National Service Liabilities for Singapore Permanent Residents and Citizens

In response to public queries, MINDEF would like to clarify the National Service (NS) liabilities of Singapore permanent residents (PR) and citizens.

Under the Enlistment Act, all male Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PRs) are liable for National Service (NS). This has been the case since the Enlistment Act was enacted in 1970. Like all male Singapore citizens, PRs who are liable for NS will be enlisted after age 18. Failure to serve or complete NS would have an adverse impact on any immediate or future applications to work or study in Singapore, or for Singapore citizenship or PR status.

For male Singapore citizens, the acquisition of foreign citizenship or any claim of dual citizenship does not exempt them from their NS obligations. Like all other male Singapore citizens, they will be enlisted for NS after age 18. They would be in breach of the Enlistment Act and liable for prosecution if they fail to register or enlist for NS as required.

Colonel Desmond Tan
Director, Public Affairs
Ministry of Defence

MINDEF’s reply was published as “Male citizens and PRs must serve NS, reminds Mindef”, The Straits Times, 27 Apr 2011; as “NS liabilities for PRs, citizens”, TODAY, 27 Apr 2011, and as “男性公民和永久居民都须服役”, Zaobao, 27 Apr 2011