Singaporean nationality law is derived from the Constitution of Singapore and is based on jus sanguinis and a modified form of jus soli. There are four ways of acquiring Singaporean citizenship: by birth, by descent, by registration or by naturalisation.^[1]

History of Singaporean citizenship[link]

British & Commonwealth citizenship
Commonwealth nationality laws
British (history) Australian Bangladeshi Barbadian Canadian (history) Cypriot Ghanaian Indian Malaysian Pakistani Maltese New Zealand Samoan Singaporean South African Tongan Irish citizens in the UK
Classes of citizens and subjects
British Citizen British Subject British Overseas Territories Citizen British Overseas Citizen British National (Overseas) British Protected Person Commonwealth citizen
Rights and visas
Right of abode in the UK Indefinite leave to remain in the UK Permanent resident (Australia) Permanent resident (Canada) Permanent resident (New Zealand) Belonger status UK Ancestry Entry Clearance
Acts
Ireland Act 1949 British Nationality Act 1981 British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983 British Overseas Territories Act 2002 Canadian Citizenship Act 1946
v t e

Singaporean citizenship was first granted in 1959 when Singapore was a self-governing colony of the United Kingdom. At that time, Singapore had already been granted full internal self-government. Singapore Citizenship Ordinance 1957 provided Singaporean citizenship to all residents who were born in Singapore or the Federation of Malaya, British citizens who had been resident for two years, and others who had been resident for ten years.^[2] Singaporeans were still considered British subjects at that time, and their passports had the unusual nationality status of "British subject: citizen of the State of Singapore" instead of the usual "British subject: citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies".^[3]

All Singaporean citizens became Malaysian citizens on 16 September 1963 upon Singapore's merger with the Federation of Malaysia on that date. Malaysian citizenship was governed by Malaysian nationality law.

Upon Singapore's secession from the Federation of Malaysia on 9 August 1965, a new Constitution came into effect. With regard to Singaporean citizenship, it repealed the 1957 Ordinance and granted Singaporean citizenship to all persons who were citizens as of 16 September 1963 by virtue of the Ordinance.

The Constitution was amended in 2004 to allow female citizens and citizens by descent to transmit their citizenship to children born overseas. For this to occur, citizens by descent must satisfy certain residency requirements.

Citizenship by birth[link]

A person is a Singaporean citizen by birth if he or she is born in Singapore with at least one parent who is a Singaporean citizen.

However, a child whose father is a foreign diplomat who enjoys immunity in Singapore will not be granted Singaporean citizenship even if his or her mother is Singaporean. The gender-specific language of this clause allows an unusual scenario where a child born in Singapore whose mother is a foreign diplomat and whose father is Singaporean will obtain Singaporean citizenship by birth but not if the gender roles are reversed.

Citizenship by descent[link]

A person born outside Singapore on or after 15 May 2004, with at least one parent who is a Singaporean citizen, is a Singaporean citizen by descent. If the parent from whom the child derives citizenship is a Singaporean citizen by descent, the parent must have been resident in Singapore for a total of at least four years before the child's birth or a total of at least one year out of the five years immediately preceding the child's birth.^[4]

A person born outside Singapore before 15 May 2004 will be a Singaporean citizen by descent only if his or her father was a Singaporean citizen by birth or by registration at the time of birth.

In all cases, children of Singaporean citizens born overseas will be granted Singaporean citizenship by descent only if they do not acquire citizenship of the country of their birth.

Citizenship by registration[link]

Registration is the term used in the Constitution to refer to the process commonly known as naturalisation. A person can apply for registration as a Singaporean citizen if he or she has been a Permanent Resident for at least two years and is gainfully employed or married to a Singaporean citizen. A male Permanent Resident may also apply upon satisfactory completion of full-time National Service, as may children of Singaporean citizens resident in Singapore.^[5] Each application is considered on its own merits.

Citizenship by naturalisation[link]

Although provided for in the Constitution, citizenship by naturalisation is no longer granted.^[6] The government instead uses the constitutional provision for citizenship by registration to grant citizenship to resident aliens.

