🇸🇬 Singapore Global Investor Programme (GIP)
The Singapore Global Investor Programme (GIP) is a route to obtain permanent residence (PR) directly through investment, administered by Contact Singapore under the Economic Development Board (EDB). According to the official EDB Factsheet (5 May 2025 updated version), there are three investment options: A) S$10 million invested in a new or expanding Singapore business; B) S$25 million invested in a GIP-designated fund; C) establishment of a single family office managing assets of S$200 million or more. Applicants themselves must also meet thresholds; for example, established business owners must have a company with annual revenue of S$200 million. The application fee is S$20,000, non-refundable, and processing takes approximately 12 months.
Singapore Global Investor Programme (GIP) Key Requirements Overview
| Type | Permanent Residency (GIP) |
|---|---|
| Option A (Business) | SGD 10 million invested in a new or expanding Singapore business; at least 30% shareholding and participation in management, with a 5-year business plan; for 5-year renewal, at least 30 employees must be employed (at least half Singapore citizens), of whom at least 10 are new positions |
| Option B (Fund) | SGD 25 million invested in a GIP-designated fund (to be completed within 6 months after Approval-in-Principle); the investment must be maintained at renewal |
| Option C (Family Office) | Establish a single family office with assets under management of at least SGD 200 million, of which at least SGD 50 million must be invested in EDB-designated investment categories within 12 months after final approval; renewal requires adding 5 family office professionals (at least 3 Singapore citizens) |
| Eligibility | Four categories: Established business owners (company annual revenue of S$200 million or more, at least 30% shareholding in a private company, 3 years of business track record) / Next-generation business owners (family business annual revenue of S$500 million or more) / Founders of fast-growth companies (company valuation of S$500 million or more, invested in by well-known venture capital) / Family office principals (investable net assets of S$200 million or more; may only choose Option C) |
| Application Fee | SGD 20,000 (remitted in one payment before submission; non-refundable regardless of outcome); plus an Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) PR processing fee of S$100 per person |
| Residence/Maintenance | PR is issued with a 5-year Re-Entry Permit (REP); the 5-year renewal requires meeting the investment and employment conditions, and the applicant or all dependants must have resided in Singapore for more than half the time; if only one of the employment or residence requirements is met, a 3-year renewal may be applied for. |
| Pathways to citizenship. | After obtaining PR, eligible individuals may apply for citizenship (Singapore generally does not recognize dual citizenship). |
| Dependent relatives | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 at the time of submission; parents and children aged 21 or over cannot be included and may separately apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP). Male children who obtain PR must serve National Service. |
| Processing Timeline | Approximately 12 months (EDB Factsheet, subject to complete documentation), including interview and background checks |
| Recent Changes | The current EDB GIP Factsheet is the 5 May 2025 updated version; the application fee is listed as SGD 20,000; the three investment thresholds are unchanged (EDB official website and Factsheet checked on 2026-10-18). |
Singapore Global Investor Programme (GIP) Key considerations
- The GIP has high thresholds and rigorous scrutiny (business track record + source of funds + interview), primarily targeting established business owners and family office principals.
- The renewal obligations differ substantially across the three options: Option A requires 30 employees (at least half Singapore citizens and 10 new positions), Option B requires maintaining a S$25 million fund investment, and Option C requires adding 5 family office professionals and maintaining a S$50 million investment; all three require residing in Singapore for more than half the time. Plan for how to meet the renewal requirements in 5 years before investing.
- This is a different pathway from general employment or entrepreneurship passes (e.g., EP, EntrePass); do not confuse them. Tax residency status and global asset planning should be assessed by professionals.
Who can apply for Singapore GIP? Revenue and asset thresholds for the four applicant categories
According to the official EDB GIP Factsheet (5 May 2025 updated version), applicants must meet one of four categories: ① Established business owners: at least 3 years of entrepreneurial and business track record; the company they currently run must have annual revenue of at least S$200 million in the prior year and an average of S$200 million per year over the prior three years; and, if the company is private, they must hold at least 30%; ② Next-generation business owners: their immediate family must hold at least 30% or be the largest shareholder; the company must have annual revenue of at least S$500 million in the prior year; and they must be part of the management team; ③ Founders of fast-growth companies: the unlisted company must have a valuation of at least S$500 million, be invested in by a well-known venture capital or private equity fund, and the applicant must be a founder and one of the largest individual shareholders; ④ Family office principals: at least 5 years of business or investment track record and investable net assets of at least S$200 million (excluding real estate).
