Singapore approved about half of processed applications for permanent residency in the city state last year, mostly accepting those from qualified professionals, the Straits Times reported, citing Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, who was speaking in a parliamentary session yesterday.
Wong, who is also Home Affairs Minister, said 132,200 applications were received last year, with 59,500 of the 115,900 processed being successful, the newspaper reported. Fewer will be given permanent residency this year and the pool of those eligible to become new citizens will also be smaller than last year’s, the Straits Times said, citing Wong.