National Service Obligation

Under the Enlistment Act 1970, all male Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents, unless exempted, are required to serve National Service (NS). Following the completion of full-time NS, they will become Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen). An NSman’s obligation will end at the age of 50 years (for Officers) or 40 years (for other ranks). All male applicants are required to access www.cmpb.gov.sg for information on NS before proceeding with this application.

All male applicants who are granted Singapore Citizenship (SC) or Singapore Permanent Residence (PR) status as a foreign student or under their parents’ sponsorship are liable for NS. They are required to register for NS upon reaching 16 and a half years old, and will be scheduled for enlistment into full-time NS at the earliest opportunity upon reaching 18 years old. MINDEF allows students to attain educational qualifications up to the ‘A’ Levels certificate, the polytechnic diploma, or an equivalent pre-tertiary qualification before they are required to serve NS. They are enlisted at the earliest opportunity when they have finished pre-tertiary education, or after turning 18, whichever is later. MINDEF does not grant deferment for university studies, regardless of whether such studies have begun. Those who are granted SC or PR in the midst of their university studies will have to disrupt these studies to enlist if they are unable to complete their studies before their enlistment date.

Male Singapore citizens who wish to renounce SC may have their renunciation applications withheld by Government if they have not discharged their NS liabilities.

Any person who defaults on his NS obligations by committing an offence under the Enlistment Act 1970 shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both.

Renouncing or losing one's SC or PR status without serving or completing full-time NS will have a serious adverse impact on applications to work or study in Singapore, or for any long-term immigration facilities in Singapore, whether now or in the future. Renouncing or losing one’s SC or PR status without serving or completing full-time NS will also adversely affect your family members’ applications for long-term immigration facilities, their ability to sponsor such facilities, the renewal of their Re-Entry Permits, or their applications for Singapore citizenship or permanent residence.

For further enquiries, please contact the Central Manpower Base at 1800-3676767 (local) or 65-65676767 (overseas) or email contact@ns.gov.sg