Passport of convenience - Govt must disclose

[scroobal]

The govt needs to dosclose how many new citizens are holding on to Singapore passport but no longer working or paying taxes here. It is a well known fact that both Indians from India and PRC passport holders have to clear a slew of visa requirements to visit most countries using the PRC or Indian passports.. They spend 2 years here, get the passport and then move overseas.

Here is the catch. Their male kids are not citizens or PR but on dependent's pass. They have bought HDB flats and are renting it out while they are overseas, Singapore is not their home and they trvael back to China and India for their annual vacation.

Both countries also allow their ex-citizens to reapply citizenship when they return home permanently.

[scroobal]

Make it a condition that new citizens must visit Singapore for at least 25 days each year for the first 10 years of acquiring citizenship. Their male kids must also be citizens before acquiring citizenship.

[kingrant]

Countries like Oz and Canada I know require PRs to stay at least 183 days a year or 2 years in 5 year window (moving window). 25 days seem to me a breeze, esp when the distances are not far. 6 hrs trip the most.

[THE_CHANSTER]

Their male kids must also be citizens before acquiring citizenship.

Scroobal, can you clarify this statement? Don't Indians and PRCs and other new citizens have to register their male sons to ICA as a requirement for citizenship?

If not, this is a very big loophole for those wish to evade NS.

[Leongsam]

Countries like Oz and Canada I know require PRs to stay at least 183 days a year or 2 years in 5 year window (moving window). 25 days seem to me a breeze, esp when the distances are not far. 6 hrs trip the most.

That's for PRs. Once you're a citizen, you can disappear for 40 years and still retain citizenship.

NZ allows PRs the same privilege once you have an indefinite RRV.

It is estimated that 4 million Kiwi PRs and citizens live abroad. I personally know of 10.

[scbccb]

Passport of convenience has been around since Singapore's independence but with strings attached. Compulsory national service for the second generation was one of the conditions in the old days. Seems like money rules now!

[Fook Seng]

Make it a condition that new citizens must visit Singapore for at least 25 days each year for the first 10 years of acquiring citizenship. Their male kids must also be citizens before acquiring citizenship.

I guess when they do that they would also require existing citizens to have their male children registered as citizens when they come of age whether born or not born locally.

[cass888]

Key word being PRs. But passport holders are citizens. Their citizens have no restrictions.

Countries like Oz and Canada I know require PRs to stay at least 183 days a year or 2 years in 5 year window (moving window). 25 days seem to me a breeze, esp when the distances are not far. 6 hrs trip the most.

[kingrant]

Key word being PRs. But passport holders are citizens. Their citizens have no restrictions.

You are all absolutely right. I stand corrected.

[scroobal]

For years, the male dependents did not need to apply for citizenship or PR while the entire family including the girls did. I understand that the loophole has been recently plugged to some extent. It was very common among foreigners to do so.

Scroobal, can you clarify this statement? Don't Indians and PRCs and other new citizens have to register their male sons to ICA as a requirement for citizenship?

If not, this is a very big loophole for those wish to evade NS.

[kingrant]

Yup. Make the offsprings pay for what their parents have been leeching from Singapore's goodwill.

[Fook Seng]

For years, the male dependents did not need to apply for citizenship or PR while the entire family including the girls did. I understand that the loophole has been recently plugged to some extent. It was very common among foreigners to do so.

It was as if the loophole was left there on purpose - afraid that no one would apply otherwise. How dumb can that be?

[Charlie99]

Make it a condition that new citizens must visit Singapore for at least 25 days each year for the first 10 years of acquiring citizenship. Their male kids must also be citizens before acquiring citizenship.

25 days appear to be lenient, may be 60 days

[Charlie99]

Countries like Oz and Canada I know require PRs to stay at least 183 days a year or 2 years in 5 year window (moving window). 25 days seem to me a breeze, esp when the distances are not far. 6 hrs trip the most.

I believe for Canada, the immigrant has to be in Canada for 3 years during the previous 5 years, in order to be eligible to apply for citizenship. But I may not be up to date.

[scroobal]

They may not have enough annual leave their jobs to make the visit back to Singapore. Do not want to be onerous but it is evident that the Singapore passport has become a convenient document with no allegiance required.

There must be some sort of clawback clause to prevent abuse.

25 days appear to be lenient, may be 60 days

[Charlie99]

They may not have enough annual leave their jobs to make the visit back to Singapore. Do not want to be onerous but it is evident that the Singapore passport has become a convenient document with no allegiance required.

There must be some sort of clawback clause to prevent abuse.

I see your point.
But as soon as an individual obtains his or her SG citizenship, and passport, he or she can decide where to live.
Therefore, it may not be practical ti impose and enforce any such requirement to reside in SG for a minimum number of days per year, after acquiring SG citizenship.

[Cruxx]

Patriotism is so passe

[kingrant]

No Charlie, it's 2 years out of 5. It used to be at least 183 days a year. The interesting thing is that it is a moving window. Seems only Canada has it.

But the health care system is the one that is more restrictive. You cannot be absent from canada for more than 183 days in a year, otherwise the healthcare insurance wont cover you, and if you make claims in the subsequent year for costs incurred in the year you understayed, you have to pay back those claims. And if you are continually absent year on year, they will review your status entirely and withdraw any health insurance from you. But this wont affect your PR status.

I believe for Canada, the immigrant has to be in Canada for 3 years during the previous 5 years, in order to be eligible to apply for citizenship. But I may not be up to date.

[Charlie99]

No Charlie, it's 2 years out of 5. It used to be at least 183 days a year. The interesting thing is that it is a moving window. Seems only Canada has it.

But the health care system is the one that is more restrictive. You cannot be absent from canada for more than 183 days in a year, otherwise the healthcare insurance wont cover you, and if you make claims in the subsequent year for costs incurred in the year you understayed, you have to pay back those claims. And if you are continually absent year on year, they will review your status entirely and withdraw any health insurance from you. But this wont affect your PR status.

Yes, I am aware of the residency requirements re: Ontario health care coverage.
But I rarely leave the country for more than 4 weeks a year.