Article 128-135 Constitution of Singapore 1963
Article 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, among others, of the Constitution of Singapore 1963 are under Part X of the Constitution. Part X is titled Citizenship.
Article 128 Singapore Constitution 1963
Renunciation of citizenship
(1) Any citizen of Singapore of or over the age of 21 years and of sound mind who is also or is about to become a citizen of another country may renounce his citizenship of Singapore by declaration registered by the Government, and shall upon such registration cease to be a citizen of Singapore.
(2) The Government may withhold the registration of a declaration under this Article —
(a) if the declaration is made during any war in which Singapore is engaged; or
(b) if the declaration is made by a person subject to the Enlistment Act 1970 unless he has —
(i) discharged his liability for full‑time service under section 12 of that Act;
(ii) rendered at least 3 years of operationally ready national service under section 13 of that Act in lieu of such full‑time service; or
(iii) complied with such conditions as may be determined by the Government.
(3) This Article applies to a woman under the age of 21 years who has been married as it applies to a person of or over that age.
Article 129 Singapore Constitution 1963
Deprivation of citizenship
(1) A citizen of Singapore who is a citizen by registration or by naturalisation shall cease to be such a citizen if he is deprived of his citizenship by an order of the Government made in accordance with this Article.
(2) The Government may, by order, deprive any such citizen of his citizenship if the Government is satisfied that the registration or the certificate of naturalisation —
(a) was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact; or
(b) was effected or granted by mistake.
(3) The Government may, by order, deprive of his citizenship —
(a) any person who is a citizen of Singapore by naturalisation if the Government is satisfied —
(i) that he has shown himself by act or speech to be disloyal or disaffected towards Singapore; or
(ii) that he has, during any war in which Singapore is or was engaged, unlawfully traded or communicated with an enemy or been engaged in or associated with any business which to his knowledge was carried on in such manner as to assist an enemy in that war; or
(b) any citizen of Singapore by registration or by naturalisation if the Government is satisfied —
(i) that he has, within the period of 5 years after registration or naturalisation, been sentenced in any country to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or to a fine of not less than $5,000 or the equivalent in the currency of that country, and has not received a free pardon in respect of the offence for which he was so sentenced; or
(ii) that he has, at any time after registration or naturalisation, been engaged in any activities which are prejudicial to the security of Singapore, or the maintenance of public order therein, or the maintenance therein of essential services, or in any criminal activities which are prejudicial to the interests of public safety, peace or good order.
(4) The Government may, by order, deprive of his citizenship any person who is a citizen of Singapore by naturalisation if the Government is satisfied that, without the Government’s approval, he has accepted, served in or performed the duties of any office, post or employment under the government of any foreign country or any political subdivision thereof, or under any agency of such a government, in any case where an oath, affirmation or declaration of allegiance is required in respect of the office, post or employment:
Provided that a person shall not be deprived of his citizenship under this clause by reason of anything done before the commencement of this Constitution notwithstanding that he was at the time a citizen of Singapore.
(5) The Government may, by order, deprive of his citizenship any person who is a citizen of Singapore by naturalisation if the Government is satisfied that he has been ordinarily resident in foreign countries for a continuous period of 5 years and during that period has neither —
(a) been at any time in the service of Singapore or of an international organisation of which the Government was a member; nor
(b) registered annually at a consulate of Singapore his intention to retain his citizenship.
(6) The Government may, by order, deprive of her citizenship any woman who is a citizen of Singapore by registration under Article 123(2) if the Government is satisfied that the marriage by virtue of which she was registered has been dissolved, otherwise than by death, within the period of 2 years beginning with the date of the marriage.
(7) No person shall be deprived of his citizenship under this Article or under Article 130 unless the Government is satisfied that it is not conducive to the public good that that person should continue to be a citizen of Singapore; and no person shall be deprived of his citizenship under clause (2)(b) or clause (3)(a) or (b)(i) or under clause (4) or (5) or under Article 130 if the Government is satisfied that as a result of the deprivation he would not be a citizen of any country.
