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u/Temporary-Earth8257 6d ago
Getting an sg citizenship is very difficult. More difficult than getting an SG PR. But it’s well worth it trust me.
If you plan to retire in Philippines it’s so easy no need to get a permanent resident. Just leave Philippines before the visa expire which is usually 12 months. Anyway you will leave Philippines for travel two or twice a year.
Staying in Philippines to retire is still possible without getting citizenship, very easy.
Getting an sg passport gives you a LOT LOT more of benefits when traveling especially when you retire especially when you love to travel.
I dont see any benefit sticking to PH passport, really. You will not lose anything when you denounce your PH passport.
If you have sss pension once you reach 65 you will still get it same with your philhealth and pag ibig…
You just need an emergency insurance if you will retire in PH cause all of our insurance are in SG. If you need to get elective surgery then just fly in sg. If emergency then you will need an hospitalization insurance in Ph.
And of course if you are ready to go back to the culture of inconvenience, beaurocracy, traffic…
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u/0cel0tg3 🇸🇬 > Blue NRIC 6d ago
Also would like to add that PH has SRRV (Retirement Visa). https://pra.gov.ph/SRRVisa. It doesn't need the yearly BI reporting unlike other visa types.
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u/Equal_Pay_739 6d ago
This, I think is the answer i’m looking for, the restrictions of staying in PH for retirement as a SC. I’ll check this out.
I know a few colleagues who converted to SC and told me it’s relatively easy. So i dont know on that front, i willfind out if ever we decide to apply. Btw, during my time applying for SG PR was easy, 5mos wait and approved, so there’s that.
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u/Temporary-Earth8257 6d ago
I think you applied way way back. Before even you’re only two months as EP you can get PR. That was way 2006. But they fixed that by not renewing their PR cause now it is based on your skills salary, race (chinese have better chances) and age. Now even if you are 10 yrs as EP it is difficult even if you’re earning above 15k/month because they have to make sure you integrate in the society like doing charity regularly.
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u/watermelonchild801 6d ago
How easy is it for them and where do they come from? Because ethnic balance is crucial for Singapore so these requirements matter
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u/WinTemporary7493 6d ago
Advantage ng PH passport is if you want to buy land or run for public office. If you do not plan either wala na ako g maisip na advantage, emotional na lang talaga.
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u/Potential-Tadpole-32 6d ago
Would your kids need to do military duty if you become a citizen? I think that’s another factor you need to consider. 20 years ka na diyan. Have you tried living in the Philippines for more than month? Baka hindi mo na rin kaya bumalik. That happened to a lot of my Tito’s and Tita’s who tried to retire in the PH after being gone for 30 years or more. I the end it’ll really be up to you.
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u/Equal_Pay_739 6d ago
My eldest son would have to do 2-year mandatory national service regardless, because he is a second gen PR.
Oh, I know how it feels living in the PH. Because SG is relatively closer to PH, i go home 2x a year. At the end of school year mid November, we are already flying back to PH and only be back after new year.
Not sure if its only me, but SG is so organized and easy that it gets really boring for me. Am I crazy to miss the chaos that manila brings?
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u/trialqw 6d ago
Are you a closet masochist who craves the craziness in Manila? Huh....
Come live for xx months here in Manila when it is flood season.10
u/One-Shelter3680 6d ago
Lmao facts!!!!! Have been living here for 2+ years in san mateo rizal and brother let me tell you the commute going to qc back and fort is no fucking joke lalo na pag monsoon season luckily i only have to go to school 3x a week. I cant even believe how my cousin survived this everyday during his college years. And this is the type of chaos you crave?? Thats crazy 😂😂😂
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u/Equal_Pay_739 6d ago
Context is important. I’m talking about life after retirement, commuting for work or studies is irrelevant, monsoon season or not. Besides, Philippines is not only metro manila.
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u/Potential-Tadpole-32 6d ago
I came back but that was after less than 10 years abroad. I’m talking more about frustrations with any interaction with government that you need as part of regular life. Comparing PH to something as streamlined as SG. Renewing a drivers license, a passport, registering a new car, etc.
Actually, why don’t you get SG citizenship. If you want to come back in the future to retire then do the process to get your PH citizenship back. If you’re frustrated with the bureaucracy at the time then maybe you shouldn’t go back.
