Singaporean Nationality Law - History of Singaporean Citizenship

History of Singaporean Citizenship

Singaporean citizenship was first granted in 1959 when Singapore was a self-governing colony of the United Kingdom. At that time, Singapore had already been granted full internal self-government. Singapore Citizenship Ordinance 1957 provided Singaporean citizenship to all residents who were born in Singapore or the Federation of Malaya, British citizens who had been resident for two years, and others who had been resident for ten years. Singaporeans were still considered British subjects at that time, and their passports had the unusual nationality status of "British subject: citizen of the State of Singapore" instead of the usual "British subject: citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies".

All Singaporean citizens became Malaysian citizens on 16 September 1963 upon Singapore's merger with the Federation of Malaysia on that date. Malaysian citizenship was governed by Malaysian nationality law.

Upon Singapore's secession from the Federation of Malaysia on 9 August 1965, a new Constitution came into effect. With regard to Singaporean citizenship, it repealed the 1957 Ordinance and granted Singaporean citizenship to all persons who were citizens as of 16 September 1963 by virtue of the Ordinance.

The Constitution was amended in 2004 to allow female citizens and citizens by descent to transmit their citizenship to children born overseas. For this to occur, citizens by descent must satisfy certain residency requirements.