Singapore’s Immigration Situation

Singapore is a small nation with diverse culture. The history of Singapore is closely connected with migration. Most of the city’s population growth is due to immigration which started from the British colonization up to the settlement of large numbers of people from China, India and the Malay Archipelago seeking for greener pastures. It was during the Japanese occupation and the first few years of their independence that Singapore imposed strict laws about immigration and citizenship.

When Singapore experienced industrialization, the issue of migration was brought to the attention of the government. The government is now lenient about immigration. This paved way to large wave of immigration in Singapore up to this date. To give you an idea of the immigration situation in Singapore, you should first know about the two categories of immigrants depending on the permanency of stay. Here’s an idea:

• Citizens – Citizens mean they are born in Singapore. The category also includes people who are naturalized.
• Residents – Residents refer to Permanent Residents and Non Residents. Permanent Residents are given the right to permanently reside in Singapore and are permitted own a government housing or join military service. Permanent Residents are entitled to other rights but not the right to vote. Non Residents are comprised of students and other workers.

There is an increase of permanent residents and international students in Singapore for the past few years. Immigration occurs because of opportunities. For example, Singaporeans are hesitant to take low-skilled jobs so foreign workers often fill the positions. Singapore is facing a challenge because of the influx of immigrants. The government is doing its best to maintain and harmonize within.