Exit permit and bond

Exit Permit and/or bond requirements if your son needs to remain overseas for three months or longer.

Last updated 22 July 2025

Under the Enlistment Act 1970, all male Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents aged 13 years and above are required to comply with Exit Permit requirements. We will send your son a letter informing him of these requirements when he turns 13 years old.

Exit Permit requirements are necessary to ensure that National Service (NS)-liable males who reside overseas at a young age or have gone overseas to study will fulfil their NS responsibilities.

Find out whether your son requires an Exit Permit and bond, and what you may need to do:

Exit Permit and bond requirements based on age and duration overseas

Age	Duration overseas	Requirements
13 to 16.5 years old ¹	3 months to less than 2 years	Apply for Exit Permit (opens in new tab)
2 years or longer	Apply for Exit Permit (opens in new tab) Provide bond: S$75,000 or 50% of combined annual gross income of both parents for the preceding year, whichever is higher. The bond is provided in the form of a Banker's Guarantee. Provide documentary proof of: Your son's overseas study status Your employment status Your income tax assessment notices for the preceding year The Exit Permit will only be issued after your bond has been submitted.
Above 16.5 years old to enlistment ²	3 months or longer

Age

Duration overseas

Requirements

13 to 16.5 years old ¹

3 months to less than 2 years

Apply for Exit Permit (opens in new tab)

2 years or longer

Apply for Exit Permit (opens in new tab)

Provide bond:

S$75,000 or 50% of combined annual gross income of both parents for the preceding year, whichever is higher. The bond is provided in the form of a Banker's Guarantee.

Provide documentary proof of:

Your son's overseas study status
Your employment status
Your income tax assessment notices for the preceding year

The Exit Permit will only be issued after your bond has been submitted.

Above 16.5 years old to enlistment ²

3 months or longer

After an Exit Permit has been granted

Do take note that:

When an Exit Permit has been granted for a course of study and there is a change in the details such as the course, place of study, institution that your son is studying at, departure date, please refer to our FAQ on Exit Permit for more information.
If your son is unable to return to Singapore before the expiry of his Exit Permit, he will be required to apply for an extension. We will consider his request on a case-by-case basis. Please note that your son’s failure to return to Singapore before the expiry of his Exit Permit may result in the bond being forfeited and him having committed an offence under the Enlistment Act 1970.

Exit Permit offences

¹Any NS-liable male aged between 13 years old and 16.5 years old who is in breach of the Enlistment Act 1970 may be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000. Any such persons may not be sufficiently mature to understand their obligations under the Enlistment Act 1970. Each parent, guardian or person having actual custody will also be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

²Any NS-liable male above the age of 16.5 years who remains outside Singapore without a valid Exit Permit shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both.