Can a PR (Permanent Resident) buy HDB property in Singapore? This is a question we hear ever so often.
Now, Singapore is widely regarded as one of the best places to live. One of the most sought-after immigration statuses is that of a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR). This status allows foreigners to live and work in the country while also providing opportunities to purchase property.
As per law, SPRs can only buy HDB resale flats, provided they meet certain eligibility criteria. Let’s understand the laws governing this below.
Table of Contents
- Buying under the Public Scheme
- Key eligibility criteria for SPRs purchasing resale HDB flats
- Buying resale HDB flats under the Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme
- Important considerations for SPRs
- How does the EIP quota work?
- How does the SPR quota work?
- What grants are available to Singapore PRs buying HDB resale flats?
Buying under the Public Scheme
Under HDB’s Public Scheme, an SPR can purchase HDB resale flats only as part of a family nucleus (i.e. a household) with at least one other applicant. The other applicant(s) must be the SPR’s spouse and children, parents and sibling, or children under their legal custody (for widowed or divorced applicants).
In other words, single SPRs are ineligible to buy a resale HDB flat.
Key eligibility criteria for SPRs purchasing resale HDB flats
- Applicant must be 21 years old or above.
- The SPR applicant must apply for purchase along with either a Singapore Citizen (SC) or another SPR. Although marriage to a SC is not mandatory (read fiancé/fiancée scheme below), the applicant must have a co-buyer who meets the citizenship or residency requirements.
- The applicant must have held PR status for at least three years (both for the SPR and their spouse, if applicable).
- The applicant must form a family nucleus with parents, spouse and children, or, in the case of divorce or widowhood, at least one child must be in the applicant’s custody.
- If the applicant is from an SPR household with no SC co-buyer, all listed occupiers in the household (including the applicant and any co-buyer) must hold SPR status for at least 3 years.
- The applicant must meet the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) and SPR quota for their block/neighbourhood of choice when submitting resale application.
- Upon purchase of the HDB resale flat, the SPR applicant cannot again sell the resale flat or rent out the entire unit for five years until the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) is complete.
- The applicant cannot own any other property (HDB or private) in Singapore or overseas. If the applicant already owns an HDB flat, they must dispose of it within six months of buying an HDB resale flat. If it is private property (Singapore or overseas), they must have sold it 15 months beforehand (as per the latest September 2022 cooling measures). However, if the applicant is of or above 55 years of age, they can purchase a 4-room HDB resale (or a smaller unit) without the 15-month wait.
- Households with at least one SC owner can retain the flat when they buy a private property after the MOP. On the other hand, if the flat owners are all SPRs (no SC in the household), they’ll need to sell the flat within six months of buying a private property.
Resale HDB flats under the Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme
For SPRs who are not yet married but wish to purchase an HDB resale flat with their fiancé or fiancée, the HDB Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme may be an option. In this case, the eligibility requirements are:
- One of the applicants must be a Singapore citizen or SPR.
- The SPR applicant must have held SPR status for at least three years before applying.
- The couple must get married within three months of the completion of the property purchase.
Bear in mind that you’ll have to register your marriage at the Registry of Civil Marriages or Registry of Muslim Marriages within three months of the resale completion date. If you wish to register your marriage overseas, you’ll have to submit a photocopy of your marriage certificate, also within three months of the resale completion date.
Also note that if your partner is between the age of 18 and 21, written parental consent needs to be obtained and presented to HDB.
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Important considerations for SPRs
Aside from the basic eligibility criteria, there are other important considerations that SPRs should keep in mind when purchasing property:
- Minimum Occupation Period (MOP): All SPRs purchasing public housing must adhere to an MOP of five years. This means they cannot sell or rent out the property during this period. Once the MOP is fulfilled, the property may be sold, but only under specific conditions.
- Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP): The EIP aims to promote racial integration within HDB estates. SPRs are required to ensure that their purchase complies with the EIP, which ensures that there is a balance of ethnic groups within each HDB precinct.
