Quick answer: GIP Singapore, the Global Investor Programme, is an EDB scheme. It gives PR to big business owners and investors. You choose one of four routes: S$10 million in a Singapore business, S$25 million in a GIP-select fund, a family office with S$200 million in assets, or S$50 million in Singapore-listed shares. You also need a strong record, such as a firm with S$200 million in yearly sales. The application fee is S$20,000, and final approval takes about 12 months.
Some call it the Global Investor Program (GIP). Others call it “Singapore PR by investment”. This guide explains each option and who qualifies. It also covers the steps, the fees, the papers and how to keep your PR.
What Is the GIP?
The GIP is run by the Economic Development Board (EDB), through its Contact Singapore division. EDB assesses the investor. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) then grants the PR status.
It is not for small investors. EDB says you need a “substantial business track record”. You also need a strong business past. In return, you and your close family can become PRs.
People call it many names, such as “GIP program” or “Singapore Global Investor Program”. They all mean the same scheme.
GIP Document Translation and Notarisation Checklist
EDB has a clear rule. Foreign-language documents need official English translations. A notary must certify them in Singapore or in the issuing country. This must happen within one year before you submit.
This affects many papers, such as:
- business registration certificates
- shareholder registers and share certificates
- audited financial reports
- birth, marriage and household records
If you submit copies of financial reports instead of originals, a notary public must notarise them. A notary public is a senior lawyer who can certify documents.
Many of the business owners we help send all their records in one batch. Then Singapore notarisation for translated filings is done in one round. The one-year window starts on the same date for every paper.
GIP Singapore Investment Options for 2026
EDB’s current GIP overview lists four options. You choose one when you apply.
| Option | What you do | Minimum amount |
|---|
| Option A | Invest in a new Singapore business, or grow an existing one | S$10 million |
| Option B | Invest in a GIP-select fund that invests in Singapore companies | S$25 million |
| Option C | Set up a Singapore single family office (SFO) | S$200 million in assets under management, with at least S$50 million moved to Singapore |
| Listed equities option | Invest in shares listed on Singapore-approved exchanges | S$50 million |
A single family office is a firm that looks after the money of one family. A GIP-select fund is a fund EDB has picked for this scheme.
Some key points:
- Option A: You submit a 5-year business plan. You must own at least 30% of the company. You must also be part of its top team, such as the board.
- Option B: EDB does not back any fund. It is not liable if you lose money.
- Option C: The S$50 million must go into EDB-specified investments within 12 months of final approval. You must keep it there while your Re-Entry Permit is valid. Family office principals can only choose this option.
- Listed equities option: Keep the S$50 million in Singapore-listed shares. You need this to renew your Re-Entry Permit.
GIP Singapore Requirements: Who Qualifies
EDB accepts four types of investor. Each company you use must be in an industry on EDB’s list, called Annex B.
| Profile | Main requirements |
|---|
| Established business owner | At least 3 years of business track record. Company turnover of at least S$200 million last year, and an average of S$200 million a year over 3 years. At least 30% shareholding if private, or one of the largest individual shareholders if listed. |
| Next-generation business owner | Immediate family holds at least 30% of the company or is the largest shareholder. Turnover of at least S$500 million last year and on average over 3 years. You are in management, such as the board. |
| Founder of a fast-growth company | Founder and one of the largest individual shareholders of a private company worth at least S$500 million. The company is backed by well-known venture capital or private equity firms. |
| Family office principal | At least 5 years of business, investment or management track record. Net investible assets of at least S$200 million. Option C only. |
“Net investible assets” means money and investments such as bank deposits and listed shares. It does not include property.
Business Track Record and Turnover
The track record is the core of the GIP requirements. EDB wants proof that you built and ran a real, large business.
Here is what EDB checks:
- Turnover: Your company’s yearly sales, measured over the last 3 years
- Shareholding: How much of the company you or your family own
- Role: Whether you are part of the top management
- Industry: Whether the company is in an Annex B industry
You can add up to 2 companies together to meet the sales level. Both must be in Annex B industries.
Proof comes from checked (audited) accounts for the last 3 years. They must carry the audit firm’s own stamp. Are your accounts in Chinese, Bahasa or another language? Then plan for translating three years of audited reports before you pay the fee.
Preparing a GIP Application? Get Your Company Records and Audited Accounts Translated Into English
Who Can Be Included in Your Application
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can apply with you as dependants. Sons who get PR this way may have to serve National Service.
Parents and unmarried children aged 21 and above cannot get PR through your GIP application. They may apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass linked to your Re-Entry Permit instead.
Each family member needs notarised family records, such as birth and marriage papers. Were these issued abroad? Then arrange for translating the marriage record for dependants along with the birth records.
GIP Application Process: Step by Step
- Read the factsheet and download EDB’s GIP forms.
- Pay the S$20,000 application fee by telegraphic transfer or local bank transfer.
