National Service Liability
Under the Enlistment Act, all male Singapore citizens and permanent residents, unless exempted, are required to serve National Service (NS). Following the completion of full-time NS, they will become Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen). An NSman's obligation will end at the age of 50 years (for officers) or 40 years (for other ranks).
Main applicants who are granted PR status under the Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers Scheme or the Investor Scheme, are exempted from NS.
Male applicants who are granted PR status as a Foreign Student or under their parents’ sponsorship are required to register for NS upon reaching 16½ years old and will be scheduled for enlistment at the earliest opportunity upon reaching 18 years old. MINDEF allows students to attain educational qualifications up to the 'A' Levels certificate, the polytechnic diploma or an equivalent before they are required to serve NS. They are enlisted at the earliest opportunity when they have finished such courses, or after turning 18 years old, whichever is later. MINDEF does not grant deferment for university studies, regardless of whether such studies have begun. All male applicants are required to access www.cmpb.gov.sg for information on NS deferment, pre-enlistment process and Exit Permit requirements, before proceeding with the application.
Males who are granted Singapore PR, and who were previously Singapore citizens or Singapore permanent residents, are liable to be called up for NS regardless of the scheme under which their PR status was granted.
Renouncing or losing one’s PR status without serving or completing full-time NS will have a serious adverse impact on applications to work or study in Singapore, or for any long-term immigration facilities in Singapore, whether now or in the future. Renouncing or losing one’s PR status without serving or completing full-time NS will also adversely affect your family members' applications for long-term immigration facilities, their ability to sponsor such facilities, their renewal of Re-Entry Permits, or their applications for Singapore citizenship.
For further enquiries, please contact:
Central Manpower Base
Email: contact@ns.sg
Contact No(s):
1800-3676767 (local)
65-65676767 (overseas)
I am an expert in Singapore's National Service (NS) system, and my knowledge extends to the intricacies of the Enlistment Act. To establish my credibility, let me highlight some key points regarding the NS obligations in Singapore.
Under the Enlistment Act, all male Singapore citizens and permanent residents are mandated to undergo National Service, unless exempted. Upon completing full-time NS, individuals become Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen), with obligations ending at the age of 50 years for officers and 40 years for other ranks.
Notably, exemptions exist for main applicants granted Permanent Residency (PR) status under specific schemes, such as Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers or the Investor Scheme. On the other hand, male applicants granted PR status as Foreign Students or under parental sponsorship must register for NS at 16½ years and enlist at 18 years.
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) allows students to attain educational qualifications up to the 'A' Levels certificate, polytechnic diploma, or an equivalent before NS service. However, no deferment is granted for university studies, regardless of whether they have commenced.
Renouncing or losing PR status without completing NS can have severe consequences. This includes adverse impacts on work or study applications in Singapore, as well as implications for long-term immigration facilities. Family members may also face challenges in their immigration processes, including sponsorship and citizenship applications.
For specific inquiries or more information on NS deferment, pre-enlistment processes, and Exit Permit requirements, individuals are encouraged to visit www.cmpb.gov.sg. Additionally, the Central Manpower Base can be contacted via email at contact@ns.sg or through the following phone numbers: 1800-3676767 (local) or 65-65676767 (overseas).
If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask.
