note that if the child is male, he will have to make the
decision earlier due to ns.
Dual Citizens and National Service Liability in
Singapore
Military or national service (NS) liable males who
emigrated overseas before age 11 and have not enjoyed significant
socio-economic benefits of citizenship, (e.g. applied for a
Singapore Identity Card or studied in Singapore beyond the age of
11), will be allowed to renounce their Singapore citizenship if
they do not wish to fulfil their NS obligations. They will be
required to register for NS with
Central Manpower
Base and apply for deferment
from full-time NS (NSF) until the age of 21, pending the
renunciation of their Singapore citizenship. They can continue to
make short social visits to Singapore and will not be required to
serve NS if they renounced their citizenship at age
21.
Dual citizens should be aware of certain exit controls that may
apply. Please refer to the Singapore Ministry of
Defence.
It should be noted that such laws are not unique to Singapore.
Taiwan, South Korea, Greece, and Israel, for example, have similar
laws that subject dual nationals to compulsory military service.
The United States Government cannot protect dual nationals from
compulsory military service. A List of Attorneys is available if you
wish to seek legal assistance in your situation.
Male children who are granted Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR)
status under their parents' sponsorship are liable for national
service (NS) upon reaching 16½ years old. NS-liable SPRs are
expected to serve NS.
Renouncing SPR status without serving or completing NS may
adversely impact future applications to work or study in Singapore.
American citizens who hold SPR status should evaluate their own
circumstances and weigh their options before making their
decisions. Male SPRs may contact the Ministry of Defence about their
National Service liability.
The U.S. government cannot intervene in Singapore decisions
concerning liability for National Service nor can the U.S.
government lobby for exemptions on an American citizens'
behalf.
After cancellation of SPR status, a Short Visit Pass valid for a
month is usually granted. Former Singapore Permanent
Residents who wish to continue to study or work in Singapore must
apply for a student, work or employment pass from the appropriate
authority. As noted above, the decision to renounce permanent
residence may have an adverse impact on applications for work or
student passes.
A former SPR may be granted entry to Singapore as an ordinary
social visitor upon his / her return to Singapore, subject to
Singapore's entry requirements, which include holding a valid
passport with at least six months validity, entry visas (if
applicable), confirmed return / onward tickets, sufficient funds
for the period of stay in Singapore and entry facilities, including
visas, to their onward destinations. Decision to admit the traveler
is at the discretion of Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
officers at the time of arrival at Singapore checkpoints.
