Want to Change Your Passport? Singapore Prepares to Grant 30,000 New Citizenships

The Singapore government will accept up to 30,000 new citizens each year over the next five years. This policy is adjusted according to demographic trends, including the total fertility rate (TFR).

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that last year the government granted around 25,000 citizenships. Over the next five years, the number is projected to be in the range of 25,000 to 30,000 people per year.

“We will adjust based on demographic trends, including TFR,” he said during the budget debate in the Prime Minister’s Office, quoted from the Straits Times website, Friday (10/4/2026).

Not only citizenship, Singapore will also adjust the number of permanent residents (PR). PR status is the main pathway to citizenship in the country.

Gan noted that Singapore’s PR population has been relatively stable at around 540,000 people in recent years. The government estimates it will accept around 40,000 PRs per year over the next five years, slightly higher than the 35,000 PRs granted last year.

Nevertheless, Gan emphasised that the exact number of immigrants accepted will be reviewed annually. Adjustments are made by considering TFR trends, other demographic factors, as well as the number and quality of applicants.

In addition to population factors, the government also takes into account infrastructure readiness and the community’s social capacity to accept new arrivals.

Gan revealed that the growth of Singapore’s citizen population continues to slow. In recent years, the growth rate has fallen from 0.9% to 0.8%, then to 0.7% last year.

Looking ahead, he said, citizen population growth is estimated to slow further to around 0.5% per year. However, this figure still depends on the ability to maintain birth rates.

“Even with growth around half a percent, it remains challenging because it depends on TFR,” said Gan.