Article 130 Singapore Constitution 1963
Deprivation of citizenship of child of person losing citizenship
Where a person has —
(a) renounced his citizenship; or
(b) been deprived of his citizenship under Article 129(2)(a) or 134(1)(a),
the Government may, by order, deprive of his citizenship any child of that person under the age of 21 years who has been registered as a citizen of Singapore pursuant to this Constitution and was so registered as being the child of that person or of that person’s wife or husband.
Article 131 Singapore Constitution 1963
General provisions as to loss of citizenship
Renunciation or deprivation of citizenship of Singapore shall not discharge a person from liability in respect of anything done or omitted to be done before he ceased to be a citizen of Singapore.
Article 132 Singapore Constitution 1963
Cancellation of enrolment as citizen
(1) Where a person has been enrolled as a citizen of Singapore before the commencement of this Constitution and the Government is satisfied that the enrolment —
(a) was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact; or
(b) was effected by mistake,
the Government may, by order, cancel the enrolment.
(2) Where under this Article a person’s enrolment as a citizen of Singapore is cancelled, that shall not discharge him from liability in respect of anything done or omitted to be done before the cancellation.
Article 133 Singapore Constitution 1963
Procedure for deprivation
(1) Before making an order under Article 129, 132, 134 or 135, the Government shall give the person, against whom the order is proposed to be made, notice in writing informing him of the ground on which the order is proposed to be made and of his right to have the case referred to a committee of inquiry under this Article.
(2) If any person to whom such notice is given applies within such time as may be prescribed to have the case referred to a committee of inquiry, the Government shall, and in any other case may, refer the case to a committee of inquiry consisting of a Chairman, who shall be a person qualified to be appointed as a Supreme Court Judge, and 2 other members chosen from a panel to be appointed by the Government in that behalf.
(3) The committee of inquiry shall, on such reference, hold an inquiry in such manner as may be prescribed and submit a report to the Government and the Government shall have regard to such report in making the order.
Article 134 Singapore Constitution 1963
Deprivation of citizenship on acquisition of foreign citizenship
(1) The Government may, by order, deprive a citizen of Singapore of his citizenship if the Government is satisfied that —
(a) he has, while of or over the age of 18 years, at any time after 6 April 1960 acquired by registration, naturalisation or other voluntary and formal act (other than marriage) the citizenship of any country outside Singapore or having so acquired such citizenship before the age of 18 years continues to retain it after that age; or
(b) the citizen, being a woman who is a citizen of Singapore by registration under Article 123(2), has acquired the citizenship of any country outside Singapore by virtue of her marriage to a person who is not a citizen of Singapore.
(2) Where the Government has made an order under this Article depriving a citizen of Singapore of his citizenship, he shall cease to be a citizen with effect from the date of the order.
Article 135 Singapore Constitution 1963
Deprivation of citizenship on exercise of rights of foreign nationals, etc.
(1) The Government may, by order, deprive a citizen of Singapore of his citizenship if the Government is satisfied that —
(a) he has, while of or over the age of 18 years, at any time after 6 April 1960 voluntarily claimed and exercised any rights (other than any rights in connection with the use of a passport) available to him under the law of any country outside Singapore being rights accorded exclusively to the citizens or nationals of that country;
(b) he has, while of or over the age of 18 years, at any time after 6 April 1960 applied to the authorities of a place outside Singapore for the issue or renewal of a passport or used a passport issued by such authorities as a travel document; or
(c) he is of or over the age of 18 years and has, whether before or after attaining the age of 18 years, been ordinarily resident outside Singapore for a continuous period of 10 years (including any period of residence outside Singapore before 2 January 1986) and has not at any time —
(i) during that period or thereafter entered Singapore by virtue of a certificate of status or travel document issued by the competent authorities of Singapore; or
(ii) during that period been in the service of the Government or of an international organisation of which Singapore is a member or of such other body or organisation as the President may, by notification in the Gazette, designate.
(2) For the purposes of clause (1)(a), the exercise of a vote in any political election in a place outside Singapore shall be deemed to be the voluntary claim and exercise of a right available under the law of that place.
(3) Where the Government has made an order under this Article depriving a citizen of Singapore of his citizenship, he shall cease to be a citizen with effect from the date of the order.
See also:
Article 120-127 Singapore Constitution 1963
