Global Investor Programme (GIP)

Singapore has a Global Investor Programme (GIP). Investors who are interested in starting a business or investing in Singapore can apply for permanent residency (PR) through this program. The application time for investment immigration is relatively short, and it is currently the fastest and direct permanent immigration method. The advantage of GIP investment immigration is that it is relatively relaxed, there are no requirements for academic qualifications, age and language, and GIP immigration can bring a spouse and 21 pairs of children as dependent applicants together to apply for permanent residency. Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply for permanent residents of Singapore through this program.

Applicant eligibility criteria:

1. Senior business owner

    a) You must have at least three years of entrepreneurial and business experience;

    b) The company you are operating must have a turnover of no less than S$200 million in the most recent year, and the annual turnover of the most recent three years. The average turnover must be no less than SGD 200 million;

    c) If your company is privately owned. If your company is a listed company, you must be one of the largest individual shareholders; You must hold at least 30% of the equity;

    d) The company must belong to at least one business field in the list of industries in Appendix B.

2. The next generation of business owners

    a) Your immediate family must hold no less than 30% of the shares of the company to which you declare this plan, or be the largest shareholder;

    b) The company's turnover in the most recent year must reach at least S$500 million, and the average annual turnover of the past three years must reach at least S$500 million;

    c) You must be the management of the company (e.g. senior management, board member);

    d) The company must belong to at least one business field in the list of industries in Appendix B. 

3. Founder of a fast-growing company

    a) You must be the founder and one of the largest individual shareholders of a company with a valuation of not less than SGD 500 million;

    b) The company must be invested by a well-known venture capital company or private equity company;

    c) The company must belong to at least one business field in the Appendix B industry list. 

The person in charge of the family wealth management office

    a) You must have at least five years of entrepreneurial, investment or management experience;

    b) You must have net invested assets of not less than SGD 200 million. (Note: Net invested assets include all financial assets except real estate, such as bank deposits, capital market products, collective investment plans, life insurance policies and premiums paid by other investment products.)

Option A: Invest no less than S$2.5 million to establish a new business entity or expand existing business operations

Option A applicants must submit a detailed five-year business or investment plan. The content must be based on the items listed in Form B of the application, including the estimated number of employees, annual business expenditures and related financial data. The scope of the assessment will include the feasibility of the plan, your scope of responsibility in the company, the company's business activities and the corresponding local employment opportunities created. And you must hold at least 30% of the company's equity and be a member of the company's management (for example: senior management, board of directors); and the company must belong to at least one business field in the Appendix B industry list.

Option B: Invest not less than SGD 2.5 million in the Global Business Investor Program Fund, which mainly invests in Singapore companies

The scope of assessment for Option B will include the feasibility of the business plan within five years, your scope of responsibilities in the company, the company's business activities, the corresponding local employment opportunities created, and annual business expenditures.

Option C: Invest no less than SGD 2.5 million in a new or existing single-family financial office established in Singapore. The office must manage assets of no less than S$200 million.

Option C applicants must submit a detailed five-year business plan. The content must be based on the items listed in Form B of the application, including the corresponding estimated number of employment and annual financial forecasts. The plan must specify your functions in the single-family office, as well as asset allocation and investment strategies, including asset classes, investment industries, and geographic regions.

STEPS FOR PROCESSING GIP APPLICATIONS

    1.Applicant submits completed GIP application forms (both online and hardcopy) to EDB

    2.Applicant is invited for an interview with EDB

    3.If Applicant meets the assessment criteria, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will issue an Approval-in-Principle (AIP) status to the Applicant which is valid for 6 months.

    4.Applicant makes the necessary investment under the selected investment option, within 6 months from the date of the AIP letter

    5.Upon making the investment, Applicant provides evidence of the investments make (e.g. Certified true copy of share certificates, bank statements and other legal documents) and submits the Investment Undertaking on the Terms and Conditions of the investment made

    6.Once investment documents are verified by EDB, ICA will issue the Final Approval letter

    7.Applicant must formalise his/her Permanent Residence status in Singapore within 12 months from the date of the Final Approval letter

    

POST-APPROVAL INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS

You will be required to make your investment within the 6-month period of your AIP PR status. The investment quantum of S$2.5 million (according to the investment option selected) must be made from your personal bank account in your sole name opened in a Singapore-registered bank in Singapore.

After making the required investment, you must submit the documentary evidence in hard copy of your investment to EDB. Some of the required documents include:

i.A certified true copy of investment documents (e.g. ordinary share certificates for Option A and C investments).

ii. Bank statements/Debit and Credit advices showing that the investment was made from your personal bank account opened in your sole name with a Singapore-registered bank in Singapore.

iii. Original signed undertaking on the Terms and Conditions of the investment made (the “Investment Undertaking”).

iv. Bank reference letter certifying that your account with the Bank has been satisfactorily conducted. Information in the bank reference letter should include:

a. Name

b. Passport number

c. Account type

d. Account number

Please note that:

●For an Investment Undertaking made in the United Kingdom or in a Commonwealth country, it can be signed in the presence of a notary public, Justice of Peace or other person authorised under the law of that country.

- If the applicant is in Singapore, the Investment Undertaking must be signed in the presence of an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore or a notary public appointed pursuant to the Notaries Public Act (Cap. 208).

●For non-Commonwealth countries (e.g. China), the Investment Undertaking must be signed in the presence of an authorised Singapore embassy or consular staff in the non-Commonwealth country.

Additional documents for Option C applicants

i.ACRA Bizfile records of your registered family office in Singapore before and after capitalisation.

ii.Original/latest certified true copy latest notarised copy of supporting documents to demonstrate the AUM and its ownership of at least S$200 million in your Singapore registered family office; such documents submitted to be determined by EDB in its sole discretion.

iii. For assets parked under separate investment holding company/private trusts, a latest notarised copy of the Investment Management Agreements must be provided to demonstrate that the assets are managed by your family office in Singapore.

FORMALISATION OF SINGAPORE PERMANENT RESIDENCE STATUS

Upon receiving the documentary evidence of your investments and the signed Investment Undertaking, you will be issued a Final Approval of your PR status by the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). You are required to formalise your PR status within 12 months from the date of Final Approval.

VALIDITY OF RE-ENTRY PERMIT

Upon the formalisation of your PR, you will be issued a Re-Entry Permit (REP) that is valid for 5 years. The REP is a permit that allows you to maintain PR status when you are out of Singapore. This REP will be renewed if you meet the Re-Entry Permit Renewal Conditions by the 5th year of your PR status.

ANNEX B : LIST OF INDUSTRIES

    (a)Aerospace Engineering

    (b)Alternative Energy/ Clean Technology

    (c)Automotive

    (d)Chemicals

    (e)Consumer Business (e.g. flavors and fragrances, food ingredients, nutrition, home and personal care)

    (f)Electronics

    (g)Energy

    (h)Engineering Services

    (i)Healthcare

    (j)Infocomm Products & Services

    (k)Logistics & Supply Chain Management

    (l)Marine & Offshore Engineering

    (m)Media & Entertainment

    (n)Medical Technology

    (o)Nanotechnology

    (p)Natural Resources (e.g. metals, mining, agri-commodities)

    (q)Safety & Security

    (r)Space

    (s)Shipping

    (t)Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology

    (u)Precision Engineering

    (v)Professional Services e.g. consulting, design

    (w)Arts Businesses

    - Visual arts businesses, e.g. auction houses, art logistics/storage

    - Performing arts businesses

    (x)Sports Businesses

    (y)Family Office & Financial Services

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