Background:
- I'm a Malaysian
- Registered marriage in Singapore in October 2020
- Husband is Singaporean
- Submitted application for LTVP and PR 11 days after marriage
- LTVP approved in-principle 4 days after application submission
- PR approved in-principle 1 year 6 days after application submission
(My PR application was rejected once before marriage, where I applied using my S Pass. That failed application was submitted in November 2019 and rejected in June 2020)
My current PR application was done by my husband and I online (not through an agency). It was a long wait but I'm glad it was finally approved. While waiting, I've updated ICA with a few things:
- Updated my pass type from S Pass to LTVP in November 2020
- Updated my new passport number (passport renewal) in October 2021
- Updated my tertiary education status (completed part-time Diploma and started Masters program with ICA's consent) in October 2021.
Please refer to my previous post on LTVP application for the things to take note of when submitting your online application.
- I'm a Malaysian
- Registered marriage in Singapore in October 2020
- Husband is Singaporean
- Submitted application for LTVP and PR 11 days after marriage
- LTVP approved in-principle 4 days after application submission
- PR approved in-principle 1 year 6 days after application submission
(My PR application was rejected once before marriage, where I applied using my S Pass. That failed application was submitted in November 2019 and rejected in June 2020)
My current PR application was done by my husband and I online (not through an agency). It was a long wait but I'm glad it was finally approved. While waiting, I've updated ICA with a few things:
- Updated my pass type from S Pass to LTVP in November 2020
- Updated my new passport number (passport renewal) in October 2021
- Updated my tertiary education status (completed part-time Diploma and started Masters program with ICA's consent) in October 2021.
Please refer to my previous post on LTVP application for the things to take note of when submitting your online application.
In-Principle Approval
ICA will send the hardcopy documents via post to the sponsor's registered address. If you were not sponsored by anyone, then it will be sent your registered address.
In my ICA envelope, I received:
- the IPA Letter
- the list of things to do before heading to ICA
- Medical Examination Report form
- a document checklist
- Form 6 (Application for Entry Permit)
- Input Form for issuance of identity card
- a guide to make ICA appointment through their website
IPA Letter:
This letter is addressed to my husband stating that his wife's (me) PR application has been granted in-principle approval. I was asked to declare my health status via CPF's website (QR code is printed on the letter) and to make sure that the status is marked 'Completed' before my ICA appointment.
The letter also states that I am eligible to apply for Singapore Citizenship after 2 years.
List of things to do before heading to ICA:
1. Medical Examination
If you have submitted a medical examination report to ICA/MOM within the past 2 years, you do not have to go for another round of check-up. At the bottom section of the Medical Examination Form provided, you just have to fill in and sign to declare that you have a medical report submitted to ICA/MOM within the past 2 years.
But if you did not submit any medical reports to ICA/MOM within the past 2 years, you will have to visit any GPs to get it done. I visited Mediway Medical Centre at Peace Centre (#04-21), Sophia Road. Note that you should take the entrance right next to the Peace Centre bus stop. I mistakenly entered the wrong wing which took me to a dark ass night club entrance.
Mediway's website was very nicely done and they stated everything that we should expect when we visit the clinic for the medical examination. However, the actual staffs were...just don't expect too much. I got 'tsk-ed' by the auntie staff when I approached the wrong person after hearing my name called.
Mind you, I was sitting outside the clinic because it was full inside. When I heard my name I rushed in and approached the only lady I see at the counter. When I realized it was the wrong lady I turned around and looked for another one. And when I approached the right one, I was asked 'I called you why did you look for somebody else?', and I said 'well I thought the other lady called me', which then I was given the eye-roll and 'tsk'. Okay, I'm getting mad now so I'm just gonna remove their website link from my post. You can Google their website to see what to expect, but you should visit other clinics to get a better staff treatment. Because like what people say, why would you pay to get mistreated? 不要花钱来受罪.
I paid $50 for the examination and another $15 for the report to be delivered to my home. The report will be ready by the next working day at 4.30pm. If you choose for the report to be delivered home, it will arrive the next working day between 5pm and 9pm.
For PR medical examination, we just have to get an X-Ray to check for TB and blood test to check for HIV.
In my ICA envelope, I received:
- the IPA Letter
- the list of things to do before heading to ICA
- Medical Examination Report form
- a document checklist
- Form 6 (Application for Entry Permit)
- Input Form for issuance of identity card
- a guide to make ICA appointment through their website
IPA Letter:
This letter is addressed to my husband stating that his wife's (me) PR application has been granted in-principle approval. I was asked to declare my health status via CPF's website (QR code is printed on the letter) and to make sure that the status is marked 'Completed' before my ICA appointment.
