Singapore Global Investor Programme

Summary

The Global Investor Programme (GIP) is Singapore's direct route to Permanent Residence (PR) for high-net-worth investors and entrepreneurs. It's administered by Contact Singapore, a division of the Economic Development Board (EDB) and Enterprise Singapore. The EDB is Singapore's government agency for investment and economic development, while Enterprise Singapore supports business growth and international trade. Unlike the Employment Pass or EntrePass, GIP grants PR — not a work pass — on approval, along with PR for your spouse and children under 21.

The GIP is expensive and heavily gated. There are three investment options, and which one applies depends on the applicant's profile. The baseline options start at SGD 10 million (for business owners with a sizeable operating company) and scale up to SGD 200 million in assets under management (AUM) for single-family office applicants. Beyond the capital requirement, the EDB evaluates the quality of the applicant's entrepreneurial, investment, or leadership track record — GIP rejects applicants whose business history doesn't meet the EDB's standards, regardless of net worth.

Eligibility

You may qualify for GIP if you are a successful business owner, next-generation entrepreneur, founder of a fast-growth company, or family office principal, and you commit to one of the three investment options.

Who the EDB considers

• Established business owner — 3+ years owning a company, with the company reporting revenue of at least SGD 200 million in the most recent year and SGD 200 million annual average over the past three years. You must have at least 30% shareholding if the company is private.
• Next-generation entrepreneur — Your immediate family owns a qualifying company (per the criteria above), and you are set to take over or already hold a senior position.
• Founder of a fast-growth company — You founded a company on Singapore's Forbes Fast-Growth lists or equivalent, valued at $500 million+, with a reputable VC as investor.
• Family office principal — Net investible assets of at least SGD 200 million with a track record of running a family office.

The three investment options

• Option A — Invest SGD 10 million in a new or existing Singapore business. The business must be in a GIP-approved industry, and the investment must result in a business operation and hiring in Singapore.
• Option B — Invest SGD 25 million in a GIP-approved fund that invests in Singapore-based companies. Fund selection is tightly constrained to a list maintained by Enterprise Singapore.
• Option C — Establish a Singapore-based single-family office with at least SGD 200 million AUM, of which at least SGD 50 million must be deployed in Singapore (in qualifying local investments — SGX equities, Singapore-dollar bonds, Singapore PE/VC funds, or real estate).

Ongoing commitments

Beyond the initial investment, GIP PR holders must meet renewal criteria for the Re-Entry Permit (REP) after 5 years. The REP is the document that lets a Singapore permanent resident leave and re-enter Singapore without losing PR. Renewal criteria include minimum physical presence, business activity in Singapore, and continued investment.

Family inclusion

GIP grants PR to the principal applicant, spouse, and unmarried children under 21 in the primary application. Parents of the principal or spouse can be sponsored under a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP), a long-stay family visitor status, but not PR.

National Service for male dependants

Male dependants aged 16.5 and above who obtain PR under GIP become liable for National Service just like any other PR. Families with teenage sons frequently factor this into the timing and structure of their applications.

GIP vs. other routes

GIP is one of the most expensive investor-residence programs in Asia — on par with or higher than the top-tier EU investor programs. For investors who don't need PR upfront, the ONE Pass (for top talent earning SGD 30,000+/month) can be a lighter work-pass route with a later path to PR.

Duration, Renewal, and Long-Term Path

• Duration: Permanent residence after GIP approval.
• Renewal: Re-entry permit renewal depends on meeting the programme milestones.

What This Route Allows

This route can allow you to live in Singapore through the qualifying investment, business, or self-employment basis described above. The proof package should be concrete before filing: accepted investment or business activity, lawful source-of-funds records, corporate, property, or bank documents where relevant, background checks, and the government forms for this pathway.

What This Route Is Not

This is not a guaranteed approval just because money is available. Investment routes usually require due diligence, source-of-funds proof, and careful review of the exact investment rules.

Next Steps

1. Verify profile fit first. GIP applicants are pre-screened heavily on their business track record. Before investing significant legal and advisory fees, engage with EDB's Contact Singapore team to confirm your profile is eligible.
2. Choose the investment option. Option A (operating business) is most common for active business builders; Option B (approved fund) for passive investors; Option C (family office) for principals with nine-figure liquid wealth.
3. Engage EDB-approved immigration counsel. GIP applications typically run through a short list of specialist law and advisory firms that work with Contact Singapore.
4. Prepare the application dossier. Comprehensive business records (5 years), audited financials, source-of-funds documentation, personal net worth statements, and investment plan.
5. Submit via Contact Singapore. Be ready for extensive follow-up on business history, source of funds, and the proposed Singapore investment.
6. On approval-in-principle, execute the investment. You have 6 months to complete the qualifying investment and receive PR.
7. Track REP renewal at year 5. Re-Entry Permit renewal depends on meeting commitments — physical presence, business activity, and investment continuity. A weak renewal case can result in losing PR.
8. Evaluate citizenship after 2+ years of PR. Singapore citizenship is discretionary and requires renouncing all other nationalities.

Sources

• Contact Singapore — Global Investor Programme
• Enterprise Singapore — GIP Approved Funds
• Economic Development Board (EDB)
• ICA — Permanent Residence
• Monetary Authority of Singapore — Family Offices