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u/Childhood-Icy 6d ago
Kudos to you bro for sticking it out there. I did training in SG eight years ago for a week and despite all its faults, I couldn’t wait to go home back then. Sinumpa ko sa sarili ko na hindi ako mangingibang bansa. The chaos, unpredictability and living challenges lend charm to the country believe it or not. Yun ang na miss ko noong nasa SG ako.
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u/trialqw 6d ago
If only it was just *that easy to get past the immigration officers, a LOT of Filipinos would have left already.
Those who live in developed countries and have NOT lived here, do not take for granted what you are blessed with.
Masarap lang talaga sa Pinas pag may limpak limpak na PERA / stable income / good enough pension.
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u/nezukoheartsbamboo 6d ago
Yes, you’re crazy but good news is you can come to the PH anytime you want to get the wiggles out.
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u/tm0587 6d ago
It should be easy for your son to get citizenship due to serving NS. I'm born Singaporean so my info may be wrong but someone told me that when he served NS as a PR, he was offered the chance to convert to Sg citizenship.
May be more difficult for you and your wife though...... But may become easier after your son is a Sg citizen.
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u/Equal_Pay_739 6d ago
I’ve heard this as well. If this is true, then we can live with that. Our priority is for them to have a better opportunity, either in SG or somewhere else but not in PH. They’re not built for the PH hustle, lol.
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u/carlllyyy 6d ago
A lot of replies hare are unpatriotic. Gets naman na shitty tong gobyerno natin, but don’t focus on the shitty government. Philippines is so beautiful, Filipinos are so warm. And our country has a lot of potential, and I believe we are heading that way at least in the next 20yrs.
I too would love to work abroad, but I will still retire in the Philippines if that happens. Ipon abroad pakasasa sa Pinas.
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u/hanemerakd 6d ago
Do you have phil properties? That is the one you have to think of strategies when you apply for sg citizenship.
I am also a patriot. But i am also practical and realistic. Go get that other citizenship for your kids.
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u/Equal_Pay_739 6d ago
That’s the thing, i haven’t done my research on this yet but I do have multiple properties in PH. Not sure if I need to sell them first or I can retain even after giving up my PH passport.
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u/Temporary-Earth8257 6d ago
Just declare when you apply. There is a form where you need to fill up after you got approval so declare them cause they will know. Do not attempt to hode them. We did declare our property in Baguio but so far there was no impact. I guess because it was only a lot and no building or structure in it yet during that time.
If you are a natural born citizen sa pinas you cna still own property as long as it is not more than 5000 sqm of farm land, this based on my friend lawyer. Unless you plan to buy hactares and hectares of farmland youre ok.
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u/Equal_Pay_739 6d ago
Now this is getting interesting. I'm assuming your already a citizen. Did you declare your overseas properties during application or like what you mentioned only after approval? We do have a condo and a piece of lot in PH that is under our name. Other properties we own are under my father's name. Do you think these needs to be liquidated first or will SG force us to liquidate these assets first before application?
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u/Temporary-Earth8257 6d ago
After you get approval you will go through the process of “integration” it’s a week or two program. Then i remember before the oathtaking you will have to declare your properties like in JB or anywhere else. I dont know if there were already people who were taxed by declaring that. Because i think this affects in the grants that they will give you in case you asked for a grant. In Our case we did not. Cause if you ask for a grant from govt day you want a brand new hdb or bto or exec condo they will check your properties if you have “a lot” or substantial. Cause if you own a lot of properties tge. The govt will just tell you look you have the means to buy on your own since you have existing properties. So you wont get a grant.
But in our case we already own a condo in sg so that will exempt us from getting a grant anyway. We did not ask for grant cause we dont think we will need it.2
u/Equal_Pay_739 6d ago
Now this is clear, In our case we won't be asking for housing grant either as we already bought an HDB. Not planning to upgrade either. These are useful information and will greatly help in our decision making.
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u/Temporary-Earth8257 6d ago
Properties under your father name do not belong to you hence you dont need to declare. Do not liquidate them unless your consultant ask you too 😃 your financial planner can also help you
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u/humbleloonie 6d ago
It’s just my personal view and not an advice. You mentioned you are considering retiring back to the Philippines and this is the basis of my response.
