Is GIP application fee refundable if the application is rejected?

The S$20,000 GIP application fee is non-refundable. Applicants should review the GIP Factsheet for the current refund policy and engage advisors to maximise application strength before submission.

Can a Tech.Pass or ONE Pass holder apply for both GIP and PTS simultaneously?

A holder can apply for PR through both pathways if they meet the criteria for each. The applications are administered by different bodies (EDB / Contact Singapore for GIP, ICA for PTS) and evaluated on different bases. The applicant should be transparent about parallel applications during the process.

Does the GIP family office route require Section 13O or 13U award?

GIP and the MAS family office tax incentives (13O / 13U) are independent. A GIP applicant can apply for 13O or 13U on the same SFO fund vehicle, provided the MAS conditions are independently met. A 13O or 13U award is not a prerequisite for GIP; nor does GIP automatically grant 13O / 13U.

How long does PTS approval take?

ICA does not publish a service level for PTS PR application processing. Industry experience varies materially; the application includes review of work-pass tenure, CPF history, income tax filings, family circumstances, and other ICA-evaluated factors.

Can PR status be revoked?

Yes. PR status can be revoked or not renewed for various reasons including failure to maintain Singapore as the centre of life, criminal conduct, and breaches of PR conditions. The Re-Entry Permit (REP) issued on formalisation is for 5 years and renewal at REP expiry is not automatic.

Comparison · L9

GIP vs PTS: Singapore PR via Investment vs via Skilled Employment (2026)

In one sentence

GIP grants PR through investor track record and capital deployment via EDB; PTS grants PR through salaried-employment tenure and contribution via ICA — separate frameworks, different evaluators, different evidence.

Top 5

GIP — administered by Contact Singapore (a division of EDB); for investors with substantial business track record and successful entrepreneurial background; application fee S$20,000 (revised effective 5 May 2025).
GIP family office route — establish a Singapore Single Family Office (SFO) with at least S$200 million AUM, at least S$50 million deployed into four qualifying local categories.
PTS — administered by ICA; for work-pass holders (EP, S Pass, Tech.Pass, ONE Pass) and certain other categories building Singapore residency through employment tenure and economic contribution.
GIP grants PR to principal applicant and immediate family upon formalisation; PTS evaluates each applicant individually with family members applying separately.
Re-Entry Permit (REP) valid for 5 years issued on PR formalisation under both frameworks; renewal requires continuing Singapore presence and contribution.

Side-by-side comparison

	Global Investor Programme (GIP)	PTS Scheme
Administering body	Contact Singapore (EDB division)	Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA)
Target applicant	Investors with substantial business track record	Work-pass holders with Singapore employment tenure
Application fee	S$20,000 (effective 5 May 2025)	Standard ICA application fee
PR for family	Granted to principal and immediate family on Final Approval	Each applicant evaluated individually; family applies separately
Capital deployment requirement	Yes — varies by route (S$200M SFO with S$50M local for family office route)	No capital requirement — based on tenure and contribution
Track record requirement	Substantive entrepreneurial / investor / family-office track record	Singapore work-pass employment record and economic contribution
Re-Entry Permit	Valid for 5 years on PR formalisation	Valid for 5 years on PR formalisation
Formalisation deadline	Within 12 months of Final Approval	Per ICA standard PR formalisation rules

Methodology

This comparison synthesises the published frameworks for both PR pathways: the EDB Global Investor Programme Factsheet (updated 5 May 2025), the EDB GIP overview, the EDB Permanent Residency and Citizenship page, and the ICA Becoming a Permanent Resident page. Where specific deployment thresholds vary by GIP route (entrepreneur, family office, fund manager), the article links to the EDB Factsheet rather than asserting a single number.

Detailed analysis

GIP

Global Investor Programme — PR for Investors

Best for: Established entrepreneurs, family office principals, and senior fund managers with substantive track record; applicants seeking PR for the principal and immediate family on a single approval; investors comfortable with the deployment commitment.

