SINGAPORE: Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Law, said the government will not release specific data on the duration of stay in Singapore for those granted Singapore citizenship (SCs) and Permanent Residency (PRs) in 2023. This decision comes in response to a data request from Workers’ Party Member of Parliament (MP) Louis Chua.

The minister explained that this decision is motivated by concerns that potential applicants might manipulate their applications to meet perceived benchmarks, thereby “gaming the system.”

He also cautioned that foreign countries could misuse publicly available data to undermine Singapore’s national interests.

Mr Shanmugam was responding to a parliamentary question filed by Mr Chua.

The Sengkang MP asked the Minister with regard to new permanent residencies and new citizenships granted in 2023, what is the 25th percentile, median, average, and 75th percentile of the duration in which adult foreigners have resided in Singapore prior to obtaining permanent residence.

He further queried for the similar data for adult permanent residents who have held their permanent residence prior to obtaining Singapore citizenship.

Minister Shanmugam: Length of Residency is Just One Factor in Application Assessments

In a written reply on 14 October, Mr Shanmugam affirmed that the government publishes the number of PRs and SCs granted each year, along with selected profile indicators such as age group, highest qualifications attained among those aged 20 and over, and region of origin.

He stated that the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) assesses each application for Permanent Residency and Singapore Citizenship based on a range of factors.

The applicant’s length of residency is only one of the factors considered.

Other factors include, but are not limited to, the applicant’s family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, educational qualifications, age and family profile, the applicant’s ability to integrate into society, and their commitment to establishing roots in Singapore.

Mr Shanmugam further noted that different criteria may apply to different applicants, depending on their background and circumstances.

“For example, an applicant applying as a spouse of a SC will be considered differently from someone applying on the basis of having stayed in Singapore for a period of time, and contributed to employment creation in Singapore.”

While declining Mr Chua’s request for specific data, Mr Shanmugam reiterated that releasing such information could lead to manipulation by potential applicants.

He emphasised the importance of being judicious about the information shared, despite the government publishing some general indicators such as age, education level, and region of origin for PRs and SCs.

“We have to be careful that we do so in a way consistent with our national interests. ”

The latest response from Minister Shanmugam is consistent with his previous statements regarding new PRs and SCs applications.

In 2021, in a response to PAP MP for Choa Chu Kang GRC Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim’s queries about the reasons for unsuccessful permanent residency applications, Minister Shanmugam reiterated that the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) evaluates these applications based on various factors.

He explained that specific reasons for rejections are not disclosed to prevent potential misuse and safeguard Singapore’s national interests.

In February 2023, NCMP Leong Mun Wai inquired about the number of non-citizen brides and grooms who married Singapore citizens and subsequently obtained Singapore citizenship from 2000 to the present. He also requested a breakdown by country of origin and the median duration after marriage before citizenship is granted.

In response, Minister Shanmugam stated that, on average, about 2,700 foreign spouses have become Singapore citizens each year from 2000 to 2022. However, he declined to provide detailed breakdowns by specific country due to concerns about potential bilateral sensitivities.

He noted that foreign spouses must first be Permanent Residents before applying for citizenship, and the time between marriage and obtaining citizenship can vary significantly based on individual circumstances and various factors assessed by the ICA.

23,472 individuals granted citizenship in 2023

The latest National Population and Talent Division (NPTD), published on 24 September, noted that in 2023, 23,472 individuals were granted citizenship, while 34,491 individuals were granted permanent residency.

The average number of new citizenships and permanent residencies granted per year over the last five years was 22,400 citizenships and 32,600 permanent residencies, slightly higher than the preceding five-year period, which recorded averages of 21,600 citizenships and 31,100 permanent residencies.

On 14 October 2024, during a Parliamentary session, Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Mr Leong Mun Wai raised concerns regarding the acquisition of Good Class Bungalows (GCBs) by trust companies, particularly with respect to foreign beneficiaries.

He posed three questions to the Minister for Law: what percentage of GCBs have been sold to trust companies in the last five years, how many of these trust companies have foreign beneficiaries, and how many clearance certificate applications by such companies have been rejected.

Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong, in a written response, clarified that no GCBs had been sold to trust companies holding properties for foreign beneficiaries over the past five years.

Foreign individuals, including Permanent Residents (PRs), and foreign entities must seek approval under the Residential Property Act (RPA) to acquire any landed residential property, including GCBs. This applies whether the purchase is direct or through trust companies.

Singaporean citizens, however, are exempt from this requirement if the property is not held for foreign beneficiaries.

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) tracks all applications for foreign purchases under the RPA, and Mr Tong confirmed that, from 2019 to 2023, no approvals were granted to trust companies where the beneficiaries were foreign.

Moreover, no approvals have been issued to foreigners, including PRs, for the purchase of GCBs since 2021. Between 2012 and 2021, only five such approvals were granted, two of which were inheritance cases.

Mr Tong emphasised the government’s strict stance on limiting foreign ownership of GCBs and other landed properties in Singapore.

These properties, often seen as prime real estate in affluent districts, are closely monitored to ensure compliance with the RPA, preventing foreign buyers from acquiring such assets without approval. This strict approach aligns with the government’s broader efforts to ensure that GCBs remain accessible primarily to Singaporeans or individuals with a strong nexus to Singapore.

Sale of GCB by Home Affairs and Law Minister in 2023 for S$88 million

This parliamentary clarification comes against the backdrop of a high-profile property transaction involving Mr Shanmugam, the Minister for Home Affairs and Law, who transferred his GCB at Astrid Hill to UBS Trustees (Singapore) Ltd for S$88 million in August 2023.

The transfer raised public interest due to the speculation that the beneficiary of the trust may be a foreigner, despite the stringent rules laid out under the RPA.

UBS Trustees, a licensed trust company under the Trust Companies Act 2005, acted as the trustee for The Jasmine Villa Settlement, in this transaction.

Trust structures such as this are commonly used for estate planning and asset management.

The lack of clarity regarding the identity of the beneficiary has led to public speculation, with some questioning whether the trust could involve a foreign beneficiary. However, based on Mr Tong’s response, this seems impossible unless the beneficiary is a new Singaporean citizen.

Mr Shanmugam purchased the Astrid Hill GCB in December 2003 for S$7.95 million. By the time of its transfer in 2023, its value had risen significantly to S$88 million, in line with the rising prices of GCBs in Singapore’s prime District 10, known for its exclusive residential estates. The transaction was facilitated by Allen & Gledhill, with Ms Ho Sheau Farn representing UBS Trustees and Mr Ho Kin San acting on behalf of Mr Shanmugam.

The property’s transfer was not recorded in the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) Private Residential Property Transactions database, likely due to its nature as a trust-related transaction rather than a conventional sale. This lack of public visibility has further fuelled speculation regarding the identity of the trust’s beneficiary.

Significant stamp duties were also involved in the transfer. Based on current rates, the Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) amounted to approximately S$5.2 million.

In addition, a 65% Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD), applicable for such transactions, would result in a further S$57.2 million, bringing the total cost to around S$150.4 million. However, UBS Trustees may have been eligible for remission of the 65% ABSD under certain conditions. Specifically, if the trust is held for identifiable individual beneficiaries who are Singaporean citizens, part or all of the ABSD may be refunded.

This transfer followed shortly after Mr Shanmugam’s ministerial statement in July 2023, where he addressed questions from Members of Parliament regarding his rental of a state-owned black-and-white colonial bungalow at 26 Ridout Road.

In that statement, he explained that as he approached his 60s, he reassessed his financial situation and decided to place his Astrid Hill property on the market while moving into a rental home. This restructuring was part of his broader financial planning, and he clarified that the decision was not driven by financial need but by prudent management of his assets.

The timing of the GCB transfer, just weeks after his statement in Parliament, raised further questions, particularly given the substantial value of the transaction.

As of the time of publication, no official comment has been received from Mr Shanmugam over the sale of his property.