When Green turn to Red - Citizenship Journey

When Green turn to Red - Citizenship Journey

 How to apply for Singapore citizenship and renouncing your Indonesia citizenship. This would be the compilation materials that I gather from others blogs or websites while looking for more info regarding the process, plus some update base on my case. So the information should be accurate as per December 2015.


Singapore Citizenship Application

1.     Go to ICA to collect queue number for application submission (go as early as possible since the queue might form-up before ICA even open). Once at the counter they will check all your documents to ensure that you have submitted all the required documents. Pay fee $100 by NETS.

ICA address:

Citizen Services Centre
6th Storey, ICA Building
10 Kallang Road Singapore 208718

2.     Waiting game begins …. The ICA personnel might say 6-9 months for this but mine took more than a year for the “successful result”. So, never lose hope and pray for the best. 

3.     Received Approval In-Principle letter by post (months after submission of the application!).

4.     Complete the Citizenship journey within 2 months as stated in Approval In-Principle letter (URL: https://app.sgjourney.gov.sg).  

·         Singapore Citizenship e-Journey (we can do at our own pace, secure the other 2 tasks by booking the available date)

·         Singapore Experiential Tour (choose the topic that interest you or simply deal with the most suitable date, contact them if you don’t have open slot within time frame given).

·         Community Sharing Session (not much option for this one, just see the slot that can fit your schedule, contact them if you don’t have open slot within time frame given). During this session you can find out from your Grassroots leader when will be the next New-citizen ceremony for your particular SMC/GRC.

·         Don’t forget to complete your Post-journey Survey. After completing this you won’t be able to access SC-journey portal anymore. 

5.     Received Citizenship approval letter by post (within 1-2 weeks after completing of SC-journey). 

6.     An appointment date for citizenship registration will be stated in the approval letter and you can change date if you can’t make it on the mentioned date. URL to change appointment: https://eappointment.ica.gov.sg (choose Citizenship Registration service from drop-down menu).

**Note (Some says) that you can change your appointment date for 3 times and skip/ miss up to 2 times. If you unable to change the appointment from eappointment.ica.gov.sg because it says that you have to change it 3 days before the official date, just cancel the appointment, sign out and sign in again to relocate the appointment date.  

7.     So, now is the time where we need to prepare the required documents.

Indonesia Citizenship Renunciation

1.    Make an appointment with Notary Public to help you declare your intention to renounce.

From KBRI (Indonesia Embassy) you can get the list of Notary Public that able to help you process your renouncing of citizenship but my friend did call them and some of them don’t even aware about this ‘renouncing citizenship’ thingy. In the end I went to below Notary public which really knows about this matter and they will be able to fully help as well as advising me regarding the whole process. Just FYI, that if you go to below address they will ensure that you have all the document needed for submission to Indonesia Embassy (KBRI), so they might not need the document for themselves but they will photocopy for you and put it inside the envelope and tell you these are the files you need to submit to KBRI. Their service highly recommended because they did handle renunciation case every day.

Public Notary addresses & contact no. (Do call them to make appointment before come down – find their admin called Donna)

Tan, Lee & Choo Advocates & Solicitors
1 Park Road #04-04 People’s Park Complex Singapore 059108
Tel: 6535 6077  

·         Document to prepare before meeting with Notary Public :

o   Approval letter from ICA (If you change the appointment date, do print it out and bring there too)

o   Original Blue IC

o   Reentry Permit (Form 7)

o   Original Indonesia Passport

o   Original KTP (Indonesian IC) – if you have

o   Original/ Photocopy Kartu Keluarga (Family Card) – if you have

o   Original Birth Certificate (Akte kelahiran)

o   Citizenship certificate (SKBRI) - if you have

**Note: If you don’t have some of the document above (ie. KTP, KK) then you will need to write a statement (Surat Pernyataan). In my case I only have expired KTP. Don’t worry about the statement format because they will show you the sample, so you just need to ‘hand writing’ the letter there.   

·         You will be served by admin staff (for my case: Ms Donna), given all the instructions and being asked to fill up the forms (Renunciation Form) and sign the printed Declaration Letter in front of the Lawyer and they will send it to Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) for legalization.

Singapore Academy of Law

1 Supreme Court Lane, Level 6 Singapore 178879

Phone: + 65 6332 4388

Website: www.sal.org.sg 

·         Overall fee: $176.75 which consist of $150 (Notarial Fee) + $26.75 (SAL authentication fee). And if you intend to change your name, then they will do the Deed Poll which will cost you another $150.  

2.     Collect an envelope at Notary Public after 3 working days. They will give you 1 set of document that you will need to bring it to MFA to get ‘certification true signature’ stamp; and they will also give you 1 full copy of that set of document. Try to collect in the morning so that you can proceed to MFA and KBRI on that very same day.   

3.     Bring the envelope to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for legalisation (The legalisation will be done on the spot and costs another $10 pay by Nets/Cashcard only). There is Self-service photo copy machine (20 cents/ page) there if you like to make a copy of the front page of the document (coins required for the machine).

Consular Service Counter
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Tanglin, Singapore 248163
Office hours: Mon to Fri (9am – 1230pm & 2.30-4.30pm), Sat (9am – 1230pm)

Website:  http://www.mfa.gov.sg

MFA Info (choose 'Legalization of Document' tab): http://www.mfa.gov.sg/content/mfa/consular_information/for_singapore_citizens/consular_services.html

4.     Go to Indonesian Embassy to submit the renunciation form (submission timing: 9am-12pm) and those legalised documents taken from notary public/ MFA. **Basically your will have to surrender your passport at this time, so no overseas travel :(

Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
No. 7 Chatsworth Road Singapore 249761
Tel: 6737 7422

Website:  www.kbrisingapura.com
Email: info@kbrisingapura.com 

·         Counter at the second floor on the right side after stair, take queue number from Registration counter.  

