A family office Singapore PR application works through Option C of the Global Investor Programme (GIP): a high-net-worth principal sets up a Singapore single family office (SFO) with assets under management of at least S$200 million, deploys at least S$50 million into Singapore, and on that basis applies for Permanent Residence. The Economic Development Board (EDB) assesses the case and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) issues the PR. These figures were raised on 15 March 2023, so check the current thresholds before you commit.
Most principals pair the GIP with a MAS fund tax incentive (Section 13O or 13U) so the family office runs tax-efficiently while it supports the PR.
Key Takeaways
- The route: a family office Singapore PR application uses GIP Option C, open to family office principals with net investible assets of at least S$200 million (EDB, factsheet updated 5 May 2025).
- AUM threshold: establish a Singapore single family office with AUM of at least S$200 million, of which at least S$50 million is transferred into Singapore and deployed in EDB-specified investments.
- Tax incentive: the SFO usually applies for MAS Section 13O (S$20 million minimum AUM in designated investments) or Section 13U (S$50 million minimum), which exempt qualifying fund income from tax.
- Deployment timing: the S$50 million must be deployed within 12 months of Final Approval and maintained, and at renewal the SFO must employ at least 5 incremental family office professionals, at least 3 of them Singapore Citizens.
- Verify first: GIP figures were raised on 15 March 2023; EDB and MAS update thresholds periodically, so confirm the live numbers before applying. ICA is the deciding authority on PR.
How a Family Office Leads to Singapore PR
For a high-net-worth individual, the family office is the vehicle and the GIP is the immigration pathway. EDB runs the GIP through Contact Singapore; it is the one programme that grants Permanent Residence on the strength of a large, structured investment rather than employment. Option C of the GIP is built specifically for family office principals.
The logic is straightforward. You set up a Singapore single family office, fund it to the required level, and deploy a defined sum into Singapore-based assets. EDB assesses your profile, track record and investment plan; if it is satisfied, ICA issues an Approval-in-Principle, then a Final Approval and the PR itself. The SFO is what you maintain to keep the PR valid at renewal.
Why HNWIs Choose This Path
A single family office lets a wealthy family manage its own capital from Singapore, with full control over strategy, governance and succession. Pairing it with the GIP turns that structure into a residency outcome for the principal and immediate family. It also sits alongside Singapore's wider draw for the wealthy: political stability, a deep financial sector, and an established legal system. For families weighing a move, our business relocation services map the corporate and personal steps together.
GIP Family Office Option: The Thresholds
Under the GIP, a family office principal applies through Option C. To qualify, EDB requires at least five years of entrepreneurial, investment or management track record and net investible assets of at least S$200 million. Net investible assets include bank deposits, capital market products, collective investment schemes and similar holdings, but exclude real estate (EDB GIP factsheet, updated 5 May 2025).
The investment condition is the core of Option C: establish a Singapore-based single family office with AUM of at least S$200 million, of which at least S$50 million must be transferred into Singapore and deployed in EDB-specified investment categories. Offshore assets can count towards the S$200 million, provided at least S$50 million in investible assets is transferred into and held in Singapore upon Approval-in-Principle of your PR.
Where the S$50 Million Goes
The deployed S$50 million must sit in EDB-specified categories, which include equities listed on Singapore-approved exchanges, qualifying debt securities, funds distributed by Singapore-licensed or registered managers and financial institutions, and private equity in non-listed Singapore-based operating companies. It must be deployed no later than 12 months from the Final Approval of your PR, and maintained throughout the validity of the Re-Entry Permit (EDB, updated 5 May 2025).
GIP Investment Options Compared
Option C is one of three GIP investment options. Family office principals must use Option C; other GIP profiles such as established business owners may choose A, B or C.
| GIP option | Headline requirement | What it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Option A | Invest at least S$10 million in a new or expanded Singapore business | Operating business owners building or growing a company |
| Option B | Invest S$25 million in a GIP-select fund investing in Singapore-based companies | Investors who prefer a fund route |
| Option C | Establish a Singapore single family office with AUM of at least S$200 million; deploy at least S$50 million in Singapore | Family office principals (HNWIs) |
MAS 13O and 13U Tax Incentive Schemes
Separately from the GIP, a Singapore family office usually applies to MAS for a fund tax incentive so its qualifying income is exempt from Singapore tax. Two schemes apply to single family offices: Section 13O (the Onshore Fund Tax Exemption, sometimes shown as 13OA) and Section 13U (the Enhanced-Tier Fund Tax Exemption). MAS administers both; approval is not automatic.
The two differ mainly on scale. Per the MAS criteria (updated requirements published 5 August 2024), Section 13O requires a minimum of S$20 million in designated investments and at least 2 investment professionals, of whom at least 1 is not a family member. Section 13U requires a minimum of S$50 million in designated investments and at least 3 investment professionals, again with at least 1 non-family member. Both also carry a capital deployment requirement of the lower of S$10 million or 10% of AUM into eligible local investments.
Local Business Spending Tiers
MAS sets a tiered annual Local Business Spending (LBS) floor that scales with fund size, replacing the older flat figure. For a Section 13U family office fund, MAS requires at least S$200,000 in LBS where AUM is under S$50 million, at least S$500,000 for S$50 million to under S$100 million, and at least S$1 million for S$100 million and above (MAS, requirements published 5 August 2024). Confirm the current bands on the MAS site, as these are revised periodically.
| Scheme | Key threshold | What it gives |
|---|---|---|
| GIP Option C (EDB) | SFO with AUM at least S$200 million; at least S$50 million deployed in Singapore | The pathway to Permanent Residence for a family office principal and immediate family |
| MAS Section 13O | At least S$20 million in designated investments; 2 investment professionals (1 non-family) | Tax exemption on qualifying fund income for a smaller SFO fund |
| MAS Section 13U | At least S$50 million in designated investments; 3 investment professionals (1 non-family) | Tax exemption on qualifying fund income for a larger, enhanced-tier SFO fund |
A point HNWIs often miss: the MAS designated-investment figures (S$20 million / S$50 million) are not the same as the GIP S$200 million AUM. The GIP threshold is far higher because it underpins a residency grant, while the MAS minimum sets the floor for the tax exemption. A family office aiming for both has to satisfy each set of rules on its own terms.
