Singapore is rated as one of the top three countries in the world for having a very powerful passport, along with Japan. The benefits that come with being a Singaporean citizen certainly make it extremely desirable to obtain one. Having said this, it should also be noted that Singapore has a stringent and lengthy Singapore Citizenship application process, which can also be quite complicated. The applicant is expected to provide the most detailed and intricate information in order to be successful.
For instance, if you were away from Singapore for more than a year during the past six years, you must declare details such as departure and arrival dates, residential address in the foreign country, and so forth. The processing of these applications can vary from one profile to the next, and there is no single template which applies to everyone. Every application is unique, and each applicant should be well prepared for all the information required or further requested from him or her.
The Singapore Citizenship application is submitted online via the Immigration & Checkpoint Authority (ICA)’s e-service platform. Information on this system will only be saved for a maximum period of seven days, after which it will all be erased, and you will have to start from the beginning again.
There can be a number of reasons why your Singapore Citizenship application might be rejected, and if so, it can certainly be a disheartening and confusing experience.
When the ICA rejects a Singapore Citizenship application, they will not indicate the specific reasons(s) for rejecting the application. In addition, they will not reveal the reasons telephonically either. There are a number of factors which may lead to the application being rejected, such as failure to meet eligibility requirements, not providing the correct documents, incorrect details provided in the form, unclear scanned copies of documents, missed deadlines, criminality, health and others. Although only five possible reasons are listed below, these are by no means conclusive and exhaustive.
5 Possible Reasons Behind Your Singapore Citizenship Application Being Rejected
1. Involvement in Criminal Activities
As with the majority of other countries, a criminal record makes it likely that your Singapore Citizenship application will be rejected, making you ineligible to become a Singaporean. Criminal offences may include but are not limited to, drug trafficking or robbery with violence. The USCIS will review your past criminal history before making their decision to accept or deny your application. Some more extreme crimes may merit a court hearing for someone to be deported after his or her application has been received.
2. Association with Another Country
You may not meet the eligibility criteria for Singapore citizenship. To be eligible for Singapore citizenship, you must meet certain requirements, such as having permanent residence status in Singapore and being of good character. If you do not meet these requirements, your application is likely to be rejected. In addition, the ICA will also scrutinise any ties which you may have with other countries. If the ICA believes you have significantly stronger ties with another country, it is likely that your Singapore citizenship application will be rejected.
3. Age
Your age could also be a possible factor. For applicants aged below 21 years old at the time of submitting their application, one parent needs to apply on their behalf, and both parents are required to attend the interview together should the child’s nationality come into question. If you are too old or too young, it is likely that your Singapore Citizenship application will be rejected.
4. Financial Requirments
If you have not invested a sufficient amount of money in Singapore, it is likely that your Singapore Citizenship application will be rejected.
5. Incorrect or Unclear Documentation
In order to be approved for Singapore citizenship, it is absolutely imperative that you submit all the required documents and information. If you fail to do so, your application will likely be rejected, and this is very often the reason for the rejection of an application.
To avoid the hassle of re-submitting and even possible rejection, you will need to ensure you prepare all the documents correctly beforehand. It is advisable to prepare a checklist of the documents you will need to submit and also ensure that you will be able to provide readable digital copies. Accuracy is absolutely key in this circumstance. It has been found that, on average, applicants spend roughly about four hours completing their online Singapore citizenship application, but this is ONLY if they are already prepared and have everything that is required of them.
Final Thoughts
Can you imagine spending so many hours of your time again just because of incomplete information the first time?
There is simply no room for error during the application process. If you have accidentally missed out on any of the steps during the application, you may be putting yourself at risk of rejection. If you have submitted the wrong documents or any of your documentation may be incorrect, untrue or unclear, you again put your application at risk, as the ICA has zero tolerance for errors or unclear and untrue information supplied.
If the ICA requires you to submit specific documents which are crucial and/or essential for the application to be successful, and you fail to comply, this will automatically lead to your application being rejected. Remember to take your time and complete the forms with absolute care and precision, as any error may lead to the application being rejected. If your application is incomplete and the authorities have ruled that your application was not complete because some of the required documents were missing or there were errors in your application form, your application will be unsuccessful and rejected.
The fact is that applicants who apply for Singapore citizenship on their own generally experience an extremely high chance of rejection. There could be various possible reasons for rejection, like incomplete forms, insufficient documents or weak profiles, just to name a few. If you are ever unsure, it is highly advisable to seek assistance from an immigration consultancy firm. They are experts in the field and will be able to assist you by ensuring you have everything that is required for a complete and successful application.