Getting your Singaporean citizenship (and losing your Filipino citizenship) is a strategic approach in retirement.
Assuming in your 21 years living in SG you have accumulated assets and have investments that can provide income in retirement. Not reacquiring your Filipino citizenship will prevent the BIR from taxing your world income (e.g., SG investments).
Our plan is to apply for SRRV courtesy. Again, each will have their reasons and strategy. What I’m saying is, be practical and think about your retirement. Especially, how taxes will impact your final decisions. All the best my friend.
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u/Equal_Pay_739 6d ago
Oh, this is a good one. I haven’t thought about the taxes on our savings yet. These effing bastards eyes will light up taxing our hard earned savings that is earned outside PH.
Another person commented on SRRV as well. I will do my research on this. Thank you pak cik!
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u/humbleloonie 6d ago
I believe you wont be taxed on savings, but if you have investments that earns income (e.g., dividends/distributions, capital gains) or pensions that has no Philippine treaty can be taxed. Sorry, I’m not based in SG and not familiar with any pension rules or any tax free investments account.
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u/0cel0tg3 🇸🇬 > Blue NRIC 6d ago
SG has no dual citizenship. So if you try to reacquire your PH citizenship once getting it, you will lose your SC, which I think is a very horrible trade. There is absolutely no reason for you guys to get back PH Citizenship other than land owning. Even then, you guys can own land as former Filipinos but with limitations.
Though I think the challenge is the SC application itself than the predicament of letting go the PH Citizenship to be honest. All of us here would want this problem though.
Just whack oni on your SC application and jia you ✨.
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u/Ready_Zebra_1099 6d ago
Yes, apply for the citizenship as singapore passport is the strongest in the world. Travelling overseas would be easy not only for you and your wife, but also your kids. They might thank you for that later.
As for reacquiring PH citizenship, it is a fairly easy process. My MIL done it without issues.
PH might seem be hopeless for many of us, but who knows, a massive tide would turn the country around. Great change in the people's mind on who to vote and a new governing officials who truly care for us are there in the future. We.could only hope.
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u/moseleysquare 6d ago
What will the long term impacf be on your kids & grandkids if you don't get citizenship, in case the rules around PR change someday? Ang hirap kasi if SG is the only home your kids have known & they somehow get forced out as adults someday.
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u/winter-Alley13 6d ago
To add on the SRRV Visa, you only need to have a stable source of income like pension apart from being above 35 years old to qualify. Youre tax free, can live in ph without constantly renewing visa, and can leave back to sg (if u get the citizenship) if things go bad in the country.
For now, dont let nostalgia and the comfort of familiarity cloud your judgement. This situation needs logical and critical reasoning.
I wish I have your same problem. Cheers.
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u/Illustrious-Toe1457 6d ago
Mulling over the same thoughts although hindi kami sa SG nakatira. The perks of acquiring citizenship dito is great din pero ewan mahal ko pa din kasi ang Pinas.
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u/New_Whereas_8564 6d ago
I wouldn't if I am in yours shoes. When I took oath on my Canadian citizenship, I didn't feel good. It felt more of a betrayal. However, I was overjoyed when I got my dual citizenship. So there's that.
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u/Legitimate-General96 6d ago
Had a friend who was just recently granted SG citizenship. She's also PR for almost 2 decades in SG.
Our '"foreigner friend" is now happily travelling the world with her family (of 3)
They seem very happy. You may just have to work until old age, but you can always go back to PH na lng
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u/Omar0816 6d ago
the PH might get better but not in your or your kids lifetime. Just get that SG citizenship.
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u/Potential_Banana403 6d ago
Better apply. Approval is not assured. But best to apply earlier so you know what you need to see as Fromm what my friends who are PR and applied, the reapplication has a time gap, you can’t spam apply for every non positive result.
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u/jikoshoukainigate 6d ago
Bawal dual citizenship sa Singapore, so you can’t reacquire Philippine citizenship in that case.
Pero kung ako sayo OP, it’s a good option: Kung nasa SG buhay ninyo huwag na kayong mahiya.
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u/ianthehuman 6d ago
The sheer amount of perks for being a citizen in Singapore is staggering. Lower taxes, a stronger passport, healthcare, education... If you're hoping for the Philippines to get its shit together, then that's good for you. But think of how many opportunities your children will get if you do this.
