Persons who Missed Deadline to Re-register for New NRICs due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who missed the one-year NRIC re-registration deadline during the pandemic could receive a one-off extension for subsidised fees. Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam stated that for compulsory re-registrants born in or after 1962, the subsidised fee is still granted regardless of lateness, a situation involving 9% of such registrants from 2020 to 2021. For optional re-registrants born before 1962, a higher $60 fee applies after the one-year window, though the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority assesses subsidy appeals on a case-by-case basis. Data indicates that 72% of optional re-registrants did not re-register during the two-year period. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority continues to evaluate the reasons for late re-registration to determine fee eligibility and provide necessary assistance.
Transcript
58 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) upon the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic, how many Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents born before, in or after 1962 missed the one-year deadline to re-register for their new NRICs, thereby forfeiting the option to pay the subsidised fee of $10 or $50 respectively; and (b) whether a one-off extension of time may be provided to these persons having regard to the effect of the pandemic on them.
Mr K Shanmugam: It is compulsory for Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs) born in or after 1962 to re-register for a new National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) within one year upon turning ages 30 and 55. These compulsory re-registrants will receive a notification letter from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to remind them to re-register within a year. Re-registrants are eligible for a subsidised fee of $10 for SCs and $50 for PRs for the issuance of their new NRIC. NRIC holders who re-register beyond the one-year period will be asked for the reason for their late re-registration. However, the subsidised fee will still be extended to them. From January 2020 to December 2021, approximately 9% of compulsory re-registrants missed the one-year deadline to re-register for their new NRIC.
For SCs and PRs born before 1 January 1962, NRIC re-registration is optional. They will receive the notification letter from ICA to notify them that they have the option to re-register within one year at the subsidised fee of $10 for SCs and $50 for PRs. If they miss the one-year window, a higher re-registration fee of $60 will apply. ICA will assess appeals for the subsidised fee on a case-by-case basis. From January 2020 to December 2021, approximately 72% of optional re-registrants did not re-register for their new NRIC.