The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that, from December 1, 2025, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will implement changes to the Permanent Resident (PR) Re-Entry Permit (REP) application process for PRs who are outside Singapore without a valid REP.
This is part of the phased implementation of the Immigration (Amendment) Act 2023 (“Act”), which was passed by Parliament on September 18, 2023.
Revisions to the REP Application Process
A Permanent Resident (PR) is issued with two permits: an Entry Permit (EP), when PR status is granted, which allows a person to enter and remain in Singapore; and a Re-Entry Permit (REP) with a fixed validity period, which allows a person to re-enter Singapore after having left Singapore temporarily.
Currently, a PR who is outside Singapore without a valid REP is deemed by ICA to have lost their PR status immediately. They have a one-month grace period after their REP has expired to apply for a new REP, if they wish to reinstate their PR status. If the application is approved, their PR status will be reinstated by ICA. Notwithstanding this, ICA has been exercising flexibility in allowing some PRs who miss the deadline to have their PR status reinstated if they have legitimate reasons, for example, if they were hospitalized overseas. However, this means that the PR had effectively lost their PR status during the period between the REP expiry and PR reinstatement. This process presents some uncertainty about an individual’s PR status and corresponding benefits, from the time they lose their PR status till their application for a REP is approved (if they wish to reinstate their PR status).
From December 1, 2025, a PR who is outside Singapore without a valid REP will have a prescribed period of 180 days to apply for an REP, before their PR status is lost. The 180 days starts from December 1, 2025 if the PR is outside Singapore without a valid REP on that date, or in any other case, the date on which the PR is first outside Singapore without a valid REP. This is a grace period during which PRs can regularize their status and confirm whether they wish to continue being a PR, by applying for an REP:
- If their REP application, submitted within the prescribed 180-day period, is approved, they retain their PR status;
- If their REP application, submitted within the prescribed period, is unsuccessful, they lose their PR status the day after the application is rejected;
- If they fail to apply for an REP within the prescribed period, they lose their PR status the day after the prescribed period. This applies regardless of whether the person is still physically overseas or has since returned to Singapore.
- If their REP application was submitted within the prescribed period, they retain their PR status while the application is pending, even beyond the prescribed period, even if they are outside Singapore without a valid REP during this time.
These amendments make it clear that PRs must apply for a REP within 180 days of being outside Singapore without a valid REP, failing which they will lose their PR status.
With this revised process, there will no longer be an avenue for PR reinstatement once a PR loses their PR status. The person who has lost their PR status may submit a fresh PR application, if eligible.
During the prescribed period, the individual will remain a PR and will still be allowed to re-enter Singapore if they meet ICA’s usual assessment at immigration checkpoints, even if they do not have a valid REP. These individuals will be issued a PR’s Single-Entry Pass for their re-entry into Singapore.
A summary of the revised REP application process, along with some illustrative examples, can be found at the Annex. FAQs are available here.
ICA encourages PRs to obtain a new REP or to renew their expiring REP in a timely manner before travelling out of Singapore, to minimize the risk of losing their PR status.
Updates to EP Conditions
In addition to the above, ICA will also update the Employment Permit conditions for all PRs. The updated conditions will be published on December 1, 2025 on ICA’s website. In accordance with the Act, PRs who were not previously issued with an EP will be issued one that includes the updated EP conditions, by December 1, 2025.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.