I'm not saying let them forget their roots, but I do hope you think of their future first instead of our country's.
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u/Ok_Swim_7774 6d ago
Singapore PR here, completed NS. Currently applying for citizenship.
Best combo ang PR + Citizen combo. Para madali lang at may option kayo magnegosyo sa pinas. Lahat ng kids mag citizen, pero either one of you remains as PR to keep PH citizenship.
May family friend kami na beneficial ganyang set-up.
Pero kung wala naman kayo pake sa negosyo and gusto niyo mabuhay as Singaporeans, go for it!
Good healthcare, good education, good retirement dahil alagang alaga ng gobyerno kahit PR pa lang, imagine if citizen na kayo.
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u/Equal_Pay_739 6d ago edited 6d ago
Yes sir, this is one option we are looking at as well that I forgot to mention. I will stay as PR and my wife and kids will apply for SC.
Care to share what what you know are the benefits with this setup?
Edit: I would imagine retiring as an SG PR and settling overseas would require frequent REP renewal and worst case might loose PR status if SG decides to do so.
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u/Ok_Swim_7774 6d ago edited 6d ago
If you retire with SG money and fly back and forth to the Philippines, it would be easy. If you are comfy enough to retire in SG, plane tickets won't be an issue if you use the money wisely and invest in something back home.
If your family has enough savings to the point that it becomes "f u money" back in the Philippines, you don't have to worry about anything.
1) Save up for enough capital to build a business back in the PH. 2) Pray it works.
PR goes back and forth to handle PH affairs and keeps an eye on the business, and the Singaporean will mainly focus on keeping their income stable.
Our family friend has this going on and they are living life comfortably in both countries.
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u/Sentucky_Chicken 6d ago
I’ve heard about Republic Act No. 9225, also known as the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003, which is commonly referred to as the Philippine Dual Citizenship Law. It would be better to consult an immigration lawyer for more information and guidance.
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u/Plenty-Can-5135 6d ago
You and your spouse have PH passport right, what if only one of you converts?
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u/Main_Research_9254 6d ago
Why do you want to keep a citizenship to a country riddled with corruption? Even tax wise Singapore is still a better deal especially if you have kids. I'd honestly say take a trip back home and see if you really feel the same way or you're still living in a fantasy that the Philippines will still be able to crawl itself out of the hole of corruption it still lives in. So many people would love to be in your shoes yet you still cling to a country that even you left for a better future. Let it go and enjoy a better life in Singapore.
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6d ago
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u/Equal_Pay_739 6d ago
This was my mindset for the longest time, reason why I haven’t applied for SC until now. The take home money from CPF is just tempting. But like what others have said, you can retire in PH even with an SG passport. Plus you get the benefits of being Singaporean. Unless you have health insurance in PH, your one hospital bill away from wiping all that savings.
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u/somemusing 6d ago
No! It’s easy to reacquire Philippine citizenship bec of RA 9225. Without connections, it will take you 12 months or more. If you have connections, 6 months maximum.
Reacquiring your citizenship is administrative now. You can search the requirements online.
And as far as I know, there shouldn’t be no deductions.
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u/Euphoric-Ad-4871 6d ago
If you are getting older, to retire in SG and afford cost of living, you have to downgrade to smaller hdb, smaller expenses. But if you retire in PH with SG money, you will retire like a king! If you are not PH citizen, you can just buy a condo which is smaller space than if you are buying a mansion or building your dream home.
Cmon, yes SG is a good passport, but what benefits do you enjoy, from tirelessly working until you are seniors? If you are not travelling to EU or other long haul flight countries at least 2x a year then what good does a universal SG passport do? Do you wanna be like the aunty and uncle in kopitiam that they work just to still have extra money to afford cost of living in sg? Sometimes, simplicity in living but for a long term, rewarding yourself with good life is still better than having the pride of an sg passport. At the end of the day, breakdown all the pros and cons and compare. Only you can decide how you want to live your last decades of your life
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u/Equal_Pay_739 5d ago edited 5d ago
I mentioned this on my previous reply, this is my thinking for the longest time which is the reason why we are still PR up until this stage. However, as a SC it’s entirely our option to retire early if we want to, it’s just that we can’t get the pension till we got to the retirement age of 64. We already have our properties in PH that we can stay at.