- SPR Quota: Another consideration is the SPR quota, which limits the number of SPR families who can live in each HDB block or precinct. For non-Malaysian SPRs, this quota is stricter, as they cannot exceed 5% of the overall population in the area, and within a block, the percentage of non-Malaysian PRs must not exceed 8%.
How does the EIP quota work?
The HDB states that the role of the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) is to “preserve Singapore’s multi-cultural identity and promote racial integration and harmony”. Essentially, the EIP quota helps ensure there is a balanced mix of ethnic communities in HDB towns.
In order to fulfil the EIP quota, the applicant has to:
- Be of the same ethnic group as the seller, or
- Ensure the block/neighbourhood’s EIP quota is available for their ethnic group (i.e. not filled up)
EIP quotas set at ethnic proportions of the block/neighbourhood are based on the ethnic make-up of Singapore. The HDB updates these numbers on the first of every month. Please check the EIP quota of a specific block/neighbourhood via the HDB’s portal before applying.
How does the SPR quota work?
While all Singapore Permanent Resident resale flat applicants must fulfil the EIP quota, the SPR quota only applies to non-Malaysian SPRs. If you’re a Malaysian SPR, you can skip this section.
The SPR quota ensures that SPR families can better integrate into the local community.
According to the quota, non-Malaysian SPR households should make up no more than 5% of households within a neighbourhood, and 8% of households within a block.
The HDB updates the SPR quota on the first of every month. You can check if you fulfil the quota by using the same HDB portal.
What grants are available to Singapore PRs buying HDB resale flats?
SPR buyers may qualify for grants if they are applying with a Singapore citizen. These are the grants that they may be eligible for:
Family Grant
SC/SPR households who are first-timer applicants are eligible for the Family Grant if they meet the income ceiling of S$14,000 (or S$21,000 if they’re buying with the extended family).
Applicants can also get up to S$40,000 if they’re buying a 2-room, 3-room or 4-room resale flat, or S$30,000 if they’re buying a 5-room or bigger resale flat.
Enhanced Housing Grant
SPR buyers may also be eligible for the Enhanced Housing Grant (EHG) if their household income doesn’t exceed S$9,000.
Proximity Housing Grant
SPR applicants living with or near their parents, can qualify for the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG). Applicants can get up to S$30,000 if they live with parents, or S$20,000 if they live within 4km of their parents’ house.
You can read more about the CPF Housing Grants for resale flats here.
What’s your experience as a PR like buying an HDB flat? Let us know in the comments section below or on our Facebook post.
[Additional reporting by Virginia Tanggono]
Frequently Asked Questions
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If my daughter gets SPR and subsequently applies for the parents (Malaysians) to become SPR and they too become SPR, can 2 SPRs buy a sub Sale HDB flat? However, only the daughter has worked in Singapore for more than 3 years. Does the parents have to sell off their only property in Malaysia purchased 10 years ago to enable them to buy HDB property from the secondary market?
How about main applicant is SPR for around 10years and spouse got SPR recently but not more than 3years. Can they buy HDB resale flat.
Hi, I just get my PR but my Singaporean husband just passed away 3 weeks ago. Can I buy bto with nucleus form of my two Singaporean sons?
Hi I am a PR since 1995. My hudsband just got Longterm visit visa recently. Can I buy a resale HDB?
This is an interesting site.
Can a senior SPR buys a resale HDB with her married over 55 years old Singaporean daughter (who owns private property oversea)? It will be paid fully with CPF funds.
Thanks.
Very useful article for those foreigners who are committed to Singapore for the long-term, but feels fair to already SG citizens looking for a home (I hope so anyway). Can you clarify what the rules are on buying private flats (i.e. not HDB)?
Can PR siblings form a family nucleus and buy a hdb?
No, you’ll need to form a family nucleus with your parents to buy an HDB. At least one of your parents has to be a Singapore Citizen or PR. You can read more about it here https://www.hdb.gov.sg/residential/buying-a-flat/resale/eligibility