Dual citizenship[link]

Dual citizenship is generally not recognised in Singapore, but is possible up to the age of 22.^[7] Such dual citizens may have acquired citizenship by birth in a foreign country, from a foreign citizen parent, or by naturalisation. Singaporean citizens who acquire citizenship of a foreign country after the age of 18 may lose Singaporean citizenship.^[8] Foreigners who naturalise as Singaporean citizens are required to renounce all foreign citizenships.^[9] Minors who are dual or multiple citizens by birth on foreign soil, by descent from foreign parents or by naturalisation are required to renounce all foreign citizenships by the age of 22 or may lose their Singaporean citizenship.^[10]

The prohibition of dual citizenship is a contentious issue in Singapore. As the economy becomes more globalized and Singaporeans more mobile, many Singaporeans have acquired foreign citizenships and reluctantly renounced their Singaporean citizenship even though they may feel a strong emotional attachment to Singapore. Immigrants who have been resident in Singapore for long periods and qualify for Singaporean citizenship may be reluctant to become naturalized citizens as it would mean giving up the citizenship of their native countries. Those who are dual citizens at birth may find it unjust that they are denied their birthright to citizenship of other countries where they were born or that of their parents. Male dual citizens are also not allowed to renounce Singaporean citizenship after the age of 11 and before attaining majority at the age of 21, such that they have to serve National Service at the age of 18 for a country to whom allegiance they may almost immediately abjure.

The government's rationale for not allowing dual citizenship is that Singapore is a young and vulnerable nation which cannot afford to allow its citizens multiple allegiances which may be compromised in times of national crisis. Citizens without a second citizenship may feel aggrieved if dual citizens enjoy the benefits of citizenship during periods of wealth but leave the country in trying times.^[11] Nevertheless, the government is open to the possibility of allowing dual citizenship if local and global circumstances demand so.^[12]

Renunciation of citizenship[link]

Citizens of Singapore can only renounce Singaporean citizenship if they have acquired citizenship of another country. At the time of renunciation, renunciants must submit their Singaporean passports and National Registration Identity Cards for cancellation.^[13] About 1,200 Singaporean citizens renounce their citizenship every year, a quarter of them naturalised citizens.^[14] Male Singaporeans cannot renounce citizenship until completing national service. In 2012, a Hong Kong-born teenager filed a lawsuit regarding this requirement.^[15]

Commonwealth citizenship[link]

All Singaporean citizens are Commonwealth citizens and are entitled to certain rights in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. For example, they can vote in all elections (including for the European Parliament), hold public office and serve on juries in the UK. However, Singaporean citizens do not receive consular assistance from British embassies in non-Commonwealth countries without a Singapore representative unlike other Commonwealth nations, due to the Singapore government's option not to afford Singaporeans this privilege.

These rights include:

• the right, unless otherwise disqualified (e.g. imprisoned), to vote in all elections (i.e., parliamentary, local and European ^[16] elections) as long as they have registered to vote (they must possess valid leave to enter/remain or not require such leave on the date of their electoral registration application^[17])
• the right, unless otherwise disqualified, to stand for election to the British House of Commons as long as they possess indefinite leave to remain or do not require leave under the Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77) to enter or remain in the UK ^[18]
• the right, if a qualifying peer or bishop, to sit in the House of Lords
• eligibility to hold public office (e.g., as a judge, magistrate, minister, police constable, member of the armed forces, etc.)

See also[link]

• Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
• Immigrant workers in Singapore
• National Registration Identity Card
• Nationality law
• Singapore passport

Notes[link]

Further reading[link]

• Chiew, Seen Kong; Tan Ern Ser (1990). The Singaporean: Ethnicity, National Identity and Citizenship: Singaporean Identity and Citizenship. Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies. 
• Goh, Phai Cheng (1970). Citizenship Laws of Singapore. Singapore: Educational Publications Bureau. 
• Tan, Kevin Y.L. (Yew Lee); Thio Li-ann (1997). Tan, Yeo & Lee's Constitutional Law in Malaysia and Singapore (2nd ed. ed.). Singapore: Butterworths Asia. ISBN 0-409-99908-3 (pbk.). , ch. 10 ("Citizenship")

