Marrying and Sponsoring a Singaporean Citizen
Listen to this articleMarriage to a Singaporean Citizen
Every country has its own laws that apply to its citizens marrying a person from a different country. Getting married to a Singaporean citizen with the goal of eventually bringing them to Canada to live is a process with many steps.
If you want to bring your Singaporean spouse or partner to live in Canada, you must then file a sponsorship application for them to become a permanent resident. If they would like to visit you in Canada while their application is in process, they must also apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization. For more information, please see our family sponsorship page and our eTA article.
Processing Time
If you file a Canadian sponsorship application for your Singaporean spouse or partner, this application takes an average of 10-12 months.
An eTA application for your spouse or partner to visit you in Canada while the sponsorship applications are processing is granted instantaneously if approved.
Please see our pages on family sponsorship and the eTA for more information on the processing times of these applications.
Costs of the Process
Government Fees
To learn about the costs of the sponsorship process, click here.
Other Fees – Disbursement Fees
Because the only language recognized in Singapore is Malay, documents must all be translated into Malay to be included in an application. Documents are also sent to Singapore and Singaporean embassies by courier to ensure security, confidentiality, and confirmation of delivery. These costs are known as disbursement fees and are unique to each case; however the total is typically less than $500 Canadian dollars.
Singaporean Marriage Basic Requirements
Canadian citizens, who desire to marry in Singapore, must do so according to Singaporean law. Marriages in Singapore can be either civil or religious.
- In both instances a license has to be obtained from the Registrar of Marriages.
- Persons intending marriage, whether Singaporeans or foreigners are required to produce passports and evidence of the termination of any previous marriages, if any, i.e. divorce decrees or death certificates.
- A 15-day continuous residence in Singapore is required of one of the parties to the proposed marriage.
- At the end of this period, either party must file a notice of intention to marry with the Registrar of Marriages.
- After the notice has been filed, there is a 21-day waiting period while the banns are published. The 15-day residency period can be waived, and/or the 21-day waiting period can be shortened for “good cause.” Parties to the proposed marriage need not be present in Singapore during the 21-day waiting period while the banns are published.
- Anyone under 18 years of age is required to obtain a license from the Ministry of Community Development, before the marriage can take place. The couple has to apply for this license through the Registry of Marriage, Canning Rise, Singapore 0617.
- If either party is between 18 and 21 years (i.e., a minor), a written consent of the parents or guardians has to be finalized personally at the Registry of Marriages, witnessed by two adults, or a Court Order permitting their marriage has to be obtained.
- The marriage license is valid for 90 days.
- The fee is Singapore dollars 24.00 (approximately $12.00 in U.S. funds.)
- A blood test is not required.
Detailed information can be obtained from the receptionist at the Registry of Marriages, Canning Rise, Singapore 0617. Telephone: (65) 33-5339.
Family Members
If your Singaporean spouse has dependent children, this does not affect the Singaporean Marriage document application.
If you have dependent children, they have no effect on the application to marry a Singaporean citizen.
List of Singaporean Consulates in Canada
Calling Singapore from Canada
011 – 65 – Prefix – local number, where
- 011 is the exit code for Canada
- 65 is the country code
- 6 is the landline prefix
- 8 or 9 is the cell phone prefix
- No area codes in Singapore
Calling Canada from Singapore
XXX – 1 – Area Code – local number, where
- xxx is the exit code
- 1 is the country code for Canada
Exit codes used in Singapore
- 001 – Singtel
- 008 – Starhub
- 002 – Mobile One
- 012 – Fax Plus
- 013 – Budget Call
- 018 – I Call
- 019 – V019
Select one of the above exit codes for Singapore, which are needed for making any international call from Singapore
Area Codes of Canada
| Province | Code | Province | Code |
| Alberta | 403 / 587 (southern Alberta)
587 / 780 (central and northern Alberta) |
Nunavut | 867 |
| BC | 236 / 250 / 778 (majority of BC)
236 / 604 / 778 (Metro Vancouver) |
Ontario | 226 / 519 (southwestern Ontario)
249 / 705 (northeastern Ontario) 289 / 365 / 905 (Greater Toronto Area) 343 / 613 (eastern Ontario) 416 / 647 (Toronto) 807 (northwestern Ontario) |
| Manitoba | 204 / 431 | PEI | 782 / 902 |
| New Brunswick | 506 | Quebec | 418 / 581 (eastern Quebec)
438 / 514 (Montreal) 450 / 579 (Greater Montreal) 819 / 873 (remainder of Quebec) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 709 | Saskatchewan | 306 / 639 |
| Northwest Territories | 867 | Yukon | 867 |
| Nova Scotia | 782 / 902 |
Time Difference
Singapore Standard Time is GMT+8. Singapore does not observe DST.
| Canadian Time Zone | # of Hours Singapore is Ahead | # of Hours during DST |
| Pacific (BC, Yukon) | 16 hours | 15 hours |
| Mountain (Alberta, western Nunavut, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan) | 15 hours | 14 hours |
| Saskatchewan | 14 hours | 14 hours |
| Central (Manitoba, Northwest Territories, central Nunavut, northwestern Ontario) | 14 hours | 13 hours |
| Eastern (most of Ontario, most of Quebec) | 13 hours | 12 hours |
| Atlantic (Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, eastern Quebec) | 12 hours | 11 hours |
| Newfoundland | 11.5 hours | 10.5 hours |
Emergency Information for Canadians in Singapore
High Commission of Canada in SingaporeOne George Street Postal Address: Telephone: 65 6854-5900 |
View Larger Map |
Emergency Numbers in Singapore
- 999 – Police
- 995 – Singapore Civil Defence Force/Emergency Ambulance
- 993 – MOH Special Ambulance Service (for suspected cases of H1N1 and SARS)
- 1777 – Non-Emergency Ambulance
Travel Alerts from the Government of Canada for Singapore
Sponsoring Your Singaporean Spouse to Canada
The sponsorship process is lengthy and can be complicated. To learn more about applying, click the button below:
