Back to top
New Procedures for Reporting Change of Address for Identity Card Holders
Under the National Registration Act, an Identity Card (NRIC) holder is required to report his change of residential address within 28 days. With effect from 1 April 2008, documentary evidence would be required if a NRIC holder wishes to change his address on the NRIC.
A new requirement for enhanced security
2. The new requirement is a security measure to prevent errant IC holders from falsely reporting changes of addresses, thereby protecting the bona fide residents.
About the new procedure
3. Changes of address on the NRIC can be done at the ICA Building, or at any Neighbourhood Police Post or Neighbourhood Police Centre. With the new procedure, the NRIC holder will have to produce a letter addressed to him at the new address. The full name of the NRIC holder should be reflected on the letter. The list of documents which can be accepted as documentary evidence for reporting a change of address is at Annex.
4. If the NRIC holder is unable to provide an acceptable document of correspondence, he may submit an application to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to enable us to mail a letter to his new address, which he can use as documentary evidence. The application can be submitted online at ICA’s internet website , at the ICA Building, or at any Neighbourhood Police Post or Neighbourhood Police Centre. A letter will be sent to him at his new address within seven working days.
5. With the letter, the NRIC holder may proceed to change his address listed on his NRIC. The old address will be obliterated by cutting grooves across it using a special metal inscriber. It will be further marked out with permanent ink. A sticker showing the new address would then be printed and pasted onto the existing IC. This service is rendered free-of-charge. If the NRIC holder prefers to apply for a new IC reflecting his changed address, he may register for one at the ICA Building. A replacement fee of S$60 would then be payable.
Value-added service offered by ICA
6. For the convenience of those who report a change in their residential addresses, ICA offers a free value-added service known as OSCARS (One-Stop Change of Address Reporting Service). When an IC holder reports a change of address at the ICA Building or at any Neighbourhood Police Post or Neighbourhood Police Centre, government agencies participating in OSCARS will be informed of his new address. He can then receive mail from these agencies at the new address. The list of participating government agencies can be found at http://www.ica.gov.sg.
7. Nonetheless, as listed on ICA’s website, several agencies under OSCARS impose a maximum reporting time that is shorter than the 28 days required for updating the address on the IC. For these agencies, the IC holder should notify them separately. He should also notify the private institutions and non-participating government agencies with which he has dealings with separately.
Penalty
8. The penalty for failing to report a change in residential address within 28 days or for falsely reporting an address is a fine not exceeding $5,000 or a jail not exceeding 5 years, or both.
A new requirement for enhanced security
2. The new requirement is a security measure to prevent errant IC holders from falsely reporting changes of addresses, thereby protecting the bona fide residents.
About the new procedure
3. Changes of address on the NRIC can be done at the ICA Building, or at any Neighbourhood Police Post or Neighbourhood Police Centre. With the new procedure, the NRIC holder will have to produce a letter addressed to him at the new address. The full name of the NRIC holder should be reflected on the letter. The list of documents which can be accepted as documentary evidence for reporting a change of address is at Annex.
4. If the NRIC holder is unable to provide an acceptable document of correspondence, he may submit an application to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to enable us to mail a letter to his new address, which he can use as documentary evidence. The application can be submitted online at ICA’s internet website , at the ICA Building, or at any Neighbourhood Police Post or Neighbourhood Police Centre. A letter will be sent to him at his new address within seven working days.
5. With the letter, the NRIC holder may proceed to change his address listed on his NRIC. The old address will be obliterated by cutting grooves across it using a special metal inscriber. It will be further marked out with permanent ink. A sticker showing the new address would then be printed and pasted onto the existing IC. This service is rendered free-of-charge. If the NRIC holder prefers to apply for a new IC reflecting his changed address, he may register for one at the ICA Building. A replacement fee of S$60 would then be payable.
Value-added service offered by ICA
6. For the convenience of those who report a change in their residential addresses, ICA offers a free value-added service known as OSCARS (One-Stop Change of Address Reporting Service). When an IC holder reports a change of address at the ICA Building or at any Neighbourhood Police Post or Neighbourhood Police Centre, government agencies participating in OSCARS will be informed of his new address. He can then receive mail from these agencies at the new address. The list of participating government agencies can be found at http://www.ica.gov.sg.
7. Nonetheless, as listed on ICA’s website, several agencies under OSCARS impose a maximum reporting time that is shorter than the 28 days required for updating the address on the IC. For these agencies, the IC holder should notify them separately. He should also notify the private institutions and non-participating government agencies with which he has dealings with separately.
Penalty
8. The penalty for failing to report a change in residential address within 28 days or for falsely reporting an address is a fine not exceeding $5,000 or a jail not exceeding 5 years, or both.