The first three categories may choose investment Option A, B or C; family office principals may only choose C. For the first three categories, the company must be in an industry listed in Annex B of the Factsheet; established business owners may combine up to 2 companies to calculate the revenue threshold.
Source.: Singapore EDB — Global Investor Programme Factsheet (5 May 2025 updated version)
How is Singapore GIP permanent residence renewed? Conditions for 5-year and 3-year REPs
After PR is obtained, a Re-Entry Permit (REP) valid for 5 years is issued. According to the EDB Factsheet, to obtain a 5-year renewal in Year 5, the applicant must simultaneously meet: completion of the investment conditions for the chosen option; for Option A, the company must employ at least 30 people, at least half of whom are Singapore citizens, including at least 10 new positions (for Option B, maintaining a S$25 million fund investment; for Option C, the family office must add 5 professionals in legal, tax, investment or philanthropy-related roles, at least 3 of whom are Singapore citizens, and maintain S$50 million in designated investments); and the applicant or all dependants must have resided in Singapore for more than half the time.
If only one of the two requirements — employment (or maintaining the investment) and residence — is met, a 3-year renewal may be applied for. The REP must be applied for through ICA's online system within 3 months before expiry; if it is not renewed in time, PR will be lost upon leaving Singapore.
Source.: Singapore EDB — Global Investor Programme Factsheet (5 May 2025 updated version)
How long does the Singapore GIP application process take? Timeline from submission to PR
The EDB Factsheet states that, provided documentation is complete, a GIP application generally takes approximately 12 months to process and is subject to background checks. The process is: before submission, remit the non-refundable S$20,000 application fee; after uploading the application form, send physical documents within 1 month; attend an EDB interview; applicants who meet the criteria are issued a 6-month Approval-in-Principle (AIP) by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA); complete the investment and submit proof within 6 months after AIP; after final approval, complete PR formalities within 12 months. Option C additionally requires at least S$50 million to be invested in EDB-designated investments within 12 months after final approval.
Source.: Singapore EDB — Global Investor Programme Factsheet (5 May 2025 updated version)
Singapore Global Investor Programme (GIP) Application Process
- Confirm that you meet the thresholds for one of the four applicant categories (for example, established business owners must have company annual revenue of S$200 million or more), and prepare documentation on operations, finances and source of funds.
- Remit the S$20,000 application fee, upload the GIP application form (including a 5-year business or investment plan), and send physical documents within 1 month after remittance.
- Attend an EDB interview; applicants who meet the assessment criteria are issued a 6-month Approval-in-Principle (AIP) by ICA.
- Complete the investment and submit proof within 6 months after AIP; obtain final approval; then complete the PR formalities within 12 months to obtain a 5-year REP.
Singapore Global Investor Programme (GIP) Frequently Asked Questions
What is the threshold for the Singapore Global Investor Programme (GIP)?
Three options: A) SGD 10 million in a new or existing Singapore business; B) SGD 25 million in GIP-designated funds; C) Establish a single family office with at least SGD 200 million in AUM, of which at least SGD 50 million is invested in designated categories. An application fee of SGD 20,000 applies (from May 2025). Actual amounts and eligibility are subject to the latest EDB GIP Factsheet.
How long does the GIP application generally take? Does it grant permanent residence directly?
It is a direct application for permanent residence (PR). According to the official EDB Factsheet, provided documentation is complete, processing generally takes approximately 12 months, including an EDB interview and background checks; upon approval, an Approval-in-Principle (AIP) valid for 6 months is first obtained; the investment must be completed within 6 months; and after final approval, PR formalities must be completed within 12 months. Whether approval is granted is determined by EDB and ICA review.
Can the GIP include family members?
The spouse and unmarried children under 21 at the time of submission may obtain PR together. Parents and children aged 21 or over cannot be included as dependants; they may separately apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP), the validity of which follows the main applicant's REP. According to the EDB Factsheet, male children who obtain PR as dependants must serve Singapore National Service.
