Fewer applications for Permanent Residents (PR) and Singapore
citizenship were approved from April last year to March this year
after the Government tightened eligibility requirements following
Singaporeans' concerns and sentiments over the rapid increase in
such numbers.
Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs Ho Peng Kee
said of the 124,600 applications for PR and 24,000 application for
Singapore citizenship received during the year, 46,300 and 19,300
of them were approved respectively.
And of the 70,300 applications for long-term visit passes
(LTVPs) received during the same period, about 56,300 were
successful.
Replying to questions from three MPs in Parliament on Tuesday,
Associate Professor Ho said the Government tightened the PR and
citizenship framework in the last quarter of 2009 to better manage
the pace and overall numbers of foreigners.
'The eligibility requirements have generally been made more
stringent,' he said. 'Hence, there would be applicants who may not
meet our new criteria and who no longer qualify for PR or
citizenship.
'Others, even though they meet the new criteria, may take a
longer time before they are granted PR, or citizenship, as the
residency requirements have been stretched out in the new
framework.
'For Singaporeans or PRs whose foreign dependants do not yet
qualify for PR or citizenship, they can apply for LTVPs to remain
in Singapore.'
Prof Ho explained to the House that Singapore had taken in
larger numbers of foreigners in the last few years 'so as to catch
the wind of growth to propel our economy forward.'
'The growth in the number of new immigrants in recent years was
because we wanted to take advantage of the strong economy to
attract and retain suitable foreigners to sink roots here, and to
augment our population,' he said.
'The Government recognises and understands Singaporeans'
concerns and sentiments over the rapid increase in numbers. We have
reviewed our immigration framework to better manage the pace and
overall numbers.'
