Singapore Global Investor Programme: Permanent Residence for Established Business Owners and Family Offices
You run a large business or a family office, and you want permanent residence in Singapore. The Global Investor Programme (GIP) grants Singapore permanent residence through three options: S$10 million in a business, S$25 million in a fund, or a family office with S$200 million in assets. The bar is high, and a business track record is part of it.
A high bar that most guides soften
The Global Investor Programme asks for a large company or a very large pool of assets before the investment even starts. Guides often quote only the S$10 million figure. The company and track record rules decide whether you can apply at all.
What it looks like from the outside:
- A company turnover test of S$200 million or S$500 million, by profile.
- A set of investments you make only after a first approval.
- A residency rule and a hiring plan that continue for years.
How it feels:
- You worry you quote the investment but miss the company test.
- You fear making the investment before you know you qualify.
- You feel unsure whom to trust when guides hide the bar.
You do not have to guess if you qualify
We know how hard it is to plan an investment of this size when the first test is your company. You want someone who has read the rule on the official page, tells you honestly when a route does not fit, and stays with you until the file is filed.
What we have done:
- 35+ years in immigration and investment migration
- 25,000+ families guided since 1991
- 3rd Generation in the immigration industry
- 2026 Canadian Choice Award winner
What we believe:
- Honesty first: we tell you when a route does not fit, before you move money.
- Checked rules: every figure on this page is read from an official source and dated.
- Your plan, not a template: the right route depends on your goals, your family and your funds.
We believe you should know whether you qualify before you move any money.
What you get
| Feature | Benefit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent residence status | You are not on a temporary pass | Your family has a long-term base in Singapore |
| Three investment options | A business, a fund or a family office | You choose by how you hold your wealth |
| A staged process | You invest only after an Approval-in-Principle | You know the order before you start |
| A published fee | EDB lists the application fee | No surprise at the counter |
| Rules written in an official factsheet | You can check each condition | You decide on facts |
Where it takes you: Singapore permanent residence, with a re-entry permit that is valid for 5 years. This is residence, not citizenship.
Is it right for you?
An honest answer before you move funds.
| A good fit if | Consider another route if |
|---|---|
| You run a company with at least S$200 million in annual turnover, or your family owns a company with at least S$500 million | Your company is below the turnover tests |
| You are a founder of a fast-growth company valued at S$500 million or more, backed by reputable investors | You want a quick route: the programme takes about 12 months from a complete file |
| You manage a family office with at least S$200 million in net investible assets | You cannot keep an investment in place after approval |
| You can keep a presence in Singapore: at least 50% residency by you or all your dependants | Your funds cannot be documented |
Not sure Singapore is the best fit? Compare all South East Asia routes, or use Find my program and we match your goals to the right one.
What you need
You need to meet one of four applicant profiles, choose one of three investment options and pass due diligence. The Economic Development Board (EDB) interviews you before it recommends the file.
The four profiles in the EDB factsheet:
- Established business owners: at least 3 years of track record, a company with annual turnover of at least S$200 million (also on average over three years), and at least 30% shareholding if the company is private.
- Next generation business owners: your immediate family holds at least 30% of a company with annual turnover of at least S$500 million, and you are part of its management.
- Founders of fast-growth companies: a founder and one of the largest individual shareholders of a non-listed company valued at S$500 million or more, with reputable venture capital or private equity investors.
- Family office principals: at least 5 years of track record and net investible assets of at least S$200 million.
The company must work in an industry on the factsheet's industry list.
The routes and rules
The factsheet sets three investment options. The amounts are those in the EDB factsheet dated 5 May 2025.
| Option | Investment | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| A: business | At least S$10 million in a new business or the expansion of an existing one in Singapore | At least 30% shareholding, a management role, and a 5-year business plan |
| B: fund | S$25 million in a GIP-select fund that invests in Singapore-based companies | The fund is on the EDB shortlist |
| C: family office | A Singapore single family office with at least S$200 million in assets, and at least S$50 million deployed in specified investments | A 5-year plan; offshore assets count if at least S$50 million is held in Singapore |
By the fifth year of your residence. Option A asks for at least 30 employees (at least half Singapore citizens, 10 of them additional). Option B asks you to keep S$25 million in the fund. Option C asks for at least 5 additional family office professionals (at least 3 Singapore citizens) and S$50 million kept deployed.
Who can be included. The family members you list in the application. Your local partner checks each person's documents before you file.
What it costs, and what waiting costs
The investment is the larger cost, and the fees sit on top. Set both against the cost of a wrong start: an investment made before you know you qualify.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee, paid to EDB with the forms | S$20,000 |
| Entry permit processing fee (Form 4), per applicant | S$100 |
Source: EDB Global Investor Programme page and overview sheet. Legal, tax and professional fees are on top.
