Find out all you need to know about NRIC in Singapore, NRIC number, and the National Registration Identity Card on this page.
What is NRIC in Singapore?
National Registration Identity Card (NRIC), also called as a “identity card” in Singaporean jargon, is the mandatory identity document given to all Singaporean citizens and permanent residents. Within a year of turning 15, becoming a citizen, or acquiring permanent residency, people must register for a NRIC. People who reach the ages of 30 and 55 must re-register, unless they were already given a NRIC during the 10 years prior to the re-registration ages. This is to keep the information and photo on the Singapore NRIC or Singapore Identity Card (Singapore IC) updated.
Meaning of NRIC?
NRIC in Singapore is an acronym and it stands for National Registration Identity Card.
Which organization issues National Registration Identity Card or NRIC in Singapore?
The creation of a national registration as well as the issuing and use of NRICs are governed by the National Registration Act of 1965, which underwent its most recent update in 2016. The Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), a division of the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs, is the government body in charge of maintaining the national registration and issuing NRIC card or Singapore Identity Card in Singapore.
Currently, a NRIC or identity card in Singapore is composed of polycarbonate and is the size of a credit card. Since the 1990s, these cards have been available. The NRIC cards were bigger and laminated before this. The NRIC cards come in two primary color options: the Blue National ID Card or Blue IC is only for Permanent Residents, while the Pink National ID Card or Pink IC is for Singaporeans.
The individual’s left and right thumbprints, as well as, as of 2017, iris scans, are gathered as part of the biometric data during NRIC card registration.
Except for a change of address, any change or error in the information on the Singapore IC or NRIC must be submitted to ICA Singapore for a replacement NRIC card within 28 days. Although a NRIC card replacement is not necessary in the event of an address change, ICA must be notified within 28 days. As of 1 October 2020, reporting an address change in Singapore must be done online through an e-service on the ICA website. A 6-digit PIN is mailed to the new address in Singapore for verification, and the applicant must enter the PIN into the online service.
What is NRIC number?
The National Identification Number (NRIC number) is a set of nine numbers belonging to every citizen and permanent resident of Singapore used to identity him or her as an individual. Every Singapore IC or Singapore NRIC card (which every citizen and permanent resident will have), and by extension, every individual, has a special National Identification Number.
The NRIC number begins with a letter, either S, F, M, T, or G, depending on the person’s status. There are seven numbers that finish in hashtags after this letter.
- Citizens and PRs born before to January 1, 2000, will have a S in their NRIC number
- Citizens and PRs born on or after January 1, 2000, will have a NRIC starting with T
- A foreign national who obtained a Long-Term Pass prior to January 1, 2000, will have an F
- A foreign national who obtained a Long-Term Pass between January 1 and December 31, 2021, will have a G
- After (or on) January 1, 2022, any foreign national holding a Long-Term Pass will have an M
All numerical digits make up the middle portion, which serves as a serial number within the NRIC number. If the person was born after January 1, 1968, their NRIC number will begin with their birth year. The NRIC number is the same as the person’s Singapore birth certificate number if they were born in Singapore. These documents will display the person’s identification as defined by their current foreign citizenship since employment-related passes are not granted to individuals after they have obtained permanent residency. Naturally, a passport will therefore be required to support such identity.
The NRIC number frequently starts with 0 or 1, which do not correspond to the year of birth but are assigned in the order of issuance, for Singapore citizens and permanent residents who were born on or before December 31, 1967. When a non-native person obtains citizenship or permanent residency, the heading numbers 2 or 3 are allocated.
Features of Identity Card IC Singapore
There are obviously details on the Singapore NRIC card or the Singapore ID card. Here they are and what you can expect if you are applying for your Singapore NRIC card.
What appears on the front of the IC?
The words REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE and the country’s coat of arms will be prominently displayed on the front of the Singapore NRIC card. On the Singapore NRIC card, the following details will be visible:
- Your NRIC number
- Black and white photo of the cardholder
- Name of the cardholder
- Race or ethnicity
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Gender
What appears on the back of the Singapore IC or Singapore Identity Card?
The back of the Singapore IC or Singapore identity card will have the following details:
- A barcode
- NRIC number
- Thumbprint image
- Date of issue
- Stated address
- Current nationality for permanent residents
Security features of the NRIC
Here are some security features on the Singapore NRIC card or Singapore IC:
- When the Singapore Identity Card or Singapore NRIC card moves, the REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE’s color changes
- The smaller image of the cardholder is visible on both sides of the NRIC card or Singapore IC when it is held up to a light source
- When the Singapore Identity Card or Singapore IC is viewed from different angles, a multiple laser picture alternates between the lion head emblem and the cardholder’s identifying number (NRIC number)