Dual citizenship

Does Singapore Allow Dual Citizenship? Rules and Deadlines

Singapore does not permit dual citizenship. What the statute actually says, the notification duties that go with it, and what it means if you are considering a second passport.

Whether you can keep your Singaporean passport while holding another one is decided by Singapore, not by the country issuing the second document. This page sets out the current position, the statute behind it, and what it means in practice for someone considering a second citizenship.

Short answer: Singapore does not permit dual citizenship. The detail below matters more than the headline, because the consequences of getting it wrong fall on the individual — usually years later, at a passport renewal or a border.

Does Singapore allow dual citizenship?

No. Singapore does not permit dual citizenship. A Singaporean who acquires another nationality is expected to give one up, and the government may deprive a person of Singapore citizenship for holding another.

The rule to establish first is always the one that applies to you at home. A second country can only grant its own status; it cannot preserve a nationality that your own law terminates. What a prohibition means in practice — and what it does not — is explained in the guide to dual citizenship rules, with the country-by-country table.

Key facts at a glance

QuestionPosition in Singapore
Dual citizenshipNot permitted
Governing lawConstitution, arts. 134 and 135
Status of a second nationalityChoice required between the 21st and 22nd birthday
Effect on the original nationalitySingapore citizenship lost at 22 if the foreign nationality is not renounced
Basis of taxationResidence
Military service obligationYes — national service for men

What the law says

Article 134 of the Constitution allows the government to deprive a citizen of Singapore citizenship where the citizen has voluntarily acquired another nationality, and Article 135 covers the exercise of rights available only to nationals of another country. The power is discretionary — the wording is "may, by order" — rather than automatic, but it is used. Dual nationals from birth must renounce the foreign nationality and take the oath of renunciation, allegiance and loyalty after their 21st birthday and before their 22nd; Singapore citizenship is otherwise lost at 22. The Constitution itself sets no age of choice — the 21-to-22 window is the rule applied by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.

What this means in practice

The authoritative source is the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority. Rules in this area change by amendment and by notification, so the position should be confirmed at the time you act, not from any article.

What usually goes wrong

The mistakes below account for most of the cases where people discover a problem years after the event, typically when renewing a passport or crossing a border.

Singaporean citizens and Vanuatu citizenship

For Singaporeans the programme is not an "additional" passport in any safe sense — it puts Singapore citizenship at risk. We do not recommend it to Singaporean citizens who intend to keep their status.

If you are weighing this up anyway, start with a conversation rather than with the price list: the first question is whether you would be giving up a status you intend to keep.

Other countries that do not permit it

The same question, answered for comparable jurisdictions:

Check your position as a Singaporean citizen

Before applying anywhere, get the rule for your own citizenship confirmed in writing. We do that check first and tell you if the answer is no.

Frequently asked questions

A choice must be made. Keeping the foreign nationality means losing Singapore citizenship.
Yes. National service obligations attach to the person, not to the travel document.
Restoration is discretionary and not commonly granted; renunciation should be treated as permanent.