Indians in Singapore - Definitions

Definitions

The Singapore Department of Statistics defines 'Indians' as a 'race' (or 'ethnic group'), comprising "persons of Indian, such as Tamils, Telugus, Malayalees, Punjabis, Bengalis, etc." The term 'Indian' therefore refers to people from the Republic of India.

In Singapore, a person’s race is deemed to be the same as their father. As Indians have adopted or married people of other races, the official race of their children can fail to reflect their actual culture, ethnic identity and/or 'racial' makeup. Examples can be found among Chindians, Eurasians and Jawi Peranakans, and among Chinese girls adopted by Indian families. For instance, while a man with an Indian father and Chinese mother is officially ‘Indian’, the person himself, and others around him, might consider him Chindian or mixed race instead.

Indians 'in Singapore' may be further defined in terms of nationality and residency status. Most ethnic Indians are Singapore citizens, known as ‘Indian Singaporeans’, or ‘local Indians’. They are usually the locally-born second, third, fourth and even fifth generation descendants of immigrants from South Asia. In addition, there are many ethnic Indian immigrant workers in Singapore. They are referred to by their nationality, e.g. ‘Bangladeshis’, ‘Sri Lankans’ or ‘Malaysian Indians’. Citizens of the Republic of India are called ‘Indian nationals’, or even ‘Indian Indians’. Foreign Indians may be distinguished in terms of residency status.

Well educated professionals or entrepreneurs with a high earning capacity are granted renewable Employment Passes. These entitle the holder’s spouse, children and parents to Dependants Passes. Students may enter on Students Passes. Pass holders may apply for Permanent Residence, which lets them live in Singapore on a long term-basis. As part of Singaporean nationality law, they are also eligible to apply for Singapore Citizenship. In contrast, unskilled foreign workers enter Singapore with Work Permits. They are rarely allowed to stay in Singapore for more than two years and are never allowed to bring dependants with them. Nor are they eligible to apply for either Permanent Residence or Citizenship.

Demographic statistics are generally restricted to 'Singapore residents', defined as both Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents. Many of the statistics about Indians in Singapore in this article are restricted to this group. Scholars have noted "(o)fficial figures for workers on temporary contracts are difficult to obtain because the Ministry of Manpower in Singapore considers the information sensitive." Consequently, there is limited information about short-term or 'non-resident' Indians in Singapore. Note that use of the term 'non-resident' Indian should not be confused with the concept of the Non Resident Indian or NRI, which the government of the Republic of India uses to describe its citizens living abroad. In Singapore, an NRI may be statistically non-resident (in the case of work permit or pass holders) or he/she may be considered a Singapore resident (in the case of permanent residents).