Singapore Global Investor Programme

Eligibility & suitability

A route built around investor track record

GIP is aimed at eligible global investors intending to build business and investment activity from Singapore. Capital alone is not sufficient. EDB assesses the applicant’s entrepreneurial, managerial or investment background against the applicable category. A passive investor without the required history should not assume that paying a threshold secures permanent residence.

Compare the commitments

EDB’s published options include at least S$10 million in a qualifying business and S$25 million in a GIP-select fund. The family-office option involves at least S$200 million of assets under management and qualifying deployment requirements. The precise current investment and renewal conditions should be taken from EDB’s latest factsheet before committing; programme summaries have changed over time.

Process and evidence

Document the business track record, ownership, financial statements, source of funds and proposed investment. A business route requires a detailed plan. Follow EDB’s application, assessment and interview process, then comply with the approval-in-principle investment and verification steps. Immigration formalities and re-entry permissions form part of the implementation; a bank transfer by itself is not the completed process.

Costs, family and continuing conditions

Separate capital at risk from government fees, fund charges, professional fees and operating expenditure. Include the employment and business obligations that may support renewal. Family inclusion has eligibility conditions, and male dependants can face National Service obligations. Obtain clear advice on those obligations before treating permanent residence as a benefit with no future commitment.

Tax and practical fit

Permanent residence does not determine all personal income classifications or automatically secure corporate treaty residence. Consider where the household and business decisions will actually be located. An approved fund is not a guarantee of financial performance. The timing depends on due diligence, source-of-funds evidence and investment completion, so no universal approval date is promised here.

Investor history is a separate eligibility gate

EDB’s August 2025 overview distinguishes established business owners, next-generation owners, fast-growth founders and family-office principals. For example, the established-owner category includes a three-year track record, a qualifying company turnover test and ownership requirements. A founder’s personal net worth does not substitute for the company’s turnover; inherited wealth does not automatically meet the entrepreneurial category. Family-office principals have a distinct investment-history and net-investible-assets test.

Select the applicant category before selecting the investment. Then document which business, ownership period and financial statements support it. Cross-border groups require a clear organisation chart and an explanation of consolidation, beneficial ownership and the applicant’s personal role. A successful company and an eligible applicant are related but different propositions.

Investment deployment and renewal need a current factsheet

EDB’s current overview continues to describe S$10 million for the business option and S$25 million for a GIP-select fund. Its August 2025 family-office summary states at least S$200 million of assets under management and S$50 million invested in equities listed on Singapore-approved exchanges. This is a material reason to avoid older summaries that describe a broader qualifying-asset basket without checking the current application.

Re-entry Permit renewal also considers investment/business commitments and residence conditions. The overview describes employment milestones for the business and family-office routes and residence in Singapore for at least half the relevant period by the principal or all included dependants. Use the full factsheet and approval letter to establish the precise renewal period and alternatives. Permanent residence is not a licence to disregard Re-entry Permit expiry while living overseas.

Fees, assessment time and capital risk

EDB lists a S$20,000 application fee from 5 May 2025. ICA also charges a non-refundable S$100 processing fee per PR applicant at the instructed stage. Neither is the qualifying investment or a refundable deposit. Add investment due diligence, fund charges, operating costs and independent advice to the budget.

The current EDB overview indicates approximately twelve months from complete submission to final approval. That is an indicative programme timeline, not a commitment for every application. Interview scheduling, source-of-funds clarification and completing the investment can affect it. An approved investment is still exposed to commercial losses and liquidity constraints; immigration eligibility should not replace investment due diligence.

How Offshore Capitalist can help

Share your current residence, nationality, business activities and intended changes through the inquiry form or WhatsApp. We can assess the cross-border issues, explain the work required and coordinate the agreed implementation. For this jurisdiction, local regulated work and government decisions remain with the relevant qualified providers and authorities. We confirm scope and fees before starting.