The letter also states that I am eligible to apply for Singapore Citizenship after 2 years.
List of things to do before heading to ICA:
1. Medical Examination
If you have submitted a medical examination report to ICA/MOM within the past 2 years, you do not have to go for another round of check-up. At the bottom section of the Medical Examination Form provided, you just have to fill in and sign to declare that you have a medical report submitted to ICA/MOM within the past 2 years.
But if you did not submit any medical reports to ICA/MOM within the past 2 years, you will have to visit any GPs to get it done. I visited Mediway Medical Centre at Peace Centre (#04-21), Sophia Road. Note that you should take the entrance right next to the Peace Centre bus stop. I mistakenly entered the wrong wing which took me to a dark ass night club entrance.
Mediway's website was very nicely done and they stated everything that we should expect when we visit the clinic for the medical examination. However, the actual staffs were...just don't expect too much. I got 'tsk-ed' by the auntie staff when I approached the wrong person after hearing my name called.
Mind you, I was sitting outside the clinic because it was full inside. When I heard my name I rushed in and approached the only lady I see at the counter. When I realized it was the wrong lady I turned around and looked for another one. And when I approached the right one, I was asked 'I called you why did you look for somebody else?', and I said 'well I thought the other lady called me', which then I was given the eye-roll and 'tsk'. Okay, I'm getting mad now so I'm just gonna remove their website link from my post. You can Google their website to see what to expect, but you should visit other clinics to get a better staff treatment. Because like what people say, why would you pay to get mistreated? 不要花钱来受罪.
I paid $50 for the examination and another $15 for the report to be delivered to my home. The report will be ready by the next working day at 4.30pm. If you choose for the report to be delivered home, it will arrive the next working day between 5pm and 9pm.
For PR medical examination, we just have to get an X-Ray to check for TB and blood test to check for HIV.
This is an outdated version of the Medical Examination Report form if you'd like to take a peek. It's slightly different in terms of formatting and disclaimer from the one I received. Hence, wait for the latest medical examination form to be sent to you via mail. Don't use this version. Anyhow, you'd need to show your IPA letter at the clinic, so you'd have to wait for the mail to arrive anyway. Don't rush for it.
2. Recent passport-sized colored photograph x2
- 35mm wide by 45mm high without border and taken within last 3 months;
- taken full face without headgear, unless the applicant habitually wears a headgear in accordance with religious or racial customs. The headgear must not hide the applicant's facial features;
- the facial image must be between 25mm and 35mm from chin to crown;
- taken against plain white background with a matt or semi-matt finish
Visit a photo shop to have your picture taken. I got mine at Kim Loo Photo Studio near Beach Road for $7 (4 pcs). This picture will be used for your new NRIC. You'd wanna get it done nicely.
2. Recent passport-sized colored photograph x2
- 35mm wide by 45mm high without border and taken within last 3 months;
- taken full face without headgear, unless the applicant habitually wears a headgear in accordance with religious or racial customs. The headgear must not hide the applicant's facial features;
- the facial image must be between 25mm and 35mm from chin to crown;
- taken against plain white background with a matt or semi-matt finish
Visit a photo shop to have your picture taken. I got mine at Kim Loo Photo Studio near Beach Road for $7 (4 pcs). This picture will be used for your new NRIC. You'd wanna get it done nicely.
Make an ICA Appointment
Book appointment with ICA via the following website:
Appointment Day!
1. Go to ICA Building (Lavender MRT, Exit A), Level 5 - PR Services Centre
2. Go to the self-service Kiosk and scan the barcode on your IPA Letter
3. A Queue Ticket will be printed out for you
If you did not make an e-appointment, you will NOT be issued a queue ticket.
2. Go to the self-service Kiosk and scan the barcode on your IPA Letter
3. A Queue Ticket will be printed out for you
If you did not make an e-appointment, you will NOT be issued a queue ticket.
4. Proceed to the waiting area near Counters 21 - 39.
5. When your queue number is indicated on the screen, approach the designated counter. Only 1 person is allowed at the counter (should be due to Covid-19), so my husband was asked to sit at the waiting area.
6. The officer will ask for the documents one-by-one:
- The forms that were sent together with IPA Letter for us to fill in
- my husband's original NRIC
- my original passport
- my original LTVP (which will be taken by ICA for cancellation)
- my 2 passport pictures
- Medical Report
- Original birth certificate
- Original highest education certificates
- Latest payslip as of your PR formalities date
- Original employer letter that was submitted during application
- my husband's original highest education certificates
- my husband's latest payslip as of PR formalities date
- my husband's original employer letter that was submitted during application
(these documents are based on the checklist that they sent together with IPA Letter)
The ICA Officer asked if we are still working in the same company (now vs when we applied for PR). I'm still in the same corporate group but different subsidiary. I've never update ICA on this, but the Officer did not ask for more documents for that.
