Quick answer: To replace a lost or damaged Singapore citizenship certificate, go to the ICA Services Centre in person. Bring your IC, birth certificate and one copy, a recent photo and a signed letter. You also sign a statutory declaration there and pay S$20. The new certificate is ready within about two weeks.
Your Singapore citizenship certificate is a key paper. Losing it can feel scary. The good news is that ICA can replace it. The steps are simple.
What Is a Singapore Citizenship Certificate?
A Singapore citizenship certificate is the paper that shows you became a citizen. ICA, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, issues it.
New citizens get it at a citizenship ceremony. The ceremony is held in their assigned Group Representation Constituency (GRC). It is usually about three to six months after they register as citizens.
The certificate matters most for people who became citizens by registration or descent. Are you still at the start of that journey? Read about how people apply to become citizens first.
Lost or Damaged: Which One Are You?
ICA uses the same process for both cases. But it helps to know which one fits you.
| Situation | Examples |
|---|
| Lost | Misplaced during a move, thrown away by mistake, stolen |
| Damaged | Torn, wet, burnt, faded so the words cannot be read |
If your certificate is damaged, keep it safe for now. Do not throw it away until the new one is in your hands.
Do You Need a Police Report?
Many people think they must make a police report first. ICA’s checklist for this replacement does not list a police report.
Instead, ICA asks for a statutory declaration. This is a written statement that you sign and declare to be true. In it, you say what happened to the certificate. Giving false facts in it is an offence. You fill it in at the ICA Services Centre.
So when is a police report useful? If you think someone stole your papers, you may still want to tell the police. That is a separate matter. It does not replace ICA’s steps.
A common problem we see is people waiting weeks for a police report they never needed. Do not let that delay you.
Documents to Replace a Singapore Citizenship Certificate
Bring all of these to the ICA Services Centre:
| Document | Notes |
|---|
| Your Identity Card | The original |
| Your birth certificate | The original and one photocopy |
| A passport-sized colour photo | Taken within the last three months |
| A letter asking for a replacement | Short and signed by you |
| A statutory declaration | Get and complete it at the ICA Services Centre |
| ICA’s replacement application form | Download it from the ICA website |
Your photo must follow ICA’s Photo Guidelines. A poor photo can slow things down.
What if your birth certificate is not in English?
Many people who became citizens later were born abroad. Their birth certificate may be in Chinese, Malay, Hindi or another language. ICA then needs an official English translation. Clients born overseas often order translations of birth certificates issued in other languages a week before their visit.
ICA accepts three kinds of translation:
- A translation from the embassy of the country that issued the paper.
- A translation by a notary public in Singapore or in that country.
- A private translation attested by that embassy, or notarised by a notary public.
A notary public is a senior lawyer who can certify documents.
Birth Certificate Issued Abroad? Get It Translated Before You Visit the ICA Counter
How to Replace Your Certificate Step by Step
Here are the steps, in order:
- Write your letter. Ask ICA for a replacement citizenship certificate. Say briefly what happened. Sign and date it.
- Download the replacement form from the ICA website and fill it in.
- Get a photo taken. Check it against ICA’s Photo Guidelines.
- Find your birth certificate and make one photocopy.
- Arrange any translations for papers not in English.
- Go to the ICA Services Centre at 2 Crawford Street, Singapore 207218.
- Complete the statutory declaration at the centre.
- Hand in your papers and pay the S$20 fee.
- Note your collection date. ICA will give you an appointment to collect the new certificate.
Why sort out step 5 early? Because a missing translation means a second trip. Getting translations in a format ICA accepts before your visit keeps it to one trip.
Fees and Timeline
| Item | Details |
|---|
| Replacement fee | S$20 |
| Where to apply | ICA Services Centre, 2 Crawford Street |
| How to apply | In person, with a written request and statutory declaration |
| When it is ready | Within two weeks of your request |
| Collection | On the appointment date ICA gives you |
Two weeks is the usual time. Plan for it if you have a deadline.
Applying for a child
A parent or guardian must go with a minor when applying. A parent or guardian must also go with the minor to collect the new certificate. Plan a day when both of you are free.
Need Any Supporting Paper in English for ICA? We Prepare Translations Every Day
Keeping Your New Certificate Safe
Once you have the new certificate, protect it. Here are some simple tips:
- Keep it in a dry, flat folder.
- Store it with your birth certificate and passport.
- Take a clear scan and keep it safe online.
Will a school, bank or embassy ask to see the certificate? If so, offer true copies checked against the original instead of the real paper. That way, the original stays at home.
What Happens on Collection Day
Go back to ICA on the date you were given. Take your IC with you. If the certificate is for a child, the parent or guardian must come too.
Check the new certificate before you leave the counter. Look at these details:
- Your full name, spelled the same as on your IC
- Your date of birth
- Your IC number, if it is shown
Is something wrong? Tell the officer at once. It is much easier to fix a mistake on the spot than later.
Where Translation and Copies Fit In
Translation is not always needed. Here is a simple way to tell:
| Your paper | Do you need a translation? |
|---|
| Singapore birth certificate in English | No |
| Birth certificate issued abroad in another language | Yes, in one of ICA’s three accepted forms |
| Your IC and photo | No |
| Your letter to ICA | Write it in English |
Copies are a different matter. After you get the new certificate, other offices may ask to see it. A certified copy lets you share it without the risk of losing the original again. A common story we hear is a first certificate lent out and never returned.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting for a police report. ICA’s checklist does not ask for one.
- Forgetting the photocopy of the birth certificate.
- Bringing an old photo. It must be from the last three months.
- No translation for a birth certificate in another language.
- Making a home-made translation. ICA only accepts its three forms.
- Sending a child alone. A parent or guardian must go with a minor.
Some foreign offices go one step further and want the translator’s work sworn before a notary. For those, ask for a translation endorsed by a Singapore notary. Then you are covered here and abroad.
Replacing Your Citizenship Certificate Soon? Send Us Any Foreign Papers You Need First
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a child under 15 bring instead of an IC?
ICA says you can bring the child’s birth certificate if the child is under 15. Older applicants bring their NRIC or Singapore passport. You also bring one passport-sized colour photo and the S$20 fee.
When is the ICA Services Centre open for this?
The ICA Services Centre is open from 8.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. It is closed on weekends and public holidays.
How can I pay the S$20 fee?
ICA accepts NETS or NETS FlashPay, and Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards. It also accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. DBS PayLah!, OCBC Pay Anyone and UOB Mighty work too.
Will I need my citizenship certificate again later?
It depends on how you became a citizen. Minors who became citizens by descent or registration must take an oath of allegiance after turning 21. ICA asks them to bring the original Certificate of Singapore citizenship to the oath. That is a key reason to replace a lost one early.
Conclusion
Replacing a lost or damaged Singapore citizenship certificate takes one visit to ICA. Bring your IC, birth certificate, photo and letter, sign the statutory declaration and pay S$20. Your new certificate is usually ready within two weeks.
The main delay is a birth certificate that is not in English. Sort that out first. If you need help, a translation partner for ICA paperwork can prepare your foreign papers before you go.
