Data on Non-residents Residing in Singapore for More than Five Years and those Who Have Unsuccessfully Applied for Resident Status

As of December 2025, there were about 390,000 non-residents who have been in Singapore on their current work passes or long-term immigration facilities for more than five consecutive years. The majority of them are work permit holders and migrant domestic workers. A large majority of them are unlikely to qualify for Permanent Residency status in Singapore. We do not track the number of them who have unsuccessfully applied for Permanent Residence.

On (c), the general approach taken is that these non-residents are in Singapore because their employers need them, and in other cases, they are allowed to stay in Singapore for the economy, for family or other similar reasons. Most of them, as stated, will not qualify for Permanent Residency. Work permit holders, for example, are generally restricted from setting up roots in Singapore.

This context has to be understood. Nevertheless, there will be some who may be keen to engage with our community. They can learn about Singapore's shared values, history and culture through visits to our museums and heritage sites. Second, they can – in so far as they are able to, and to the extent that they are not restricted by the conditions of their passes – build ties with locals by participating in community grassroots programmes, such as neighbourhood trails, cultural festivals, local sports and arts events. Third, they can also contribute through volunteering opportunities.

The Government has to decide how to focus its limited resources – in assessing how much it should do, in the context of integrating such non-residents. The Government regularly engages locals and non-residents to understand their sentiments including on this issue.