Finally A Reply From CMPB!

My days of waiting are over after sending out the email regarding Jovan's passport and military service issues. I finally got a reply from the Army which helped to ease our anxiety a little.

The lady who replied me was from the National Service Registration & Enlistment Centre (NSREC). She told me that the passport control for National Service (NS) liable Singapore males has been removed since Aug 2006. Prior to Aug 2006, NS-liable Singapore males were issued with passports of limited validity. With the introduction of biometric passports on 15 Aug 2006, all passports will be given full validity. Those who are applying for new Singapore passports will be given full validity of 5 years. The “Immigration Overseas Scheme for male citizens between 11 and 16.5 years old” for extension of passport has already been removed. Hurray!

She also mentioned in her email that "In addition, your son will be affected by the exit permit requirements when he reaches the age of 13 years old. Under the exit control policy, a young male aged 13 to 16.5 years is required to apply for an exit permit if he intends to travel or remain outside Singapore for 3 months or longer. If he is remaining outside Singapore for 2 years or longer, his parents will also need to furnish a bond of minimum S$75,000/- or 50% of the combined annual gross income of both parents for the preceding year, whichever is higher. The bond is usually in the form of a banker’s guarantee issued by a bank in Singapore. However, for boys who are accompanying parents on overseas employment, they may be eligible for bond by deed (personal guarantee) with 2 sureties. An exit permit will be issued after the bond has been furnished to MINDEF. Under the Enlistment Act, all male Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who are liable for full-time National Service (NS) are enlisted at the earliest opportunity after reaching the age of 18 years. They will be enlisted after completion of high school education (GCE ‘A’ level or Polytechnic Diploma equivalent). No deferment will be granted for university studies."

Which means to say that if we choose to renew Jovan's passport next year, he'll be granted a 5-year one and we do not need to about his exit permit till he's 13, which gives us about 4 years to review and see how things go.

She stated that these prevailing policies are periodically under review, so it'll be good for us to check every now and again. She has also given me some phone numbers to call if I need more clarification and attached some documents to clarify and advise on the requirement and conditions for the bond.

Now we have 4 years before we need to think about this issue again and probably by then, Lars's business would have brought us back to Singapore again, we'll see!