How much does it cost to apply for citizenship

The honest short answer

There are official fees to apply for and be granted citizenship, but the exact amounts are set by ICA and can change over time, so the reliable figure is whatever ICA currently publishes. Rather than quote a number that might be outdated, the honest answer is to check the current fees directly.

What can be said with confidence is the shape of the cost: typically a fee associated with the application, and a further fee when citizenship is granted and registered. For the precise amounts, ICA is the authoritative source.

Why we do not quote a specific figure

It would be easy to state a dollar amount, but fees can be revised, and an outdated figure is worse than none because it creates false certainty. Quoting a number you have seen somewhere online risks planning around a cost that is no longer accurate.

So this guide deliberately points you to the current official fees rather than repeating a figure. That is the responsible approach for something that is set by the authorities and can be updated, and it protects you from budgeting on stale information.

The typical fee structure

The cost of citizenship is usually structured in stages rather than a single payment. There is commonly a fee connected to the application itself, and a separate fee at the point citizenship is granted and you are registered as a citizen. Together these make up the core official cost.

Understanding it as staged helps you anticipate the cost at the right points. The application-stage fee comes earlier, and the grant-and-registration fee arises later if your application is successful and you proceed to become a citizen.

The application-stage fee

At the application stage there is typically a fee to submit or process the application. This is paid as part of applying, and it is a normal feature of formal citizenship processes rather than anything unusual.

Because this fee is set by ICA and can change, check the current amount when you are preparing to apply. Budget for it as part of the application rather than being surprised by it, and rely on the official figure rather than an estimate.

The grant and registration fee

If your application succeeds, there is usually a further fee at the point citizenship is granted and you are registered as a citizen. This is a separate stage from the application, and it arises only if you are approved and proceed to complete the process.

As with the application fee, the exact amount is set by ICA and can be updated, so confirm the current figure. Anticipating this later cost means the final stage of becoming a citizen does not catch you off guard financially.

Are fees refundable if unsuccessful?

A common and sensible question is whether the application fee is refunded if the application is unsuccessful. As a general rule, fees paid to process an application typically cover the processing itself, which happens regardless of the outcome, so they are often not refundable simply because an application is not approved.

Because refund policies are set by the authorities and can vary, confirm the specific position with ICA. The safe assumption when budgeting is that an application-stage fee pays for the assessment rather than guaranteeing a result.

Other costs to consider

Beyond the official fees, there can be incidental costs, such as obtaining or preparing supporting documents. These are usually modest compared with the significance of the decision, but they are worth factoring into your planning so the total picture is realistic.

None of these incidental costs is typically the main consideration, but together they round out the financial side of applying. Preparing your documents in good order can also help avoid delays, which is a practical benefit beyond the cost itself.

The bigger cost: renouncing another citizenship

The most significant cost of Singapore citizenship for many people is not financial at all. Because Singapore does not generally allow adults to hold dual citizenship, becoming a citizen usually means renouncing your existing nationality, which is a major, largely irreversible step.

This personal cost can far outweigh any fee. If keeping your current citizenship matters to you, it is the most important cost to weigh, and it deserves careful thought well before you reach the point of paying any grant-stage fee.

The earlier cost of the PR journey

It is also worth remembering that citizenship follows permanent residence, which has its own costs and its own long timeline. By the time you apply for citizenship, you will typically already have gone through the PR process and the years of qualifying that precede it.

So the true cost of becoming a citizen, seen broadly, includes the whole journey, not just the citizenship fees at the end. This context helps you view the citizenship-stage fees as one part of a much longer path.

At a glance

Use this as a map of the costs, and confirm the current fee amounts with ICA.

How to find the exact current cost

Going straight to ICA for the amounts is the only reliable way to know the current cost.

Budgeting sensibly

When budgeting, plan for the fees at the stages they arise: the application fee earlier, and the grant-and-registration fee later if you are approved. Treat the application fee as covering the assessment rather than guaranteeing a result, and include any incidental costs.

Most importantly, weigh the non-financial cost of renunciation alongside the fees. A sensible budget for citizenship is as much about understanding that decision as it is about the dollar amounts, which are, in the scheme of the journey, a relatively small part.

Common misconceptions

Clearing these up gives a realistic picture of what applying actually costs, financially and otherwise.

Beware paying for guarantees

Because money and citizenship are involved, be cautious of anyone charging a fee to guarantee approval, to speed up a discretionary decision, or to bypass the normal process. No one can genuinely promise a citizenship outcome, and the official fees go to the authorities, not to informal middlemen.

So distinguish the legitimate official fees, which are set by ICA and paid through the proper process, from unofficial charges dressed up as a shortcut. Paying more does not buy a better outcome, and any offer that suggests otherwise should be treated with real suspicion.

Confirm with ICA

For the exact current fees at every stage, the refund position, and any other costs, ICA is the authoritative source. Because fees can be updated over time, verify the amounts with ICA when you are preparing to apply rather than relying on older or second-hand figures.

Using ICA for the current amounts, and this guide for the structure of the costs, means you can budget accurately and understand the full cost, financial and personal, of becoming a citizen.

The bottom line

To sum up: there are official fees to apply for and be granted citizenship, typically a fee at the application stage and a further fee at the grant and registration stage, but the exact amounts are set by ICA and can change, so the reliable figure is whatever ICA currently publishes. Application fees are often not refundable simply because an application is unsuccessful.

So check ICA for the current amounts rather than trusting a second-hand number, budget for the fees at the right stages, and weigh the bigger, non-financial cost of renouncing another nationality. Seen broadly, the fees are a modest part of a much longer journey.

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