What is a SingPass?

Staff Writer

January 27, 2022

What’s in the article?

The Singapore Personal Access or Singpass is a form of online identification that allows all Singapore citizens and permanent residents to avail a wide range of digital services, such as those offered by government agencies and businesses, both online and in person.

The main purpose of the Singpass is to allow users to conveniently make safe and secure transactions that involve sensitive information as they will only need to remember one password for all transactions. 

However, the Singpass app also allows you to receive timely notifications from relevant authorities and government agencies, have all your official documents issued by the government all in one place, as well as electronically sign important documents among other features.

Who is Eligible for a Singpass?

An individual must meet at least one of the following criteria to qualify for a Singpass:

  • You are a Singaporean citizen or permanent resident of at least 15 years of age
  • You are a Foreign Identification Number (FIN) holder of at least 15 years of age

How to Register for a Singpass?

Before registering for a Singpass, make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria stated in the previous section and that your address has been updated with the relevant authorities. Here’s how you can register for a Singpass:

  • Step 1: Go to the Singpass online portal and click the ‘Register for Singpass’ option under ‘Services’
  • Step 2: Enter your information in the form and check the necessary boxes before clicking ‘Submit’
  • Step 3: Choose whether you would like to register for a Singpass account with face verification or a one-time password PIN sent to your registered address

Registering for Singpass with Face Verification

  • Step 4: After reading the guidelines, click ‘Allow’ to allow the website to access your device’s camera. When you’re ready, select ‘Begin Scan’
  • Step 5: Once the website has confirmed that you’ve successfully completed the facial verification process, double check the details you inputted and enter your chosen password. Then, click ‘Next’ and ‘Proceed to set up account’
  • Step 6: You have the option to enter your email address and/or mobile number, as well as select your preferred mode of contact and whether you want to proceed with paperless notifications. You will be required to enter your mobile number if your registered address is a local address, and only Singapore-registered numbers will be accepted. You can click ‘Next’ to finish, or  ‘Skip’ if you decide not to avail of those options.
  • Step 7: If you’ve entered either your mobile number or email address, you will receive a One-Time Password (OTP) and will need to confirm these before clicking ‘Next’. If you’ve entered your mobile number, this will activate your account’s SMS 2FA. 
  • Step 8: You’ve successfully completed the registration process and will now be able to log in to your Singpass account

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Registering for Singpass with a PIN Mailer

  • Step 4: After selecting the option to request an activation PIN mailer, you’ll be redirected to another page to confirm your information. Registrants with a Singapore-registered address will be shown their registered postal code, while those with overseas-registered addresses will be shown their passport number. 
  • Step 5: You can choose to enter your email address and/or mobile number, as well as select your preferred mode of contact and whether you want to proceed with paperless notifications. You will need to enter your mobile number if you have a Singapore-registered address, and only Singapore-registered numbers will be accepted. You can click ‘Next’ to finish, or  ‘Skip’ if you decide not to avail of those options.
  • Step 6: If you’ve entered either your mobile number or email address, you will receive a One-Time Password (OTP) and will need to confirm these before clicking ‘Next’.
  • Step 7: Afterward, you will have completed your account registration. The PIN mailer containing your one-time password may take up to three working days to be delivered to local addresses, but this duration may vary for overseas addresses.

If you wish to create a 2FA, you can do so with the following steps:

  • Step 1: Visit the Singpass online portal
  • Step 2: Log into your Singpass account with the ‘Use password login instead’ option. Then click ‘Password login’ before inputting your login details
  • Step 3: Enter a new password before clicking ‘Next’. This will allow you to create your new Singpass password. Click ‘Proceed’
  • Step 4: After choosing the ‘Set Up SMS 2FA’ option, click the link that will lead you to the setup page before choosing ‘Activate Now’
  • Step 5: Finally, after double checking that the last four digits of your mobile number are correct, click ‘Activate’. 

2FA is a two-step verification process that’s crucial for the security of your digital transactions. This is one of the many ways that Singpass protects your confidential information. With every transaction, a one-time password will be sent to your registered mobile number through SMS. You will need your 2FA, along with your Singpass account details, to make transactions. Your 2FA may also be used to help you log in to your Singpass account.

Are Foreigners Eligible for a Singpass?

Yes, foreigners and individuals who don’t have a Singapore Government-issued ID are eligible for a Singpass as they can apply for a Singpass Foreign Account (SFA), which will also allow them to have convenient and secure transactions with selected government and private sector digital services. 

However, as SFAs are only issued by the SFA organization, foreigners will not be able to access any Singpass digital service and will only be able to interact with digital services provided by the SFA organizations. 

Here’s how foreigners and foreign ID users can avail of this:

  • Step 1: Register your details with the SFA organization
  • Step 2: Once the organization has successfully verified and approved your submission, they will pre-register your SFA
  • Step 3: Singpass will send you an email with your SFA details
  • Step 4: Activate your SFA by following the instructions in the email

If, for any reason, you wish to retrieve your SFA user info afterward, you can do this with the following steps:

  • Step 1: Visit the Singpass website
  • Step 2: Select ‘Services’ at the top of the page before clicking ‘Retrieve Singpass ID’
  • Step 3: At the bottom of the page, click the link for a foreign user
  • Step 4: Enter your Foreign ID, Country of Issuance, and email address
  • Step 5: Your SFA details will be sent to your email address

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How to Set Up Your Singpass App

Here’s how you can download and set up your Singpass app:

  • Step 1: Download the Singpass app from any official app store
  • Step 2: After opening the app, enter your Singpass ID and password. If you’ve entered your mobile number during registration, enter the SMS OTP sent to you
  • Step 3: If needed, complete the facial scan to authenticate your identity
  • Step 4: Follow the in-app instructions to set up your app passcode or register your biometrics

Easy Incorporation with WealthBridge

With a Singpass account, you’ll be able to more easily interact with different government authorities, including the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). This is actually very important to know as a Singpass is required to incorporate a company in Singapore.

There are many reasons why you may want to start a business in Singapore, and our team of professionals here at WealthBridge will be more than happy to help you achieve your dream. With over a decade of experience incorporating different Singaporean businesses across various industries, our professional services will help your incorporation go smoothly so that you can focus on the things that really matter.

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