7. I wrote my name's Chinese character on the Input Form for NRIC. The officer asked to confirm if I want these Chinese characters to be printed on my NRIC too.
8. Officer asked to confirm my residential address.
9. Officer handover forms and asked me to check and sign.
10. Pay $120 ($20 for Entry Permit, $50 Re-entry Permit, $50 for NRIC)
11. Fingerprint scan and Iris scan.
12. My husband was asked to join in while the officer explains:
- NRIC Collection Slip. NRIC will be ready in 1-2 weeks. We must make appointment for collection, can choose to collect from Post Office or ICA Level 3. We can start making the appointment the next day onwards. The Collection Slip must be surrendered during collection.
- Entry Permit. We should make copies for our HR and ourselves, because this Entry Permit will only be issued ONCE. Do not lose it.
- Re-entry Permit. Must renew within 3 months before it expires.
- If we already have a SingPass account registered under our FIN, SingPass will send a letter that contains the password of our new SingPass account. More details below!
- 2 books were given regarding Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) and a Guide to PR.
13. If you have any questions, you can ask the officer now.
We got our queue ticket at 8.20am, and we left the building at 8.48am. The PR formalities took less than 30 minutes to complete.
5. When your queue number is indicated on the screen, approach the designated counter. Only 1 person is allowed at the counter (should be due to Covid-19), so my husband was asked to sit at the waiting area.
6. The officer will ask for the documents one-by-one:
- The forms that were sent together with IPA Letter for us to fill in
- my husband's original NRIC
- my original passport
- my original LTVP (which will be taken by ICA for cancellation)
- my 2 passport pictures
- Medical Report
- Original birth certificate
- Original highest education certificates
- Latest payslip as of your PR formalities date
- Original employer letter that was submitted during application
- my husband's original highest education certificates
- my husband's latest payslip as of PR formalities date
- my husband's original employer letter that was submitted during application
(these documents are based on the checklist that they sent together with IPA Letter)
The ICA Officer asked if we are still working in the same company (now vs when we applied for PR). I'm still in the same corporate group but different subsidiary. I've never update ICA on this, but the Officer did not ask for more documents for that.
7. I wrote my name's Chinese character on the Input Form for NRIC. The officer asked to confirm if I want these Chinese characters to be printed on my NRIC too.
8. Officer asked to confirm my residential address.
9. Officer handover forms and asked me to check and sign.
10. Pay $120 ($20 for Entry Permit, $50 Re-entry Permit, $50 for NRIC)
11. Fingerprint scan and Iris scan.
12. My husband was asked to join in while the officer explains:
- NRIC Collection Slip. NRIC will be ready in 1-2 weeks. We must make appointment for collection, can choose to collect from Post Office or ICA Level 3. We can start making the appointment the next day onwards. The Collection Slip must be surrendered during collection.
- Entry Permit. We should make copies for our HR and ourselves, because this Entry Permit will only be issued ONCE. Do not lose it.
- Re-entry Permit. Must renew within 3 months before it expires.
- If we already have a SingPass account registered under our FIN, SingPass will send a letter that contains the password of our new SingPass account. More details below!
- 2 books were given regarding Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) and a Guide to PR.
13. If you have any questions, you can ask the officer now.
We got our queue ticket at 8.20am, and we left the building at 8.48am. The PR formalities took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Make Appointment for NRIC Collection
On the next day (12 Nov), I visited the ICA eAppointment website to make an appointment to collect my NRIC. I was given the choice to collect at 'Alternate Site' or 'ICA'.
I chose Alternate Site, which means Post Office, and I selected General PO at Paya Lebar. The earliest date I was offered is 19 Nov (1 week later), and I can choose time slots from 10.30am to 7pm, in 30 minutes interval.
I chose Alternate Site, which means Post Office, and I selected General PO at Paya Lebar. The earliest date I was offered is 19 Nov (1 week later), and I can choose time slots from 10.30am to 7pm, in 30 minutes interval.
Collect NRIC
On the day of collection, remember to bring your Collection Slip. I wasn't asked to show my Entry Permit/Re-entry Permit/Passport. Since we're required to do iris scan and thumbprint scan upon collection, I guess no other form of identification is required to prove your identity. But if you wanna be safe, just bring the documents along.