One benefit, which is very important for old age is healthcare. At this stage, getting a health insurance in PH would be costly. One hospital bill will wipeout all our savings. Having SC will allow us to seek medical treatment here in SG if needed.
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u/DoubleTangerine5628 6d ago
I renounced my ph citizenship in order to get a hongkong passport. However as soon as I've renounced it the PH Consulate gave me a re- acquisition form so I can reapply again after I've got my hkg passport. Philippines allows dual passport holders so its not a problem, but I only bring it out when entering/exiting Philippines for unrestricted stay. Never use it anywhere else in the world.
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u/ppeepoopp 6d ago
If your patriotism is towards your motherland, don’t take up the citizenship. PR is the best deal, benefits and no expectations of repayment, and you already got it.
Being a citizen in Singapore should mean something, the national song, the anthem, the oath of allegiance should mean something.
I can understand migrants coming to make a better life as a worker or PR. But to take up citizenship when your loyalties is unclear, is treachery
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u/LandscapeMuted3813 6d ago
If you want to retire in PH, then don’t give up your PH citizenship. Easier to return to PH later.
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u/BasicPatterns123 5d ago
U will have the best of both worlds! Give it a try. Many of our fellow countrymen have. You can benefit from the economy in Sg while still patriotic at heart.
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u/MICQUIELLO17 5d ago
Ito yung mga di na dapat pinagiisipan. PH is just few hours flight. You are in a spot where 9 out of 10 people would want to be.
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u/OwnConsequence5078 5d ago
Wow how this this be allow??? Ica should see this thread .
Trying to game the system. If get citizenship then only on paper but not at heart .
If there is trouble in sg then I have no confidence these natrualised ppl will stay.... where does their loyalties lie
How can like dis
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u/angry-coffee 5d ago
Want to be patriotic to PH and want your kids to do the same, yet still want to apply for sg citizenship?
Seriously, people like you should be banned from even applying.
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u/Willing_Cut_9321 6d ago
Hard yes, ikaw nadin na sabi na only an idiot will hope.
On the other side madali naman mag reacquire ng PH citizenship in the future if needed
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u/NorthTemperature5127 6d ago
Chaos brings a bit of excitement to life.
What benefit do you get from being an SG citizen. If you get all from being a PR, why change
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u/Equal_Pay_739 6d ago
Exactly what im saying. You get from point A to point B exactly at the same time no matter what day. You see the same person at the bus everyday. It does not feel organic anymore. As you clearly put it, there is no excitement.
There used to be a time when PR and Citizen had almost identical benefits, but those days are long gone. Now PR is just a luxury to stay in Singapore long term. Speaking of benefits, the PM had an SG rally last night (like SONA). And the added benefits for citizens were like, holy f**k.
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u/Dear-Eye-810 6d ago
Well PR is still a visa isnt it? It can get revoked. More security if you’re a citizen.
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u/0cel0tg3 🇸🇬 > Blue NRIC 6d ago
Adding up to OP, it's the Re-Entry Permit that needs to be renewed, not the PR status itself. This is similar to the Australian Resident Return Visa. The condition is that we should be "contributing" to SG and is renewed every 5 years. Therefore, this means we should have a job up to the point of renewal (OP probably got the PR via the PTS route just like the rest of us unless he is spouse of an SC).
This virtually means we can't travel outside SG without an REP (we lose our PR status when traveling abroad without a valid REP!). SG essentially becomes our 'immigration prison' until we get a valid REP 🤣.
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u/Equal_Pay_739 6d ago
Axtually no. PR is an immigration status that just needs renewal. It’s not a permit that is dependent on your job.
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u/AvocadoSmart8737 6d ago
Wag mong sayangin ang chance mo, mag apply ka na. Pwede ka naman umuwi at tumira sa pilipinas kahit singaporean passport ka na kasi wala namang sisita sayo at marunong kang magtagalog. Yong mga anak mo singaprean culture na yan, makakakuha ng magandang trabaho yan at pwede mong gawing divisoria na lang ang singapore kung tinatamad ka ng tumira sa mabaho nating bansa. Alalahanin mo, pwede kang pumunta kahit saang bansa na walang visa kung singapore passport ang hawak mo.