Quick answer: The Right of Entry Singapore scheme is for citizens under 21 who also hold a foreign passport. It lets them clear Singapore checkpoints on that foreign passport. The scheme still runs in 2026. You apply online through ICA’s form, there is no fee, and ICA usually replies within 3 working days.
Many parents ask us about the right of entry Singapore gives to dual citizen children. This guide covers who qualifies, how to apply and which papers ICA wants. It also explains what changes at 21.
What Is the Right of Entry Singapore Offers?
The Right of Entry (ROE) is an arrangement run by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). It links a child’s foreign passport to their Singapore citizenship. The child can then use the foreign passport to enter and leave Singapore.
Some children are citizens of two countries. This is called dual citizenship. A child may be born in Singapore to a foreign parent, or born overseas to a Singapore parent. Each country may give the child its own passport.
The ROE does not give the child new rights. The child is already a Singapore citizen. The ROE simply lets ICA’s checkpoints treat the foreign passport correctly.
Is the ROE Scheme Still Running in 2026?
Yes. Some old guides suggest it has ended, but that is not true. ICA’s ROE page was last updated on 13 March 2026, and it still takes requests.
An older PDF request form still turns up online. But ICA’s page now asks you to send the request through its online form at go.gov.sg/rightofentry.
The ROE is also tied to one passport. If the child gets a new foreign passport, you must ask ICA to move the ROE across.
Who Needs ROE and Who Is Eligible?
ICA’s rule is short. The child must be:
- a Singapore citizen, and
- below 21 years old, and
- holding one or more foreign passports.
Families usually need it when the child travels on the foreign passport. For example, a child may live abroad with a foreign parent and visit Singapore on that passport.
| Situation | Can apply for ROE? |
|---|
| Singapore citizen, age 10, holds a Japanese passport | Yes |
| Singapore citizen, age 22, still holds a foreign passport | No, the age limit is below 21 |
| PR child with a foreign passport | No, ROE is only for citizens |
| Foreign child with no Singapore citizenship | No |
Children born overseas first need Singapore citizenship by descent before an ROE is possible. The citizen parent applies through ICA’s e-Service, using the foreign birth certificate. ICA advises applying before the child turns one. Parents in that position often get an overseas birth certificate in English as the first step.
How to Apply for Right of Entry Singapore Step by Step
The process is online and short. Here are the steps:
- Check who can submit. For a child under 16, a parent or a proxy named by the parents must apply. A child aged 16 or above can apply for themselves.
- Check the name. The name on the foreign passport must match ICA’s records. Fix any difference first.
- Gather the documents. See the list in the next section.
- Fill in ICA’s online form. Use the link go.gov.sg/rightofentry.
- Upload the papers. Add clear scans of every document.
- Wait for ICA. ICA usually issues the outcome within 3 working days, if all papers are in order.
- Keep ICA’s reply. Save the outcome with the child’s travel papers.
Your Child's Deed Poll or Religious Certificate Is Not in English Yet? We Can Help
Documents ICA Asks For
ICA asks for the original documents and copies for its records. The main items are listed below.
| Document | Who needs it |
|---|
| Child’s foreign passport | Every applicant |
| Child’s Singapore Birth Certificate, Citizenship Certificate or Identity Card | Every applicant |
| Requestor’s Singapore Identity Card | The parent or proxy who applies |
| Deed poll or religious certificate | If the child’s name has changed |
| Letter of authorisation | If a proxy applies for the parents |
The letter of authorisation should show the parent’s name, ID number and signature. It should also list the child’s details and the proxy’s details.
Name changes cause the most delays. Does the child hold a Singapore IC? Then change the name in ICA’s records through the IC unit first. When the change happened abroad, translating a foreign deed poll lets ICA match the old and new names.
Translation Rules for ROE Papers
Any document not in English needs an official translation. ICA accepts three kinds:
- a translation from the embassy of the country that issued the document
- a translation done by a notary public in Singapore or in the issuing country
- a private translation that the embassy has certified, or that a notary has notarised
ICA does not endorse any private translation company. So a plain private translation, with no embassy or notary step, may not be enough. Planning for that early with notarised English versions for ICA avoids a rejection for missing papers.
ICA may also ask for more documents. If the papers are not enough, it can reject the request.
Fees and Timeline
The ROE is free. ICA charges no fee for the request.
| Item | Detail |
|---|
| Fee | None |
| Where to apply | ICA online form at go.gov.sg/rightofentry |
| Usual processing time | Within 3 working days, if all papers are in order |
| Validity | Tied to the foreign passport it is issued on |
Translations and notarisation are separate costs, if you need them. Allow a few extra days for those before you submit.
Need Foreign Records in English Before You Send the ROE Form to ICA?
Moving the ROE to a New Passport
The ROE sits on one foreign passport. When that passport is replaced, the ROE does not move by itself.
Here is what to do:
- Get the new foreign passport.
- Submit a request to ICA to transfer the ROE.
- Upload the new passport and any name proof.
- Wait for ICA’s confirmation before you travel on it.
A common problem we see is a passport renewed abroad with a new spelling of the name. ICA then cannot match it. Some passports also show details in another script. In those cases, a renewed foreign passport translation helps ICA link the records.
What Happens When the Child Turns 21?
Singapore does not allow dual citizenship for adults. ICA’s ROE form reminds parents that the child must choose one citizenship at 21.
For a child who became a citizen by descent or registration, ICA’s rules are clear:
- The child must give up any foreign citizenship first.
- Then the child must take the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty (ORAL). This is a formal promise to stay loyal to Singapore only.
- The oath must be taken within 12 months of turning 21.
- If the child misses this, they lose Singapore citizenship at 22.
ICA sends reminder letters only after the child turns 21. For the oath, the child brings the Citizenship Certificate and the NRIC or passport. They also bring proof of giving up the foreign citizenship. That proof is often in a foreign language. So translating renunciation papers for ICA makes it ready to present.
Sons have one more duty. Male citizens must serve National Service unless exempted, and ICA’s ROE form points this out.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying after age 21. The ROE is only for children below 21.
- Name mismatch. The foreign passport name must match ICA’s records.
- Forgetting the transfer. A new passport needs a new ROE request.
- Unofficial translations. Use embassy, notary or notarised translations only.
- Missing the oath window. Plan for the ORAL well before age 22.
Dual Citizen Child Turning 21 Soon? Get Renunciation Papers Translated in Good Time
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a grandparent or helper submit the ROE request?
Yes, if the parents appoint them as a proxy. The proxy must upload a letter of authorisation with the parent’s, child’s and proxy’s details. The request still needs the child’s own documents.
Does a Singapore citizen need a Singapore passport after citizenship is registered?
Yes. ICA says a person who becomes a Singapore citizen must apply for a Singapore passport for travel. Plan this before the first trip after registration.
Can my child take the oath while living overseas?
Yes. The child can take the ORAL at the nearest Singapore Overseas Mission. With the Registrar’s prior permission, a notary public or another person allowed to give oaths can also take it.
What if my child does not qualify for citizenship by descent?
ICA does not simply reject the case. It will consider the child for citizenship by registration before it gives a final outcome. Keep all foreign records ready, as ICA may ask for more.
Conclusion
The Right of Entry is still active in 2026. It is free, quick and fully online. It helps a dual citizen child under 21 use a foreign passport at Singapore checkpoints.
Plan ahead for name proof, passport changes and the choice at 21. Are any of those papers in a foreign language? Then dual citizenship document translators in Singapore can prepare them, so your request goes through the first time.
