REP and the rules effective from 1 December 2025
A valid REP is the travel permission associated with retaining PR while overseas. ICA publishes revised loss-of-status rules from 1 December 2025. The two trigger scenarios below have different starting dates. An application inside the 180-day period is not a guarantee of renewal.
| Scenario | 180-day period starts | Loss-of-status conditions described by ICA |
|---|---|---|
| Departure without valid REP | Departure date | No application within 180 days, or an in-time application is rejected, including after returning to Singapore. |
| REP expires while overseas | REP expiry date | No application within 180 days, or an in-time application is rejected, including after returning to Singapore. |
Eligibility and renewal window
Applicants must be PRs with a valid travel document having at least three months’ validity. Online renewal is within the three months before expiry; documents are supplied if ICA requests them. A person overseas without Singpass can use the nearest Singapore overseas mission, submitting at least two months before expiry.
Fees, payment and processing
An approved REP costs S$10 for each year or part-year, charged separately for each permit. Its validity begins on issuance after successful payment, rather than extending the old permit. Online applicants have 14 days after approval to pay or the application is withdrawn. ICA indicates one week, excluding submission day, with longer cases possible.
Official ICA source
Written independently from ICA’s English original. The linked source supplies the complete document and subsequent updates.