I got my NRIC within 10 minutes at the post office counter.
I got my NRIC within 10 minutes at the post office counter.
SingPass
My PR formalities were completed on 11 Nov. I received my new Singpass account password via mail on 17 Nov (could be earlier cause I don't check my mail box often. The letter was dated 14 Nov). So this is what I did to replace my FIN SingPass with my NRIC SingPass account:
1. Open the SingPass app.
2. Tap on the Settings icon at the top right corner.
3. Choose 'Reset this app'.
4. A warning will pop-up saying that this action cannot be undone. Proceed to reset the app.
5. Log-in using my new NRIC number and the SingPass password that I received via mail.
6. Follow the app's instructions on setting up new PIN and biometric access etc.
7. Ta-dah! It's done!
P/S: We don't have to contact SingPass separately to get the new password. It will be sent to you automatically once you've done your formalities at ICA.
1. Open the SingPass app.
2. Tap on the Settings icon at the top right corner.
3. Choose 'Reset this app'.
4. A warning will pop-up saying that this action cannot be undone. Proceed to reset the app.
5. Log-in using my new NRIC number and the SingPass password that I received via mail.
6. Follow the app's instructions on setting up new PIN and biometric access etc.
7. Ta-dah! It's done!
P/S: We don't have to contact SingPass separately to get the new password. It will be sent to you automatically once you've done your formalities at ICA.
Trace Together App
My Vaccination Status disappeared from my Trace Together Account (registered under my FIN) 3 days after the PR formalities. It showed me as 'Not vaccinated'. Now that most places require us to be vaccinated to gain entry, this has proven inconvenient to me.
I uninstalled the Trace Toegether app, and re-install to log in using my new IC number. I was able to log in, but the Vaccination Status still shows 'Not vaccinated'. After checking the FAQs, we were advised to send an enquiry form to them to address the issue.
BUT!
This issue was resolved the moment I updated my SingPass app to my new NRIC account. The 'Vaccinated' status appeared immediately after SingPass activation. So, be patient for a few days and activate your NRIC SingPass account the moment you receive the password.
We can always download our Vaccination Certificate from MOH if we really need to attend events that requires our vaccination proof before the account activation.
I uninstalled the Trace Toegether app, and re-install to log in using my new IC number. I was able to log in, but the Vaccination Status still shows 'Not vaccinated'. After checking the FAQs, we were advised to send an enquiry form to them to address the issue.
BUT!
This issue was resolved the moment I updated my SingPass app to my new NRIC account. The 'Vaccinated' status appeared immediately after SingPass activation. So, be patient for a few days and activate your NRIC SingPass account the moment you receive the password.
We can always download our Vaccination Certificate from MOH if we really need to attend events that requires our vaccination proof before the account activation.
Driving License
Unfortunately, we can't update our SG driving license from FIN to NRIC number online. We'll have to make a trip down to Traffic Police Ubi.
What to bring:
- NRIC
- SG Driving License that has your FIN on it
- Passport photo with white background
- NETS card to pay $25
1. Obtain visitor pass from the guard post by the main entrance.
2. Enter the main building.
3. Get a queue ticket. Choose the 'Replace driving license' option
4. Wait.
5. Proceed to counter when your queue number is displayed on screen.
6. Give officer the queue number slip, NRIC, License and passport pic
7. Officer gives a form for you to sign, fill in date and phone number
8. Give passport picture
9. Officer asks to remove mask/glasses to check if you're the actual person who's replacing the license.
9. Officer will punch a hole on your current driving license and give it back to you
10. Pay $25 with NETS
11. Officer gives a slip as proof of your new driving license. The actual driving license will be mailed to your address within 1 week.
It took less than 30 minutes from the time I entered the main building till end of procedure.
- NRIC
- SG Driving License that has your FIN on it
- Passport photo with white background
- NETS card to pay $25
1. Obtain visitor pass from the guard post by the main entrance.
2. Enter the main building.
3. Get a queue ticket. Choose the 'Replace driving license' option
4. Wait.
5. Proceed to counter when your queue number is displayed on screen.
6. Give officer the queue number slip, NRIC, License and passport pic
7. Officer gives a form for you to sign, fill in date and phone number
8. Give passport picture
9. Officer asks to remove mask/glasses to check if you're the actual person who's replacing the license.
9. Officer will punch a hole on your current driving license and give it back to you
10. Pay $25 with NETS
11. Officer gives a slip as proof of your new driving license. The actual driving license will be mailed to your address within 1 week.
It took less than 30 minutes from the time I entered the main building till end of procedure.