Maintaining my PR application status

Member since 20 August 2019

karencautionActive member16 November 2022 09:04:46

Hi, I got accepted as a PR this year. However, I'm not very clear on how to maintain my PR status. I read somewhere on my documents that in order to extend my PR after 5 years, I've to pay taxes/CPF for the last 3 years. My friend who is a PR said, she got a few friends who didn't pay but still want to extend the PR. They were interviewed and as a result, got extension like 1 year instead of 5 years. If I pay taxes/CPF consistently, there should be no problem for my PR to be extended.

My questions are:

1. I'm planning to go back to uni, if at the end of 5 year period of my PR I haven't finished my studies or only paid taxes/CPF only for the last 1 year, its still problematic right? At worst case scenario, will I be converted to student pass in case I'm still studying?

2. Is it possible for me to study while working, so that I still can pay my CPF? Do people do this to maintain their PR status?

3. Regarding question 2, I'm confused about how much salary is required to pay CPF? If my part time job salary is 500$/month, is it still able to use to pay CPF? If my salary changed from 5000 to 2000 due to changing to part time job, will it cause problem when I try to extend my PR?

Thanks a lot

beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

Member since 08 August 2010

Germany & Singapore Expert

beppiGermany/Singapore Expert16 November 2022 11:45:23

15470

First, let me clear up a common miscopnception here:

Your PR status does NOT expire after 5 years, only your re-entry permit does.

It is possible to stay in Singapore as PR indefinitely without re-entry permit, as long as you never leave the country! (Whether that is practical, in such a small country, is of course another matter.)

If you got your PR through the PTS scheme (meaning because you worked here long enough) and worked, paid tax (and CPF if applicable) for three of the five years, then your re-entry permit is renewed without further questions asked.

If you did not, they will need additional information to evaluate your commitment to Singapore. Thus the interviews. If you are studying to further your career in Singapore, you have good chances to be approved.

(Note: PRs by family ties, e.g. being married to a Singaporean, get their re-entry permit renewed without such conditions - and sometimes even while living abroad.)

karencaution Active member

Member since 20 August 2019

karencautionActive member16 November 2022 13:22:38

@beppi I see, thanks Beppi.

It is possible to stay in Singapore as PR indefinitely without re-entry permit, as long as you never leave the country! (Whether that is practical, in such a small country, is of course another matter.)

Sorry, I still haven't understand this. You mean literally never leave the country? as in I leave for 1 week vacation and go back to SIngapore, my re-entry permit will start to expire 5 years from that vacation?

bryantlc93 Member

Member since 13 February 2022

bryantlc93Member16 November 2022 13:55:27

If your Re-Entry Permit expires while you're still physically in Singapore, you're still considered a PR. If your Re-Entry Permit expires while you're not physically in Singapore or that you left Singapore without renewing your permit, you would not be able to return to Singapore as a PR but only as a visitor.