v t e Constitution of the Republic of Singapore Text of the Constitution at Singapore Statutes Online General principles Rule of law Fundamental liberties Article 9 Article 10 Article 11 Article 12 Article 13 Article 14 Article 15 Article 16 Right to vote The Government President Cabinet Prime Minister Attorney-General The Legislature President Parliament Speaker Elections Presidential Parliamentary Group Representation Constituency Non-constituency Member of Parliament Nominated Member of Parliament The Presidential Council for Minority Rights Presidential Council for Minority Rights The Judiciary Supreme Court Court of Appeal High Court Subordinate Courts Chief Justice Judicial officers The Public Service Singapore Civil Service Singapore Legal Service Citizenship Singaporean nationality law Special powers against subversion and emergency powers Internal Security Act Constitution of the Republic of Singapore Tribunal

v t e Law of Singapore Constitutional law Executive branch President Government Cabinet Prime Minister Attorney-General Legislative branch President Parliament Judicial branch Judicial system Judicial independence Judicial officers Constitution of the Republic of Singapore Tribunal Supreme Court Court of Appeal High Court Subordinate Courts Constitution Elections Human rights Internal Security Act Presidential Council for Minority Rights Singaporean nationality law Administrative law General Remedies Illegality Precedent fact errors Substantive legitimate expectation Irrationality Wednesbury unreasonableness Procedural impropriety Bias Procedural legitimate expectation Civil procedure Electronic Filing System Integrated Electronic Litigation System Criminal law Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act Misuse of Drugs Act Penal Code Section 377A of the Penal Code Sedition Act Vandalism Act Family law Matrimonial law Women's Charter Sources of Singapore law List of Acts of Parliament in Singapore

Nationality law is the branch of law concerned with the questions of nationality and citizenship, and how these statuses are acquired, transmitted, or lost. By custom, a state has the right to determine who its nationals and citizens are. Such determinations are usually made by custom, statutory law, or case law (precedent), or some combination. In some cases, determinations of nationality are also governed by public international law—for example, by treaties on statelessness and the European Convention on Nationality.

Principles[link]

Broadly speaking, nationality law is based either on jus soli or jus sanguinis, or on a combination of the two. Jus soli (Latin: the law of the soil) is the principle by which a child born within a country's territorial jurisdiction acquires that country's nationality. Jus sanguinis (Latin: the law of the blood) is the principle by which a child acquires the nationality of his or her parents. Today, most if not all countries apply a mixture of these two principles: neither granting citizenship to everyone born within the country's jurisdiction, nor denying citizenship to the children born abroad.

International Treaties[link]

International law generally recognizes the right of states to set their own policy concerning nationality.^[1] Nevertheless, there are a number of international treaties that are relevant to nationality law.^[1]

See also[link]

• Citizenship Act
• Citizenship
• History of citizenship
• Jus soli
• Jus sanguinis
• Dual nationality
• Nationality
• Passport
• Immigration law
• Political asylum
• Human migration

References[link]

This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Discussion about the problems with the sole source used may be found on the talk page. (March 2012)

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (May 2007)

Nationality is membership of a nation or sovereign state, usually determined by their citizenship, but sometimes by ethnicity or place of residence, or based on their sense of national identity.^{[citation needed]}

Citizenship is determined by jus soli, jus sanguinis, or naturalization, which affords the state jurisdiction over the person and affords the person the protection of the state. The word citizenship is often used in a different sense from nationality. The most common distinguishing feature of citizenship is that citizens have the right to participate in the political life of the state, such as by voting or standing for election. The term national can include both citizens and non-citizens.

Nationality can refer to membership in a nation (collective of people sharing a national identity, usually based on ethnic and cultural ties and self-determination) even if that nation has no state, such as the Basques, Kurds, and Tamils. Individuals may also be considered nationals of groups with autonomous status which have ceded some power to a larger government, such as the federally recognized tribes of Native Americans in the United States. Spanish law recognises the autonomous communities of Andalusia, Aragon, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Catalonia, Valencia, Galicia and the Basque Country as "nationalities" (nacionalidades), while in Italy, the German speakers of South Tyrol are considered to be Austrian nationals.

Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "Everyone has the right to a nationality," and "No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality." By custom, it is the right of each state to determine who its nationals are. Such determinations are part of nationality law. In some cases, determinations of nationality are also governed by public international law—for example, by treaties on statelessness and the European Convention on Nationality.

See also[link]

• Blood quantum laws
• Demonym
• Imagined communities
• Intersectionality
• jus soli
• jus sanguinis
• Meta-ethnicity
• Nationalism
• Second-class citizen
• List of nationalities

References[link]

• White, Philip L. (2006). "Globalization and the Mythology of the Nation State," In A.G.Hopkins, ed. Global History: Interactions Between the Universal and the Local Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 257-284.

