APPLICATION FOR SINGAPORE CITIZENSHIP BY FOREIGN ATHLETES

APPLICATION FOR SINGAPORE CITIZENSHIP BY FOREIGN ATHLETES: 9.

Mrs Jessie Phua asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports how long does it normally take for foreign athlete applicants to be granted Singapore citizenship.

The Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (Dr Vivian Balakrishnan): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Foreign Sports Talent (FST) scheme was started in 1993 as a means to raise the standards of our sports performance, particularly in international competitions. This was meant to provide occasions for national pride as well as elevate our overall standards, leading ultimately to increased local interest and performance in sports. So, ultimately, it is about local Singaporeans.

The scheme is administered by the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) and it will consider applications put up by the National Sports Associations (NSAs). These applications must have evidence of comprehensive training plans, competition plans as well as a programme to integrate these foreign athletes into our local society.

All these applications which are supported by SSC are then put up to my Ministry. I personally vet each and every

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application, and those which are endorsed are then submitted to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for approval.

The length of each approval process varies, depending on each case. On average, our foreign-born athletes take about two-and-a-half years to move from employment pass status to becoming naturalised Singaporean citizens.

Mrs Jessie Phua (Nominated Member): Sir, I would like to ask the Minister, in view of the IS requirement for qualifications for major games, there are certain time-sensitive factors that we have to look into. Would his Ministry consider setting up an independent unit to help facilitate this application process? This unit can also double up as a resource counselling centre.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: That is a suggestion I can consider. But, at this point in time, I do not think there is a rate-limiting factor. The key thing is for the NSAs to be proactive in their planning, recruitment and the programme to evaluate and prepare these athletes for training. I can give this House the assurance that there will be no unnecessary administrative delays in these applications. Like I said, I take a personal interest in each and every single application. So, there will be no unnecessary delays.