PRs overseas without valid re-entry permit to get 180 days to reapply before losing status

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that from 1 December 2025, permanent residents (PRs) who are overseas without a valid re-entry permit (REP) will have a prescribed 180-day period to apply for a new one before their PR status is revoked.

The reform forms part of the phased implementation of the Immigration (Amendment) Act 2023, which was passed in Parliament on 18 September 2023.

Under the revised framework, PRs who are outside Singapore without a valid REP will continue to hold PR status for up to 180 days from either 1 December 2025 or the date they first left Singapore without a valid REP—whichever is later.

According to MHA, the new structure aims to provide affected PRs sufficient time to regularise their residency status and confirm their intention to continue living in Singapore.

PR permit structure and current process

PRs in Singapore are issued two main permits: the Entry Permit (EP), which confers PR status and allows residence in Singapore, and the Re-Entry Permit (REP), typically valid for up to five years, which allows PRs to travel in and out of the country.

Currently, a PR who remains overseas without a valid REP is considered to have lost their PR status immediately. A one-month grace period allows them to apply for a new REP to reinstate their status, but the individual is technically no longer a PR during that time.

“This process presents some uncertainty about an individual’s PR status and corresponding benefits, from the time he loses his PR status till his application for a REP is approved,” MHA explained.

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has previously exercised flexibility in reinstating PRs in exceptional cases, such as overseas hospitalisation. However, the current system leaves ambiguity about residency rights during reinstatement.

New prescribed period process

Under the updated system, effective from 1 December 2025, PRs overseas without a valid REP will have 180 days—referred to as the prescribed period—to submit a new REP application.

If the application is approved within the period, the individual’s PR status remains continuous. If the application is rejected, PR status will cease the day after the rejection.

If no application is submitted within the 180 days, PR status will be lost the day after the period ends. This rule applies whether or not the individual has returned to Singapore during that time.

If an application is submitted within the prescribed period but remains pending beyond it, the PR will retain their status until a decision is made.

“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,” MHA stated.

The ministry added that under the new framework, there will no longer be an avenue for reinstating PR status once it has been lost. Individuals may instead submit a fresh PR application if eligible.

Temporary entry during the prescribed period

PRs who are overseas without a valid REP but within the prescribed 180-day period may still be allowed to re-enter Singapore, subject to ICA’s assessment. They will be issued a PR’s Single-Entry Pass for entry during this time.

“We encourage PRs to obtain a new REP or to renew their expiring REP in a timely manner before travelling out of Singapore, to minimise the risk of losing their PR status,” MHA advised.

Update to Entry Permit conditions

Alongside the new REP policy, ICA will update the conditions attached to all Entry Permits (EPs) issued to PRs. The revised conditions will be published on ICA’s website on 1 December 2025.

PRs who have not previously been issued an EP—such as those who obtained PR before 1987 or were born locally before 2005—will receive updated permits containing the new terms by that date.

Greater clarity and regulatory consistency

Officials said the revised framework strengthens administrative consistency and provides clarity for PRs who may be caught overseas due to unforeseen circumstances, such as medical treatment or international assignments.

The 180-day prescribed period offers a clearer and more equitable process compared to the existing reinstatement approach, which depends on case-by-case discretion.

By removing reinstatement as an option, the new system ensures all PRs are treated uniformly while encouraging compliance with REP renewal requirements.

The move aligns with Singapore’s long-term immigration management strategy to balance residency rights with regulatory integrity.