Pros

PR for principal and immediate family granted together on Final Approval — single track for the whole family.
EDB administration aligns with broader investor-relocation, family-office-establishment, and business-incentive programmes.
Re-Entry Permit valid for 5 years post-formalisation supports international travel and ongoing offshore activity.

Cons

Capital deployment requirement is substantial — varies by route, with the family office route requiring S$200M SFO AUM and S$50M local deployment.
Application fee revised to S$20,000 effective 5 May 2025 — non-trivial threshold cost.
Deployment must be maintained — falling below conditions during PR period can affect renewal.

Cost: Engagement scope and pricing scoped per case during the strategy call.

Source: EDB — Global Investor Programme Factsheet (updated 5 May 2025)verified 2026-05-02

PTS

PTS Scheme — PR for Skilled Employment

Best for: Work-pass holders (EP / S Pass / Tech.Pass / ONE Pass) with multi-year Singapore employment, demonstrated economic contribution through CPF / income tax history, and intention to remain long-term.

Pros

No capital deployment requirement — evaluated on tenure and economic contribution.
Standard ICA application fee — no separate programme entry fee.
Multi-year work-pass employment with consistent CPF and income tax record provides strong supporting evidence.

Cons

PR approval is not formulaic — ICA evaluates on multiple factors and outcomes are not guaranteed even with strong tenure.
Family members apply separately; spousal and child PR applications can have different outcomes.
Pure absence of substantive contribution (working remotely, minimal time in Singapore) materially weakens the case.

Cost: Engagement scope and pricing scoped per case during the strategy call.

Source: ICA — Becoming a Permanent Residentverified 2026-05-02

Decision framework

Investor or family principal with substantive entrepreneurial / investor track record and capital to deploy?
GIP — PR for principal and immediate family on Final Approval; assess against the relevant GIP route deployment thresholds.
Work-pass holder with multi-year Singapore employment record and CPF/tax contribution history?
PTS — file via ICA based on tenure and substantive contribution.
Family office founder considering both routes?
GIP family office route may suit if S$200M+ AUM with S$50M local deployment is feasible; otherwise build PTS case through Tech.Pass / ONE Pass / EP tenure.
Tech.Pass holder approaching the 4-year cap and wanting PR?
PTS via the Tech.Pass tenure plus substantive Singapore activity is the natural step; transition to 5-year duration EP shortage-list track if PR not yet ready.

Frequently asked questions

Is GIP application fee refundable if the application is rejected?: The S$20,000 GIP application fee is non-refundable. Applicants should review the GIP Factsheet for the current refund policy and engage advisors to maximise application strength before submission.
Can a Tech.Pass or ONE Pass holder apply for both GIP and PTS simultaneously?: A holder can apply for PR through both pathways if they meet the criteria for each. The applications are administered by different bodies (EDB / Contact Singapore for GIP, ICA for PTS) and evaluated on different bases. The applicant should be transparent about parallel applications during the process.
Does the GIP family office route require Section 13O or 13U award?: GIP and the MAS family office tax incentives (13O / 13U) are independent. A GIP applicant can apply for 13O or 13U on the same SFO fund vehicle, provided the MAS conditions are independently met. A 13O or 13U award is not a prerequisite for GIP; nor does GIP automatically grant 13O / 13U.
How long does PTS approval take?: ICA does not publish a service level for PTS PR application processing. Industry experience varies materially; the application includes review of work-pass tenure, CPF history, income tax filings, family circumstances, and other ICA-evaluated factors.
Can PR status be revoked?: Yes. PR status can be revoked or not renewed for various reasons including failure to maintain Singapore as the centre of life, criminal conduct, and breaches of PR conditions. The Re-Entry Permit (REP) issued on formalisation is for 5 years and renewal at REP expiry is not automatic.

Need help deciding?

Strategy calls run as no-pitch consultations. We'll walk through the options against your specific profile in 30 minutes.

Request a Strategy Call →