Exit Permit (EP) and bond for pre-enlistees

On this page

  • What you need to know

  • What you need to do

  • Overview of requirements

  • When it’s needed

  • How to apply for Exit Permit and bond

  • Validity of Exit Permit

  • Cancelling Exit Permit

  • Related articles

Last updated 30 April 2024

What you need to know

  • You must comply with the Exit Permit (EP) and bond requirements once you turn 13 years old.
  • An EP is required if you intend to stay outside of Singapore for more than 3 months.
  • In some situations, a bond is required to get an EP. The bond is a legal agreement that you will return to Singapore before the expiry of the EP. It is an offence if you do not do return to Singapore before the expiry of your EP and, you will also need to pay the amount indicated in your bond.
  • It is an offence if you remain outside of Singapore for 3 months or longer without a valid EP. You may be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to 3 years, or both.

What you need to do

  • Ensure you apply for an EP on the OneNS web portal if you will be overseas for 3 months or longer. No action is required if you’re overseas for less than 3 months.
  • You may need to furnish a bond.
  • Start your application process up to 3 months before your departure date, to cater sufficient time for processing.

Overview of requirements

When you turn 13 years old, you will receive a Notice on Exit Permit (EP) requirements at your mailing address registered with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Every male Singaporean and Permanent Resident (PR) above 13 years old must comply with EP and bond requirements.

Between 13 and 16.5 years old

Duration overseas

3 months to less than 2 years

What’s needed

Exit Permit

Between 13 and 16.5 years old

Duration overseas

2 years or longer

What’s needed

Exit Permit and bond

Above 16.5 years old

Duration overseas

3 months or longer

What’s needed

Exit Permit and bond

When it’s needed

Exit Permit

If you’re a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident (PR), you must apply for an Exit Permit (EP) if:

  • you are 13 years old or older, and
  • you will be overseas for 3 months or longer.

You do not need an EP if you are travelling overseas for less than 3 months. If you have enlisted or completed your full-time National Service (NS), the requirements for EP are different.

Exit Permit with bond

To get an EP, you will also need to provide a bond if:

  • you will be overseas for 2 years or longer, from 13 to 16.5 years old, or
  • you will be overseas for 3 months or longer, after you turn 16.5 years old.

You do not need a bond if you will be overseas for work attachments that are part of your academic curriculum or seafaring internships.

Bond amount

The bond amount will be based on an assessment of both parents’ income. The bond amount is either $75,000 or 50% of the combined annual gross income of both parents for the preceding year, whichever is higher. By default, the bond will be by Banker’s Guarantee.

If you are asked to provide a bond but you are not able to do so, the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) will evaluate your situation on a case-by-case basis, based on its merits, and advise you accordingly.

How to apply for Exit Permit and bond

You can use Singpass to apply for an Exit Permit (EP) on the OneNS web portal. If you’re below 15 years old and do not have a Singpass account, you may contact the NS Call Centre at 1800 367 6767 or contact@ns.gov.sg.

You should apply for an EP up to 3 months before your departure date, to cater sufficient time to process an application especially if a bond is required.

During the application, you will be asked to submit:

For those applying for deferment for overseas studies

  • Latest school letter, issued within the last 6 months, certifying the level and course of study, course commencement and completion dates.
  • If you do not have the latest school letter, you can provide other supporting documents that indicate the level and course of study, course commencement, and completion dates.

For those applying for overseas deferment for other purposes

  • Supporting documents relating to the overseas travel or stay purpose.

Information required if you need to provide a bond

Parents’ employment status and income tax assessment notices will be needed, such as:

  • Latest Income Tax Assessment Notice or income statements, showing total income earned for the preceding year in Singapore and overseas, for both parents or guardians, if applicable.
  • For those without Income Tax Assessment Notice, an employment letter which indicates the gross income of the preceding year.
  • Proof of parents’ or guardian’s overseas employment or registration of business.
  • Copy of parents’ or guardian’s identity documents.

Validity of Exit Permit

If your application for an Exit Permit (EP) is successful, you will be notified via email. In most cases, your EP will have a validity of up to 2 years or the duration of your travel, whichever is shorter.

You must make sure that you have been issued an EP before or within 3 months of leaving Singapore, and that you return to Singapore before it expires.

If you’re staying overseas for longer

You should renew your EP at least 2 months before its expiry. It is an offence to remain outside of Singapore after the EP expires. You may be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to 3 years, or both.

If you forget to renew your EP and it expires while you’re overseas, you should immediately apply for a new EP on the OneNS web portal. You will be contacted to resolve any outstanding issues after you have applied for a new EP. An EP can only be issued to you after all outstanding issues are resolved.

If the details of your overseas studies have changed

You should apply for a new EP if there’s a change in the following details:

  • Place of study
  • Course of study
  • Institution you’re studying at

Cancelling Exit Permit

You should cancel your Exit Permit within 3 months of its start date if you’re not leaving Singapore.

Visit the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) website for more information on Exit Permit and bond.

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