Quick answer: To replace a damaged IC in Singapore, apply online with Singpass within 14 days of the damage and pay S$60. The same online form and fee apply when you change your name, photo or other NRIC particulars. ICA processes it within seven working days, then you book a slot to collect the new card. A change of address is different: it is free, and you get a sticker by mail.
Need to replace a damaged IC in Singapore, or change the details on your NRIC? Both use the same ICA e-Service. This guide shows the steps, fees, papers and translations for each case, plus what to do if your IC is lost.
What Counts as a Replacement IC?
Your Identity Card, or NRIC, holds your name, photo, race and address. When some of these change, or the card is damaged, ICA issues a new card. ICA calls this a replacement.
ICA, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, handles all IC matters. Both Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PRs) can apply.
Here is a quick view of the main cases:
| Your situation | What you do | Fee |
|---|
| Damaged or defaced IC | Apply online for a replacement within 14 days | S$60 |
| New name or new photo | Apply online for a replacement IC | S$60 |
| New home address | Report it online and get an address sticker | Free |
| Lost IC | Report the loss and apply for a replacement | S$100 first time |
| Turning 30 or 55 | Re-register when ICA tells you | S$10 citizens, S$50 PRs |
“Defaced” means the card has marks, writing or scratches that spoil it.
How to Replace a Damaged IC in Singapore
A card can crack, peel or fade. The photo may wear off. When this happens, you must act fast.
ICA says you must apply for a replacement within 14 days of the damage. Do not wait until the card falls apart. A cracked card kept for months breaks the 14-day rule.
You apply online with Singpass. You upload a new photo. Then you pay S$60. The steps are the same as for a change of details, shown further below.
Want help with any foreign papers you need along the way? Many readers start with translation help for IC updates before they open the online form.
Lost Your IC? Fees and Steps
A lost IC is handled a little differently from a damaged one.
- Report the loss to ICA through its e-Service. You must do this even if you went to the police.
- Apply for a replacement within 14 days of reporting the loss.
- Pay the fee. It is S$100 for the first loss and S$300 for each loss after that.
A second loss costs three times as much. So keep your new card in a safe place.
Change of Particulars: Changing Your Name on Your NRIC
The rules depend on whether you are a citizen or a PR.
Singapore citizens
- New name: Use a deed poll. A deed poll is a legal paper that says you have changed your name.
- Married name: Show your marriage certificate.
- Religious name: Show a baptism or religious certificate. It must show your NRIC number or date of birth.
Singapore PRs
PRs must update their passport first. ICA then uses the passport page with the new name.
Children
Is the name change for a child? Then both birth parents must agree. If only one parent or a guardian agrees, ICA needs a Court Order. It can be sent after you apply.
What if your name change happened abroad, on a foreign paper? In that case, translating a foreign deed of name change gives ICA an English version to check.
Changing Your Name on Your IC? Get Foreign Marriage or Religious Papers in English
Adding a Married Name, New Photo or Race Change
A married name
Both citizens and PRs can add a married name. Each needs the marriage certificate. A common problem we see is a wedding certificate from China, Vietnam or Indonesia that ICA cannot read. A foreign marriage certificate for a married name must be translated before you upload it.
A new photo
You can also replace your IC just to update your photo. The photo must be taken within the last three months. It must follow ICA’s Photo Guidelines. A poor photo can delay your application.
Race
A change of race has its own ICA process. You apply for the race change first. After ICA approves it, you apply for a new IC. The race change itself is free. The usual IC replacement fee of S$60 still applies.
Changing Your Address on Your IC
A change of address does not need a new card. Report it on ICA’s eCOA e-Service within 28 days of moving. It is free, and ICA mails you an address sticker for the back of your IC.
Please do not skip this. In 2023, a man was fined S$2,000 for not reporting a new address. Some offices will also ask you to show where you live. Our guide lists the ways to prove your address in Singapore.
