Over 700 apply for scheme helping transnational couples assess long-term pass eligibility

SINGAPORE — Over 700 transnational couples made use of a new scheme allowing them to assess if the non-Singaporean spouse-to-be would qualify for long-term stay in the Republic before marriage, within a month of the scheme’s launch.

The Pre-Marriage Long-Term Visit Pass Assessment (PMLA), implemented in January, was announced last year as one of several measures aimed at helping transnational couples here better plan for their future. Those found eligible will be issued a letter of eligibility which can be used to apply for a Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) after marriage.

The assessment allows the non-Singaporean intended spouse to speed up the process of obtaining a LTVP, and the full disclosure by both parties in the joint application will provide them with more information about each other before marriage.

In an update on the scheme during the Committee of Supply debate for the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) today (March 10), Minister in the PMO Grace Fu said 726 applications were received in the first month of the PMLA’s implementation. Also, 93 couples have attended either the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s Marriage Preparation Programme or Marriage Support Programme.

Ms Fu said the number of foreign spouses who have taken up permanent residency in Singapore, and later citizenship, under the Family Ties scheme has grown over the past 11 years from about 39,200 to 78,900 by the end of last year.

She added that the Government will continue to closely monitor the impact of the new measures.