Singapore PR Selection Criteria 2026

2026-10-19

Singapore's National Population and Talent Division released the 2026 Population Brief on 25 September. As of June this year, Singapore's total population has reached 6.21 million.

The breakdown: 3.68 million citizens, 550,000 Permanent Residents (PR), and 1.98 million non-residents.

Key PR Statistics

A total of 35,352 applicants were granted PR status last year.

From 2021 to 2025, an average of 34,600 people received PR annually. The figure for last year is slightly higher than the five-year average, staying at a similar level.

However, Singapore plans to expand PR intake in the coming years. Earlier this year, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong announced that Singapore expects to admit approximately 40,000 new PRs each year over the next five years.

For the past decade, annual new PR approvals have remained between 30,000 and 35,000, with the peak in 2025 hitting only 35,264. The cap has never reached 40,000.

This marks a genuine relaxation in Singapore PR approvals, adding 5,000 new PR slots each year.

Ageing Population & Low Fertility Rate

Singapore's citizen population aged 65 and above has risen to 21.4%.

According to the UN benchmark, a society with 21% of its population aged 65+ is classified as a super-aged society. Singapore has officially entered this phase. By 2035, more than one-quarter of citizens will be aged 65 and above.

The country faces a shrinking workforce, making immigration policies a long-term priority.

The resident total fertility rate stood at only 0.87 last year.

Marriage and birth numbers keep declining. There were 21,671 citizen marriages last year, down 5.6% from 22,955 the previous year. Citizen births fell 10.8% to 26,071.

Low fertility combined with an ageing population makes new immigration a critical channel to supplement workforce.

Who Gets Approved for PR?

Most PR holders are aged between 25 and 59.

The 21–40 age group takes the largest share. Stable employment, economic contribution and potential to integrate locally are core evaluation benchmarks for PR applications.

The under-20 age group also accounts for 24.5% of PR approvals, mostly students with local education background, who traditionally enjoy an application advantage.

Yet selection trends for young applicants have shifted. To build talent pipelines for technological growth, authorities start screening candidates from student cohorts.

Gathering complete documents alone no longer guarantees approval as in the past.

Insights from Population Data

1. More PR slots are available — now is a favourable window to apply.

2. PR approvals favour younger candidates; apply early if you qualify.

3. PR assessment criteria are evolving. Previous applicants should avoid relying on old experience, and update application preparation according to the latest requirements.

If you are preparing your PR application, reach out to us for personalised consultation.

About Skyline Business

Skyline Business is a registered Singapore agency specialising in migration services. Our services include document translation & notarisation, work pass applications, PR and Singapore citizenship submissions. We have extensive experience and a proven track record in PR and citizenship applications.

For enquiries, call +65 64388369 or add WeChat: skylineserene.

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