Putting the SFO, Tax Incentive and PR Together
The three pieces are distinct approvals from two agencies, and the order matters. In practice an HNWI sets up the SFO structure, applies to MAS for the 13O or 13U tax incentive, and applies to EDB for the GIP. The tax incentive and the PR are assessed independently, but the same SFO and capital can support both, which is why they are usually planned as one project.
A Workable Sequence
- Incorporate the SFO and the fund vehicle in Singapore, with proper governance and an investment mandate. For the corporate steps, see company incorporation for foreigners in Singapore.
- Apply to MAS for Section 13O or 13U based on your fund size and team, meeting the AUM, investment-professional and LBS requirements.
- Apply to EDB for the GIP under Option C, with your five-year business plan and proof of at least S$200 million in net investible assets.
- On Approval-in-Principle, transfer at least S$50 million into Singapore; on Final Approval, deploy it within 12 months into EDB-specified investments and formalise PR.
- Maintain the deployment and, by renewal, employ at least 5 incremental family office professionals (at least 3 Singapore Citizens) to support the Re-Entry Permit.
The GIP application fee is S$20,000 and processing takes roughly 12 months, subject to due diligence (EDB, updated 5 May 2025). The Re-Entry Permit issued on PR is valid for 5 years. Because the GIP route runs in parallel with broader corporate moves, families often handle it as part of a wider business relocation to PR in Singapore plan.
What Is Changing and How to Decide
The GIP thresholds have moved before. The current Option C figures, including the S$200 million AUM and the S$50 million Singapore deployment, were raised on 15 March 2023 and are reflected in the EDB factsheet updated 5 May 2025. MAS has likewise tightened the family office tax schemes, adding tiered local spending and ongoing AUM tests. Treat every figure here as a snapshot and confirm the live numbers with EDB and MAS before you act.
For a high-net-worth family, the decision is rarely about whether the capital exists; it is about structure, timing and fit. The GIP demands a genuine, well-governed family office and a credible investment plan, not just a transfer of funds. ICA and EDB are the deciding authorities, and there is no guarantee of approval. Strong applications show a real Singapore presence, a clear source of wealth, and a deployment plan that holds up under scrutiny.
When the GIP Is Not the Right Fit
If your wealth sits below the GIP thresholds, or you would rather build an operating business than run a S$200 million family office, other routes to PR may suit better. Many founders and senior professionals reach PR through employment passes first. Compare the options with our permanent residency application service, or explore the dedicated Global Investor Programme page for the full investor pathway.
Frequently Asked Questions About the family office route to Singapore PR
How does a family office help with a Singapore PR application?
A family office principal applies for PR through Option C of the Global Investor Programme. You establish a Singapore single family office with AUM of at least S$200 million, deploy at least S$50 million into Singapore-specified investments, and EDB assesses the case before ICA grants the PR (EDB factsheet, updated 5 May 2025).
What is the difference between the GIP family office threshold and the MAS 13O or 13U minimum?
They are separate rules. GIP Option C requires an SFO with AUM of at least S$200 million for residency. MAS Section 13O requires a minimum S$20 million in designated investments and Section 13U requires S$50 million, both for the fund tax exemption only. A family office aiming for both must meet each independently.
When were the GIP family office figures last raised?
The current GIP Option C thresholds, including the S$200 million AUM and S$50 million Singapore deployment, were raised on 15 March 2023 and are confirmed in the EDB GIP factsheet updated 5 May 2025. EDB and MAS update thresholds periodically, so verify the live figures before applying.
How long must the S$50 million stay invested in Singapore?
The S$50 million must be deployed in EDB-specified investments within 12 months of your Final Approval and maintained throughout the validity of the Re-Entry Permit. At renewal, the SFO must also employ at least 5 incremental family office professionals, of whom at least 3 are Singapore Citizens (EDB, updated 5 May 2025).
Is PR through a Singapore family office guaranteed if I meet the thresholds?
No. Meeting the financial thresholds is necessary but not sufficient. EDB assesses your track record, investment plan and source of wealth, and ICA is the final authority on PR. There is no guarantee of approval, so treat the thresholds as a baseline and prepare a credible, well-documented case.
Do I need the MAS tax incentive to qualify for the GIP?
No, the MAS Section 13O or 13U incentive and the GIP are separate approvals. The tax incentive exempts qualifying fund income from tax, while the GIP grants PR. Most principals apply for both because the same family office can support each, but the GIP does not require a tax incentive to be in place.
Official Sources and References
- EDB - Global Investor Programme
- EDB - Global Investor Programme factsheet (PDF)
- MAS - Fund tax incentive schemes for family offices (13O and 13U)
- ICA - Become a permanent resident
Explore Catalyst Immigration’s other services:
- Global Investor Programme
- Business Relocation to PR in Singapore
- Company Incorporation for Foreigners in Singapore
- Permanent Residency Application
- Business Relocation Services
Talk to Catalyst Immigration
Catalyst Immigration helps high-net-worth families plan the family office, the MAS tax incentive and the GIP as one coordinated project, so the SFO structure, the capital deployment and the PR application line up against the live EDB and MAS thresholds. We confirm current figures, prepare the supporting evidence, and guide the submission end to end.