- Fill in the forms online. Form A is your profile. Form B is the investment plan. Form C is the payment details.
- Post paper copies of all supporting documents to EDB within 1 month of paying.
- Attend an interview with EDB.
- Get Approval-in-Principle (AIP) from ICA, if you meet the criteria. It is valid for 6 months.
- Make the investment within 6 months of the AIP letter.
- Send proof of the investment and a signed Investment Undertaking to EDB.
- Get Final Approval from ICA once EDB checks your papers.
- Complete PR formalities within 12 months of Final Approval.
EDB says final approval takes about 12 months from a complete submission.
GIP Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|
| GIP application fee | S$20,000 | EDB |
| Processing fee | S$100 per applicant | ICA |
Both fees are non-refundable, whatever the result. You also pay your own bank charges, and EDB must receive the full S$20,000. EDB raised the fee from S$10,000, so check any older guide you read. ICA tells you when to pay its fee after EDB receives your application.
Re-Entry Permit Conditions
When you complete PR formalities, you get a Re-Entry Permit (REP) valid for 5 years. An REP lets you keep your PR status while you travel. If you leave Singapore without a valid REP, you lose your PR. To learn more, read what the Re-Entry Permit does for all PRs.
You can apply to renew through ICA’s online REP system from 3 months before it expires. If you apply after it expires, the REP lapses.
At renewal, EDB checks your progress. You must always meet the money rule for your option. Then:
| Renewal | What you must also meet |
|---|
| 5-year REP | Both the business condition and the residency condition |
| 3-year REP | Either the business condition or the residency condition |
The residency condition looks at where you lived. You, or all your dependants who got PR with you, must live here more than half the time.
The business condition depends on the option:
- Option A: Your company employs at least 30 staff. At least half are Singapore citizens, and at least 10 are new hires.
- Option B: You keep the S$25 million in the GIP-select fund.
- Option C: Your family office hires at least 5 new professionals. At least 3 are Singapore citizens. It also keeps S$50 million in EDB-specified investments.
- Listed equities option: You keep S$50 million in Singapore-listed shares.
Need Foreign Shareholding Papers in English for EDB? Send Them to Our Business Team
Documents You Need for a GIP Application
EDB’s checklist is long. The main groups are below.
| Group | Examples |
|---|
| Declarations | Signed Undertaking on the Terms and Conditions, Statutory Declaration, Forms A, B and C, Form 4 for the Entry Permit |
| Personal records | Notarised passport pages, birth certificates showing both parents, household register, marriage, divorce or name change papers |
| Business records | Audited reports for 3 years, notarised share ownership papers, shareholding diagram, business registration, organisation chart, CV |
| Option C extras | Certified statement of net investible assets of at least S$200 million |
You must send 1 original and 1 photocopy of the supporting documents. Signed forms and declarations must be originals on paper.
A common problem we see is a share chart in English but share registers in another language. EDB needs to match the two. That is where company record translation for EDB saves weeks of back and forth.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Old notarisation. Translations notarised more than a year before submission may be rejected.
- Unaccredited auditors. EDB lists the kinds of audit firms it accepts.
- Missing the 1-month deadline to post hard copies after paying the fee.
- Partial transfers. Bank charges must not reduce the S$20,000 fee.
- Weak fund proof. For Options B and C, bank statements and letters must clearly show the money.
For Option B, EDB asks for bank statements or credit advice for the account you use. Is your bank’s paperwork in another language? Get bank statement translation for fund transfers before you upload.
Planning Your GIP Submission? Let Us Translate Family and Company Papers in One Batch
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer to apply for the GIP?
EDB does not require a lawyer. Many investors still use advisers to prepare the business plan and papers. Some forms must be signed in front of a witness. This may be a notary public or a Singapore embassy officer, based on your country. Each form says who can witness it.
Can I use past investments in my Singapore company for Option A?
Yes, in some cases. EDB says paid-up capital put in before the application may count towards Option A. EDB checks this when you send proof of the investment.
Where do I send the GIP application documents?
EDB’s GIP page lists its address as 250 North Bridge Road, #28-00 Raffles City Tower, Singapore 179101. Older forms show a different unit number, so use the latest form. You also upload the forms online through EDB’s GIP portal.
Who manages the GIP-select funds for Option B?
EDB publishes the current list of GIP-select funds on its website. Check it just before you invest, because the list can change. The money must come from your own bank account in your sole name at a Singapore-registered bank. Being on the list is not an EDB endorsement.
Conclusion
The Global Investor Programme is a PR route for very big business owners and investors. You choose one of four options, show a strong track record, and pay a S$20,000 fee. After that, you must meet the REP conditions to keep your PR.
The paperwork is heavy. Every foreign record needs a notarised English translation dated within a year. Need help with that part? Contact investor document translators in Singapore who can prepare your company, financial and family records together.