Documents and Translations for an NRIC Replacement
You upload digital images of your papers. Here is what each person may need:
| Document | Citizens | PRs |
|---|
| Recent passport-sized colour photo (last 3 months) | Yes | Yes |
| Deed poll | If changing name | No |
| Passport page with personal details | No | Yes |
| Marriage certificate | If adding a married name | If adding a married name |
| Baptism or religious certificate | If adding a religious name | No |
| Court Order | If only one parent consents for a child | If only one parent consents for a child |
ICA may ask for more documents. Missing papers can lead to a rejection.
Translation rules
Any paper not in English needs an official translation. ICA accepts three kinds:
- 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. ICA does not endorse any private translation firm. Order translations prepared for ICA uploads and you avoid a home-made version that ICA cannot accept.
Supporting Documents Not in English? We Prepare Translations in a Form ICA Accepts
How to Apply for a Replacement IC Step by Step
Follow these steps for a damaged card, a new name or a new photo:
- Prepare your photo. It must be recent and meet ICA’s guidelines.
- Gather your papers. Scan or photograph each one clearly.
- Get translations for any paper not in English.
- Log in to ICA’s IC e-Service with Singpass.
- Fill in the online form and upload your papers.
- Pay the S$60 fee.
- Wait for an SMS and email from ICA.
- Book an appointment to collect your new IC.
For step 3, the quickest of ICA’s three options is usually a notary-sealed English translation. You get it without a trip to an embassy.
How Long Does It Take to Replace a Damaged IC?
| Item | Details |
|---|
| Damaged IC or change of particulars | S$60 |
| Change of address | Free |
| Lost IC, first time | S$100 |
| Lost IC, second time or more | S$300 |
| Processing time | Within seven working days |
| Collection | Book an appointment within three months of approval |
Peak periods can take longer. Delays also happen when the photo or papers do not meet ICA’s rules.
Paying the fee
You can pay by Visa, Mastercard or AMEX. You can also use PayNow. Internet direct debit works with DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB or Standard Chartered Singapore accounts.
While you wait for the new card
You can show the Digital IC in the Singpass app in place of your physical NRIC. Most government agencies accept it. Some places may still ask for the physical card, so carry it if you can.
Collecting your new IC
ICA sends an SMS and an email once your IC is approved. You then book an appointment. You must collect it within three months of approval.
IC Re-registration at 15, 30 and 55: Is It the Same as a Replacement?
No. Registration and re-registration are separate ICA steps.
- At 15: You register for your first IC before your 16th birthday.
- At 30 and 55: You re-register, unless ICA gave you a replacement IC in the last 10 years.
For re-registration, ICA sends you a digital notice. You then have one year to apply online. The fee is S$10 for citizens and S$50 for PRs.
So if you replaced a damaged IC at age 25, you may not need to re-register at 30. Watch for ICA’s notice.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting too long. A damaged card must be replaced within 14 days.
- Using an old photo. It must be taken in the last three months.
- PRs not updating the passport first. ICA reads the new name from it.
- Sending a home-made translation. It must be in one of ICA’s three forms.
- Forgetting the collection deadline. You have three months.
Ready to Apply for a New IC? Send Your Foreign Documents to Our Team Today
Frequently Asked Questions
Do children without an IC need to report a change of address?
No. ICA says children who do not yet hold an IC do not need to update their address. This covers both citizen and PR children. Only IC holders must report the move.
Can I change the address for my whole family at once?
Yes. One person can submit a group change of address with up to four sub-applicants. Each sub-applicant gets an SMS from gov.sg. They must give consent within five days.
How many times can I change my race on my IC?
Twice. You can change it once before age 21 and once at or after age 21. For a child under 21, a parent submits the request.
What if I find my old IC after I report it lost?
If you have not yet applied for a replacement, contact ICA through its enquiry form. Send copies of both sides of the card you found.
Do I need a police report for a lost IC?
No. ICA does not need a police report to report the loss or to replace the card.
Conclusion
To replace a damaged IC in Singapore, apply online within 14 days and pay S$60. A new name or photo uses the same form and fee. A new address is free and only needs a sticker. A lost IC costs S$100 the first time.
Get your photo and papers right the first time. Have any foreign papers put into English in a form ICA accepts. Then collect your new IC within three months, and you are done.