Your path in three steps
Three steps from your first answers to your residence.
- Step 1: Find your route. Use Find my program. You get a shortlist and a cost view in a few minutes.
- Step 2: We do the heavy lifting. We qualify your case and check your company, assets and documents against the factsheet. When your case is qualified, we bring in the right local partner in Singapore to help you prepare and file with EDB.
- Step 3: Your residence in hand. After the interview and an Approval-in-Principle, you make the investment, EDB checks it, and you formalise permanent residence within 12 months.
EDB says a complete application takes about 12 months, and due diligence checks apply.
Status: what changed and when
Reviewed 22 October 2026. Sources: EDB GIP page, EDB factsheet and overview sheet.
| What | Status |
|---|---|
| Factsheet | Updated 5 May 2025; the EDB page was last updated 22 October 2026 |
| Option C | S$50 million deployed in specified investments, shown on the overview sheet as equities listed on Singapore approved exchanges |
| Process | Interview, Approval-in-Principle valid 6 months, investment within 6 months, final approval, residence formalised within 12 months |
What could change: the profiles, amounts and conditions. What we do about it: we re-read the official pages before each update and show the date.
After you have the residence
You keep permanent residence by meeting the programme's conditions and renewing your re-entry permit. The re-entry permit is valid for 5 years, and EDB assesses renewal criteria by the fifth year.
- Residency: at least 50% residency in Singapore by you or all your dependants listed in the application.
- Investment: keep the investment in place as your option requires.
- Hiring: meet the employment targets of Option A or Option C by the fifth year.
Two possible futures
A year from now, you may still be comparing guides while the rules shift. You hold a brochure, a number from one adviser that contradicts another, and no date on any of it.
Or your family has a residence in Singapore, your route is one that exists, and your file went in clean. You feel relieved, and you chose on facts you could check.
The cost of staying put: routes and rules change, and each change can add cost or close a door.
Your ultimate success:
- Relieved: your family has a base in South East Asia
- Confident: you chose a route that exists today
- Protected: the people you worry about are covered
- In control: you decided on your terms, with the facts
Which route fits your family?
Answer eight short questions and the finder ranks all 17 residence programmes against your goals, funds and family. You see your shortlist and the cost for your family first, and a form only if you want it emailed with a fact sheet.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
35+ years of hands-on immigration experience and 25,000+ successful cases. 3rd generation in the immigration industry. We bring in qualified local partners in each country, so you deal with one accountable team from first question to filing.
One point of contact
We qualify your case first, then bring in the right local partner. You deal with us throughout.
A strategy built for your family
We match routes to your goals, funds and family, not a template.
Application accuracy
Document and source-of-funds review that prevents costly errors and refusals.
Timely updates
We track rule, fee and regulator changes across every program for you.
End-to-end support
From your first question to your permit in hand, we guide every step.
Proven track record
2026 Canadian Choice Award winner, trusted since 1991.
What our clients say
Real reviews from clients we have guided across borders.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Singapore Global Investor Programme really cost?
You invest S$10 million in a business, S$25 million in a fund, or run a family office with S$200 million in assets and S$50 million deployed. EDB charges S$20,000 with the application forms, and ICA charges S$100 per applicant for the entry permit form. Legal and professional fees are on top.
How long does it take?
EDB says about 12 months from a complete submission, and your application also goes through due diligence checks.
Will my application be approved?
No route promises approval, and we make no approval claims. The factsheet itself says the programme does not guarantee approval. We tell you before you pay if your case does not fit.
What is the Singapore Global Investor Programme?
The Global Investor Programme (GIP) grants Singapore permanent residence to eligible business owners, founders and family office principals who make a qualifying investment. The Economic Development Board runs it through Contact Singapore.
Who can apply?
Established business owners, next generation business owners, founders of fast-growth companies, and family office principals, each with its own company or asset test.
What is the smallest investment?
S$10 million in a new or expanded Singapore business under Option A. The company and track record tests apply on top.
Can I invest in a fund?
Yes. Option B asks for S$25 million in a GIP-select fund that EDB shortlists.
Do I have to live in Singapore?
You need at least 50% residency in Singapore by you or all your dependants listed in your application, for the renewal of your status.
Can my family be included?
Yes, the family members you list in the application. Your local partner checks each person’s documents before you file.
What if the programme changes?
The EDB page lists no deadline, and the factsheet disclaimer says availability is not guaranteed. The status box shows the date we last read each document.
Do you recommend funds or companies?
No. We do not recommend or sell funds or businesses and we do not quote returns. We explain what EDB requires and bring in a local partner when your case is qualified.
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Last reviewed: 22 October 2026 · Last updated: 22 October 2026