External links[link]

• Grossman, Andrew. Gender and National Inclusion
• Trott, Philip D A. Dual Nationality
• White, Philip L. "Globalization and the Mythology of the Nation State," In A.G.Hopkins, ed. Global History: Interactions Between the Universal and the Local Palgrave Macmillan, 2006, pp. 257-284.[1]
• Lord Acton, Nationality (1862)

Lim Swee Say
At the Holland–Bukit Timah GRC and Bukit Panjang SMC PAP Community Foundation 25th Anniversary Carnival
Minister in Prime Minister's Office
Incumbent
Assumed office 12 August 2004
Constituency	East Coast GRC
Member of Parliament for East Coast GRC
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 May 2011
Preceded by	S. Jayakumar
Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Tanjong Pagar GRC (1996-2001) Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC (2001-2006)
In office 23 December 1996 – 27 April 2011
Preceded by	Peter Sung
Succeeded by	Chan Chun Sing
Personal details
Born	(1954-07-13) July 13, 1954 (age 57) Singapore
Political party	People's Action Party
Alma mater	Loughborough University, Stanford University

Lim Swee Say (Chinese: 林瑞生; pinyin: Lín Ruìshēng, born 13 July 1954) is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been a Cabinet Minister in the Prime Minister's Office since 2004 and Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) since 2007. He previously served as the Minister for the Environment from 2001 to 2004. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 1996.

Education[link]

Lim was educated at Catholic High School and National Junior College, before being awarded a Singapore Armed Forces Scholarship in 1973 to study in the United Kingdom at Loughborough University. He graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Electronics, Computer and Systems Engineering in 1976. In 1991, Lim completed a Master's Degree in Management at Stanford University.

Career[link]

Lim served at Singapore's National Computer Board as Chief Executive from 1986 to 1991, and as Chairman from 1994 to 1998. He also served at Singapore's Economic Development Board as Deputy Managing Director based in New York City from 1991 to 1993, and as Managing Director from 1994 to 1996.

Political career[link]

At the 1997 general election, Lim was a PAP candidate in the Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC), and was elected in a walkover. He was on the PAP's team in Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC at the 2001 general election, and in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC at the 2006 general election, and was elected unopposed on both occasions. At the 2011 general election, Lim stood in East Coast GRC, where the PAP's team defeated the team from the Workers' Party by 59,992 votes (54.8%) to 49,429 (45.2%).

Lim served as Deputy Secretary-General of the NTUC from 1997 to 1999. He also served on the Committee on Singapore's Competitiveness from 1997 to 1998, and chaired its Sub-committee on Manpower Development.

In 1999, Lim was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.

Lim was made the Acting Minister for the Environment in 2000. He became a full member of the Cabinet in 2001.

In 2004, Lim was appointed a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. He also served as the Second Minister for National Development from 2004 to 2005.

In 2005, Lim became the Deputy Secretary-General of the NTUC for the second time (while continuing to serve concurrently as a Minister without portfolio in the Prime Minister's Office). In 2007, he was made the Secretary-General of the NTUC.

Lim has been a member of the PAP's Central Executive Committee since 1999, and served as the Chairman of the Young PAP (the party's youth wing) from 2000 to 2004.

Personal life[link]

Lim is married to Elaine Cheong Siew Boon. The couple has one daughter and one son.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Lim Swee Say at cabinet.gov.sg
• Lim Swee Say at parliament.gov.sg

v t e Current members of the Cabinet of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Deputy Prime Ministers Teo Chee Hean National Security/Home Affairs/Civil Service Tharman Shanmugaratnam Finance/Manpower Cabinet Ministers Ng Eng Hen Defence Heng Swee Keat Education Vivian Balakrishnan Environment and Water Resources K. Shanmugam Foreign Affairs/Law Gan Kim Yong Health Yaacob Ibrahim Information, Communications and the Arts/Muslim Affairs Khaw Boon Wan National Development Lim Hng Kiang Trade and Industry Lui Tuck Yew Transport Lim Swee Say Prime Minister's Office S. Iswaran Prime Minister's Office Acting Cabinet Ministers Chan Chun Sing Community Development, Youth and Sports As of 21 May 2011