What are the maintenance conditions after obtaining GIP permanent residency?
PR comes with a 5-year Re-Entry Permit (REP). According to the EDB Factsheet, to obtain a 5-year renewal in Year 5, the investment conditions must be fulfilled, the employment threshold must be met (for Option A: 30 employees, at least half Singapore citizens, and 10 new positions), and the applicant or all dependants must have resided in Singapore for more than half the time; if only the employment or residence requirement is met, a 3-year renewal may be applied for.
What is the difference between the Singapore GIP and obtaining PR through an Employment Pass (EP)?
The GIP is a direct route for high-net-worth investors or business owners to obtain permanent residency relatively quickly; the EP requires working locally first and then applying for PR through the general process. The thresholds, review criteria, and timelines differ between the two.
After obtaining GIP permanent residency, how long does it take to apply for Singapore citizenship?
After obtaining PR and maintaining it for a certain number of years, one may apply for citizenship. This is subject to comprehensive evaluation of factors such as residence and economic contribution, based on the regulations of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) of Singapore. Also note that Singapore generally does not recognize dual citizenship; it is advisable to assess the handling of one's original nationality before naturalization.
Does the GIP require the applicant to start a company and create jobs personally?
Some schemes require investing funds in a new or existing business and meeting conditions such as revenue and employment, or investing in designated funds. Details and thresholds are subject to the latest regulations from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
Does the GIP application review the source of funds and background?
Yes. Applicants must provide proof of business track record and source of funds, which will be reviewed. Insufficient business background or inability to substantiate information may lead to rejection.
Have there been any recent adjustments to the GIP application fee?
The current EDB GIP Factsheet is the 5 May 2025 updated version. The application fee is listed as S$20,000, remitted in one payment before submission and non-refundable regardless of outcome; an additional ICA PR processing fee of S$100 per person applies. The three investment thresholds (S$10 million for a business, S$25 million for a fund, S$200 million for a family office) are unchanged.
Are the thresholds listed on this page the latest official GIP requirements for Singapore?
The information on this page was checked item by item on 2026-10-18 against the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) GIP official website and official Factsheet (5 May 2025 updated version), and is not estimated independently by this site. GIP rules may change; please refer to the latest EDB Factsheet (link in the official sources section on this page).
What are the eligibility criteria for Singapore GIP? What company revenue is required?
According to the EDB Factsheet, the most common category, established business owners, must have a 3-year business track record; the company must have annual revenue of at least S$200 million in the prior year and an average of S$200 million per year over the prior three years; and, if the company is private, the applicant must hold at least 30%. For next-generation business owners, the threshold is S$500 million in revenue; for founders of fast-growth companies, the company valuation is S$500 million; and for family office principals, investable net assets of S$200 million (excluding real estate).
Must Singapore GIP applicants live in Singapore?
Yes. For a 5-year REP renewal, the applicant or all dependants who obtained PR through GIP must have resided in Singapore for more than half the time. If only the investment and employment conditions are met but the residence condition is not, only a 3-year renewal may be applied for.
How many people must a Singapore GIP family office (Option C) employ?
According to the EDB Factsheet, at the 5-year renewal of Option C, the single family office must add at least 5 professionals in legal, tax, investment or philanthropy-related roles, of whom at least 3 are Singapore citizens, and must continue to maintain S$50 million in EDB-designated investments.
How to verify if an investment immigration program is still valid and avoid misleading claims?
The conditions of investment immigration programs often change or may even be suspended. Recommendations: ① Check official announcements from the country's immigration or investment authority (official source links are provided at the bottom of this page). ② Verify the data date indicated on this page. ③ Before engaging a consultant, check whether they are registered with the relevant regulatory body (e.g., Australia's OMARA, Canada's CICC; for lawyers, check with the local bar association). ④ Be wary of exaggerated claims such as "guaranteed approval" or "exempt from review." This site provides a neutral compilation of public information, and all content is subject to the latest official announcements.
About Singapore Global Investor Programme (GIP), people often ask:
Singapore Global Investor Programme (GIP) official source
Official sources: Singapore EDB (Economic Development Board) Global Investor Programme · Data Date: 2026-10-18.This page is a neutral compilation of public data for reference only; it is not immigration/legal advice. Programs are subject to the latest official announcements.