·         You will be asked to sign the renunciation form over the stamp (meterai) that you can buy from the counter ($2 each). If you already have the renunciation form from the Notary public, no need to fill up the date and signature, you can do it while you at the Embassy. You will have to surrender you passport, KTP (if any), and original Birth certificate (they will return it during collection).

·         Take note that they will also ask you to give them 1 copy of the document that you submitted, so if you want you can give 1 set of the copy given by the notary public office, but if you intend to keep that copies then you can either make a copy before coming to embassy or photo copy the document at the embassy that will cost you 50cents/page! So better to do it at MFA (30 cents cheaper) **Lots of people facing some delay at the counter because of this, so get the copy ready and you will save lots of time :)

·         You will be given an acknowledgement receipt after all the process is done and being asked to make payment at the cashier (1^st floor). It will cost $32 (current price is $60 according to another reader comment).

·         It will take roughly 5-7 working days for the Renunciation Letters to be ready for collection (collection time 2.30-5pm). Collection can be done by anyone as long as they bring the receipt given. **Since by this time you will know the date you can collect the renunciation letter, you can adjust your appointment with ICA (if you wish) to earlier date (if available), so that you can get your passport earlier :) 

5.       Collect your formal Renunciation Letters & original birth cert from Indonesian Embassy in the afternoon (collection time 2.30-5pm) **need to take Queue number again. They will indicate on your Birth Certificate that you have renounced your Indonesia citizenship.

This might be the last time you visit Indonesia Embassy, so drop by their canteen to get some food ^.^

Singapore Citizenship Registration

1.      Go to ICA Building Level 6 to submit the required documents which includes:  (on the appointed date and time) - **note that the dress code for this application is SMART WEAR, where Shorts, T-Shirt, Jeans, Sneakers, Slippers, Sandals, Spaghetti strap, and Low neck blouse ARE NOT allowed.

a.     Step 1: Take Queue number from the machine by scanning your IC or Application number. Then wait at the waiting area around counter 25-29. 

b.     Step 2: They will call your Queue number for documents submission and you will need to pay $80 (Pink IC & Citizenship Certificate) by NETS/CashCard.

·         Original and A copy of Renunciation Letter from Indonesia Embassy (both letter)

·         Singapore Blue IC

·         Documentary proof for changes of address – if applicable (e.g. Phone/ internet bills within the last 3 months)

·         Four (4) Passport-sized photographs. 3 for Registration and 1 for Passport application. **advisable to take the picture from ICA building photo booth (Available on the 1^st, 4^th, and 5^th Floor) which cost $5.50 (4 piece)  **I saw many applicants fail to submit the correct pictures, so highly advisable to get your passport picture from ICA building counter and the Citizen Service actually recommended Photo booth at Level 1 (e-Lobby).

·         Original and A copy of Deed Poll (for change of name) at time of registration – if applicable

·         Baptism certificate for insertion of Christian name – if applicable

·         Marriage certificate (for female to add her married name into the NRIC)

·         Passport applicants who are under 16 years old are required to obtain consent of one of the parent or guardian. 

c.      Step 3: They will call your Queue number again to go to another counter, this time they will take your picture, and take your thumb print, give you’re your payment receipt, as well as returning your Blue IC (after they punch a hole on it). They will also give you your Pink IC collection slip (your temp IC) and Passport application form for you to fill up while waiting for the next process. **This temp IC should have same functions as Pink IC but some share that they unable to use this slip to apply for credit card or phone line. 

d.     Step 4: They will call your Queue number to enter the room where you will read out the Oath.

e.       Step 5: Passport application. If you paying by Credit card, you can fill up your credit card number inside the form, but if you want to pay by Nets, then you will need to go to Level 1 (e-Lobby) and make the payment there, staple you receipt with the form then drop the form in 1 of the Drop of Box (Which available in many locations inside the building and near Building Entrance).

2.     Fees involved:

·         Citizenship Certificate: $70

·         Pink IC registration: $10

·         Singapore passport: $70 (apply via deposit box/online via APPLES), $80 (apply via counter) **Not advisable as the queue can be very long.

·         Overall it takes about 2 hours for the whole process and waiting time.

3.     In one week time, you will receive a Passport Collection Notification Card (that looks like a postcard). You will then have to base on the card Ref. No. to make an e-appointment for your collection. You can choose either to collect it from ICA or available Sing Post near you (at extra cost). **You can do the collection by showing your Temp IC, even without the Notification Card, e-appointment can be done 3 days before appointment date, walk in collection possible but be prepare to wait more or less 2 hours.

**Note for Sing Post collection, you will have to wait at least 3 days for them to redirect the passport and pay $10 for the fee.
**URL to made appointment: https://eappointment.ica.gov.sg (choose Collection of Passport service from drop-down menu)

4.     Received your Singapore Passport (When Green turn to Red). **Travel time!! ^.^ 

5.     Citizenship Ceremony, that will be held few time a year depending on your SMC/GRC. Normally they would have the schedule for the ceremony date, so if you really want to know (or cannot wait for the invitation letter), you can check with your Community Center/ PA. This would be the end of these long processes and you will finally get your Pink IC. Don’t forget to bring your collection slip :).

6.     That’s all folks! You are now a Singaporean with Pink IC!!

Cheers!