need a medical exam after PR is approved?
Some applicants must complete a medical examination using ICA's Medical Examination Report form. ICA accepts the report only if it is submitted within three months of the date it was issued, so time the medical close to your appointment.
Does becoming a Singapore PR mean I lose my original citizenship?
No. PR status does not require giving up your existing citizenship. Whether you can hold both depends on your home country's laws, as some restrict dual citizenship. PR is also separate from Singapore citizenship; renunciation rules only apply if you later become a citizen.
Do my sons have to do National Service after we become PRs?
Male PRs registered under their parents are liable for National Service. They must register with CMPB and are generally liable from around age 16.5. MINDEF has warned that giving up PR without serving full-time NS can harm future applications to live, work or study in Singapore.
When do CPF contributions start after PR approval?
CPF contributions for you and your employer begin once your PR status takes effect, not on the approval date. Tell your employer your PR date and NRIC, and cancel your existing work pass with MOM, since you cannot hold a work pass and PR at the same time.
Official Sources and References
- ICA - Becoming a Permanent Resident
- ICA - Apply for or Renew a Re-Entry Permit
- ICA - Identity Card, Passport and other Documents
- CMPB - Registration and Documentation for National Service
Explore Catalyst Immigration’s other services:
- CPF for Singapore PR
- Re-Entry Permit Renewal in Singapore
- Can a Singapore PR Buy an HDB Flat
- Benefits of Singapore PR
- Permanent Residency Application
Talk to Catalyst Immigration
Catalyst Immigration guides new PRs through the completion of formalities, from the ICA e-Appointment and document list to the Entry Permit, Re-Entry Permit and NRIC, and the follow-on steps with CPF, your employer and National Service. If you have just received your In-Principle Approval, we can help you finish the process on time and without missteps.