Singapore Expats

Hi Guys

I know you guys are probably sick to death about these Renunciation topics but I thought I'd get a second opinion on my current situation..

A bit about myself: currently I am 22 years old and living in Australia as an Australian citizen. However I was born in Singapore but migrated to Australia when i was 2-3 years old. I have since live in Australia but have had the occasional visit to Singapore for holidays before I was 18.

My concern lies in the fact that i wish to return to Singapore for holidays during the December period (annual leave all booked). My papers for Renunciation are completed and due to be sent to a relative to hand in to ICA by the end of the week. I've been told that there is a 4-8 week turn around for these papers to be processed.

Trouble is I've booked in my flight to Singapore for the 16th Dec. Is there anything else I need to do besides getting the Renunciation papers to ICA? I just need assurance that I will be able to get into and out of singapore safely?

Thanks once again for any help you can give

PS. Excuse the english.. I've tried to get it somewhat coherrent

Think you may have a few problems;

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/forum/ft ... al+service

If you're a Singaporean citizen, you cannot renounce your citizenship unless you've completed your NS (or were born female).

From one of jpatokal's post.

Thanks for the reply.

I've been reading most of the posts, as far as I'm aware you have to at least stayed in the country for a certain period of time..

Hence: "Only those who have emigrated at a young age and have not enjoyed substantial socio-economic benefits are allowed to renounce their citizenship without serving National Service."

Having left when I was 2-3 years old would that not be taken into account?

blurred wrote:Having left when I was 2-3 years old would that not be taken into account?

I would think so but I don't know for certain.

blurred wrote:Thanks for the reply.

I've been reading most of the posts, as far as I'm aware you have to at least stayed in the country for a certain period of time..

Hence: "Only those who have emigrated at a young age and have not enjoyed substantial socio-economic benefits are allowed to renounce their citizenship without serving National Service."

Having left when I was 2-3 years old would that not be taken into account?

As this whole thing seems to be a hazy shade of grey, As I have been given to understand it, you must file your intentions to renunciate prior to what I was recently told has been changed from 11 to 13 years of age. Additionally you must register with CPMB at age 17½. If that is properly done then you may renounce upon reaching your 21st birthday. So, assuming that you have done the necessary some 7 or 8 years ago you should have no problems. Otherwise? All bets are off unless someone else can find a better answer.

The following taken from another forum. As this was from an older website the link no longer works and the age apparently has been increased to 11

http://www.mfa.gov.sg/consular/faqs/faq ... nship2.htm (This link no longer works as the "Ministry of Foreign Affairs" site has been revamped recently)

Since 5 Mar 79, the Government has been empowered under Article 128(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to withhold registering a declaration of renunciation by a person who is subject to the Enlistment Act unless he has:
- discharged his liability for full-time NS;
- rendered at least 3 years of Operationally Ready National Service; or
- complied with other conditions laid down by the government.
For male citizens who left Singapore before the age of 11 and have not enjoyed significant socio-economic benefits in Singapore, i.e. have not applied for an NRIC, extended their Singapore passport validity beyond the age of 11 or studied in Singapore school beyond 11 years old, we will not object to their renunciation of Singapore citizenship if they do not wish to fulfil their NS obligations. However, they should still register for full-time NS with CMPB at the age of 17½ and apply for deferment from enlistment till the age of 21 (under Singapore law, a citizen could only renounce at the age of 21) pending their decision on their Singapore citizenship status. Those who subsequently renounce their citizenship at the age of 21 will not be required to serve NS. Those who retain their Singapore citizenship will be enlisted for NSF.

Generally, those who left Singapore after the age of 11 will be deemed to have enjoyed the socio-economic benefits of Singapore. They will not be allowed to renounce their Singapore citizenship without fulfilling NS obligations.

What happened? Did u go? Did they detain you?

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given that the OP is more than 2 years old, if we were to get the final word on the story we should have it already

Maybe after he's released from the slammer?

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No real way of knowing as he only made the two posts but claiming he had read most of the threads (in their infancy back then as we were still struggling to find info). My line was a throwaway as I have no knowledge of any further discourse. However, the fact that he never filed any letter of intent timely (e.g., 11 or 13), nor registered at age 17.5 I reckon if he came back, regardless of leaving at 2 or 3, he's still stepping on a land mine. But who knows.........