Applying for an Exit Permit

Guidelines

You are required to apply for an Exit Permit if you are travelling and remaining overseas for a duration of 12 months or more.

If the date of application for your Exit Permit is within 6 months of a scheduled training, you are required to obtain approval from your NS unit prior to applying for your Exit Permit on the NS Portal.

You must also provide MINDEF with your updated contact information via the 'Update my Profile' eService on NS Portal, including temporary changes to contact information during overseas travel, so that your unit can contact you if necessary. You may be subject to disciplinary action if you fail to do so.

Once the Exit Permit is approved, you must utilise it within 3 months from its effective date. Otherwise, you are required to cancel the Exit Permit within 7 days of the expiry of said 3 month period.

If an Exit Permit has been granted for a course of study, you shall not change your course or place of study without prior approval.

You are not required to apply for an Exit Permit for your overseas trips once you have been exempted from NS or reached your statutory age – whichever is earlier

While you are no longer required to apply for an Exit Permit if you are travelling for less than 12 months, you are still strongly encouraged to inform your unit of any travels lasting more than 6 months.

Failure to comply

Any person found guilty of remaining outside Singapore without a valid Exit Permit shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years, or both.

Failure to cancel an unused Exit Permit or seek approval for changes in your course or place of study is an offence. You shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year, or both.