Mr Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Defence (a) for each year since 2018, what is the percentage of Exit Permit (EP) applicants who receive instant approvals; (b) whether the Ministry has ceased to instantly approve EP applications and, if so, why; (c) what is the median time taken to approve an EP if it is not instantly approved; and (d) what can applicants do to accelerate the approval process if their EP is not instantly approved.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: Exit Permits (EPs) are required to maintain the SAF and Home Team's operational readiness at all times. Pre-enlistees and full-time national servicemen (NSFs) who are disrupted from full-time National Service (NS) must apply for an EP if they intend to remain overseas for a period of three months or longer. NSmen need only apply for an EP if remaining overseas for 12 months or longer.

About 85% of the EPs issued between 2018-2023 were processed and issued on the same day. Of the remaining 15% of applications, the median time taken for approval is around seven days. A longer time is taken when applicants are required to provide additional documentation, resolve outstanding NS-related offences, or are scheduled for upcoming NS activities. Applicants can accelerate the process by providing additional documents promptly and resolving any outstanding NS-related offences.