This is the question that stops a lot of permanent residents before they take the final step. You have built a life here, the numbers make sense, and then someone mentions that Singapore will make you give up the passport you were born with. It is worth knowing exactly where you stand before you apply, because this is the one part of the process that cannot be undone.
The short answer
No. Singapore does not allow adults to hold dual citizenship. If you take up Singapore citizenship you must renounce every other nationality you hold. If you are already Singaporean and acquire another citizenship, you are required to give up your Singapore one.
What the rule actually says
The position runs in both directions, which is the part people often miss. A foreign national granted Singapore citizenship must renounce all other citizenships they hold. A Singapore citizen who takes up another country’s nationality is expected to renounce their Singapore citizenship as soon as possible.
At the citizenship ceremony you take the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty. The name is not decorative. Renunciation is the first word in it, and it is the formal moment at which you give up your previous nationality.
| Your situation | Singapore’s position |
| A foreigner becoming a Singapore citizen | You must renounce every other citizenship you hold |
| A Singaporean who takes up another citizenship | You are required to renounce your Singapore citizenship |
| A child under 21 holding two nationalities | Both may be held until 21, then one must be given up |
| An adult quietly holding both | ICA may require renunciation or revoke Singapore citizenship |
This is actively enforced
It would be a mistake to treat this as a rule that exists on paper but is quietly ignored. ICA does check, and people who are found holding another nationality are told to renounce it or face losing their Singapore citizenship. Between 2019 and 2023, roughly 1,600 adult Singaporeans a year either renounced their citizenship or had it revoked in connection with holding more than one.
Modern border systems make dual nationality far easier to detect than it once was. Planning to simply not mention a second passport is not a strategy, and the consequence of being found out is considerably worse than the inconvenience of renouncing properly.
Children under 21 are treated differently
Minors are the one real exception. A child under 21 may hold Singapore citizenship alongside another nationality, and only has to choose when they reach 21. Until then both can stand.
Two details catch families out. A minor cannot renounce their Singapore citizenship before 21, and parents cannot renounce it on a child’s behalf. So if a child holds two passports, the decision is genuinely deferred to them rather than something the family can settle early. It is worth raising with your children well before their twenty-first birthday rather than treating it as paperwork that arrives on the day.
What this means if you are a PR deciding whether to convert
Permanent residency does not force this choice on you. You can hold PR indefinitely while keeping your original citizenship, which is precisely why some people stay PRs for decades. The renunciation question only arrives when you apply to become a citizen.
So the honest way to frame the decision is as a trade. Citizenship brings access to new flats direct from HDB, CPF housing grants, no Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty on a first home, higher healthcare subsidies, lower school fees, a Singapore passport and the vote. Against that, you give up your original nationality permanently, and citizenship cannot be traded back for permanent residency if you change your mind. We set the full picture out in our guide to converting your PR to citizenship.
Think about what renouncing costs you back home
This is the part that deserves proper thought rather than a quick decision, because it varies enormously by country. In some places renunciation is an administrative step with little practical consequence. In others, non-nationals face real restrictions on owning land, inheriting family property, or holding certain roles, and those restrictions will apply to you afterwards.
Check your own country’s rules before you apply, not after you are approved. Some countries make renunciation slow or expensive, and a few make it conditional. ICA will give you a window in which to complete it, so knowing in advance what your home country requires prevents an approval turning into a scramble. If you are gathering paperwork for the application itself, our Singapore citizenship application checklist covers what ICA expects from you.
This guide reflects Singapore’s published position at the time of writing and is general information, not legal advice on the nationality laws of your home country. Confirm the current position with ICA, and with your own country’s authorities, before acting.
Decide this once, with the full picture
Dual citizenship is not available to adults in Singapore, so the choice is a genuine one rather than a formality to be worked around. It is also a one-way door: citizenship cannot be exchanged back for permanent residency. That is not a reason to avoid it, but it is a reason to make the decision deliberately, with your family, and with a clear view of what renunciation means in your country of origin. If you decide it is right, our Singapore citizenship application service exists to make the application itself as strong and as straightforward as it can be.
If you are weighing it up and want to talk through your own situation before committing to anything, get in touch with our team and we will go through it with you honestly.
Weighing up citizenship? Talk it through with Meridian’s consultants first.
Frequently asked questions about dual citizenship in Singapore
Can I hold dual citizenship in Singapore?
Not as an adult. Singapore does not permit adult citizens to hold another nationality. Taking up Singapore citizenship requires renouncing all other citizenships you hold.
What happens if a Singaporean takes up another citizenship?
They are required to renounce their Singapore citizenship as soon as possible. ICA enforces this, and those found holding another nationality may be required to renounce it or have their Singapore citizenship revoked.
Can my child hold two passports?
Until they turn 21, yes. After that they must choose one. A minor cannot renounce their Singapore citizenship before 21, and parents cannot do it on their behalf.
What is the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty?
It is the oath taken at the Singapore citizenship ceremony. Renunciation refers to formally giving up your previous nationality, which is a condition of becoming a Singapore citizen.
Do I have to give up my citizenship to be a PR?
No. Permanent residents keep their original citizenship. The renunciation requirement applies only when you apply to become a Singapore citizen.
