Change in nationality while working in HK (with an employment visa)

coolzy · 03-08-2011, 11:25 AM

Hi all,

Assuming I have already obtained an employment visa in HK as a Malaysian. If I change nationality during my employment from a Malaysian to a Singaporean, will there be any implications to my existing employment visa?

Does the company need to re-apply for one, or should informing the government with relevant docs be sufficient?

Thanks.

PDLM · 03-08-2011, 11:27 AM

Informing the Government should be fine. If you renounce your Malaysian citizenship (which I believe you must to become Singaporean) then you may have to pay a small fee to get your visa transferred into your new passport; you certainly will if you don't physically retain your cancelled Malaysian Passport.

MovingIn07 · 03-08-2011, 12:58 PM

MrMin07 managed to put his Aussie passport in the wash inbetween applying for a visa extension and picking it up ... he just took along his UK passport and they put the visa in that instead without a fuss. I don't think it'll be a big deal but if you could do it around the time of the extension it might be easier.

coolzy · 03-08-2011, 07:39 PM

Thanks. Tht gives me hope.

HI Min07,

My current situation is this. I am a SG PR. I have just accepted an offer in HK and will touch down this late Sept. I am planning to apply for SG citizenship, but im not sure if i can do it thru oversea mission when i am in HK.

My main reason for taking up SG citizenship:

1. SG is a better country than MY in terms of living lifestyles etc..
2. I own a home in SG
3. Most importantly, I fear losing my SG PR status when i am away for long periods!!

If i can apply while in HK, that would be the best.

PDLM · 03-08-2011, 07:48 PM

Bear in mind though that Singaporean citizenship implies national service for you if you're young enough, and for any kids you may have.

star-anise · 03-08-2011, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by coolzy:

Thanks. Tht gives me hope.

HI Min07,

My current situation is this. I am a SG PR. I have just accepted an offer in HK and will touch down this late Sept. I am planning to apply for SG citizenship, but im not sure if i can do it thru oversea mission when i am in HK.

My main reason for taking up SG citizenship:

1. SG is a better country than MY in terms of living lifestyles etc..
2. I own a home in SG
3. Most importantly, I fear losing my SG PR status when i am away for long periods!!

If i can apply while in HK, that would be the best.

Have you checked whether you can apply for SG citizenship offshore? Most countries I know do not allow this!? Certainly not with Australia and New Zealand. It takes 3 months to apply for Australian citizenship and that will mean you are unable to travel outside of Australia without a valid reason for that period. NZ citizenship is around 8-9 months turnaround, depending where your local authority is and it is wise not to travel a lot during that time as well.

Ideally if you intend to keep your ties with Singapore and return at a later date, it is better to become a citizen. I assume you are a Malaysia of Chinese ethnicity? Seems like a lot of Chinese Malaysian are leaving to Singapore, Australia and etc.

MovingIn07 · 03-08-2011, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by star-anise:

It takes 3 months to apply for Australian citizenship and that will mean you are unable to travel outside of Australia without a valid reason for that period.

What utter, utter rubbish. I travelled constantly both before, during and after applying for my Australian citizenship. Provided you met the 1 year in 2 and the 2 years in 5 requirements there were no issues.

coolzy · 03-08-2011, 10:31 PM

PDLM, I am 30 this year, so i do not think NS is required for my case.

Yes star-anise. I am sure SG wouldn't allow this too. My "if" was just a wishful thinking . And you are right, i am a MYsian Chinese who has been studying in SG since young - and i used to commute between these two countries for many years until i grew sick and tired of it. That is when my wife and i decided to stay in SG for good. Where are you from star-anise?

And yes, it is true that a lot of MYsians are leaving for greener pastures; not only Chinese, but Indians as well. To be honest, i feel like a second rated citizen in my country sometimes. The education system there is way behind and the government seems oblivious about it. Many things to complain about MY, but i do not wish to turn this thread into a political discussion . In short, give it MY a 20 - 30 years, things will still be the same. So yes, pledging my loyalty to SG is one option i should consider.

coolzy · 04-08-2011, 12:02 AM

Yes MI07. I think that travelling outside of SG while the application is still in process should not pose a problem. The only trouble is that i have to make a trip back to say pledge when they approve my application. In addition, I will also need to renounce my other citizenship.

Kolke · 04-08-2011, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by PDLM:

Bear in mind though that Singaporean citizenship implies national service for you if you're young enough, and for any kids you may have.

No. There is no National Service for naturalised Singaporeans, regardless of age. Only Singaporeans by descent have to do 2 years of National Service.

Anyway, I find it quite ironic that a Malaysian who naturalises does not want to serve in the S'pore Army. If you want to be a citizen, then you bear all the privileges and liabilities of citizenship.

The Singapore military is actually the strongest, on paper that is, in the entire southern half of the world. It is amazing that a 20km rock can build up such a large military. The only reason why the S'porean military is so buff is because S'pore spends a large amount of its GDP on defence every year. And the reason it does so is because of the constant threats and antics from M'sia and its cousin Indonesia. Both countries have repeatedly threatened to wage war, cut off the water supply, block trade etc to Singapore.