Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on SC Granted to Foreigners from 2008 to 2017 by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Question:

Mr Png Eng Huat: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs for each year from 2008 to 2017, what is the breakdown of the number of Singapore citizenship applications received and approved for (i) foreigners married to Singapore citizens (SCs) and with SC children (ii) foreigners married to SCs and with non-SC children (iii) foreigners married to SCs and with no children and (iv) foreigners on work passes.

Answer:

1. From 2008 to 2016, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) granted Singapore citizenship (SC) to around 20,000 individuals each year, of whom around 4,300 were married to Singaporeans.  ICA is unable to break down the data by whether these individuals had any SC or non-SC children.

2. Foreigners on work passes are not eligible for SC.  They must have obtained Permanent Resident status before their SC application will be considered.