When applying for Singapore PR, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) requires some compulsory documents. At the same time, they also list some additional non-mandatory documents. A cover letter is one such document.
We’re sure that during your Singapore PR research, you must’ve seen and heard about the importance of a cover letter both online and/or from your friends and relatives. Many wonder and are confused about its importance, its impact, how to create one, what it does, and how it affects your Singapore PR application?
So, today we’ll be sharing everything you need to know about the Singapore PR application cover letter. And if you have any further queries, our immigration experts are just a click away.
What Is A Cover Letter?
A cover letter is a document that helps to highlight your strengths, achievements, contributions, experience, and intent. Think of it as an opportunity to impress the ICA officials, emphasise and enhance your reasonings as to why you want to take the big step of making Singapore your permanent home by becoming a Singapore PR.
An ideal cover letter should be 2-4 pages long and must convey relevant information that helps you put your best foot forward and shows you as the most-fitting choice.
What Role Does A Cover Letter Play In Your PR Application?
With the introduction of the e-PR system, the ICA does not have any face-to-face interviews, therefore a cover letter helps provide additional information to the ICA by detailing your plans, intentions, and commitment to Singapore.
Since there are no direct communication lines with the ICA officer, the letter serves as the only medium through which you can further explain your issues and why you are a suitable candidate for PR among the many others who are also applying.
Plus, for those applicants who make for a complex case and have some complicated issues, the cover letter helps you make your case, which when compared to being directed to a call center, works as a better option.
What Should You Include In A Cover Letter?
When drafting a cover letter it is important to focus on quality over quantity. Many people tend to go over the top and treat it like a sales letter which can come across as being a hardsell and can overwhelm the reviewing officer. Hence, it is vital to be concise, cohesive, and selective of the content you add. And most of all, it should be a well-written letter. Some of the elements you can include in the letter are:
1. Brief Introduction
Start off the letter by providing some brief information about yourself, your family, your educational background, etc. that gives the reviewing officer an idea of what you are all about.
2. Qualifications & Career Experience
As becoming a Singapore PR is highly coveted, the expectations and the quality of applicants are ever-evolving. Highlighting your qualifications, accreditations, certification, or specialised diplomas can help you put in a better light. Beyond academics, provide a summary of your career experience, roles and responsibilities, and notable accomplishments.
3. Social Contributions
Social contributions are a good indicator to determine your integration with society and the local community. So, if you’ve been actively volunteering, donating, or working with charity organisations, you can briefly include this in the cover letter.
4. Commitment To Singapore
Mention your future plans, highlighting your interest and what are your intentions behind applying for and obtaining a Singapore PR? Are you planning to start a business? If so, what type and how can it impact Singapore’s economy?
5. Express Yourself
A well-drafted letter can effectively help the reviewing officer gain some insight into your character and attributes helping you stand out from other applicants.
3 Benefits Of Including A Cover Letter In Your Singapore PR Application
Not only can a cover letter become an essential part of your application, but it is also a great way of making a favourable first impression and strengthening your Singapore PR application. Some of the ways a cover letter helps you do that is:
1. Highlights Your Additional Strengths
The way the Singapore PR application submission process is designed, not all your impressive accomplishments can be captured in the form or other documents. This is where a cover letter can help you showcase your skills, experience, and expertise. The document works as the perfect way to immediately grab the ICA officer’s attention, showcase who you are, and what makes you different from other applicants.
2. Shows Sincerity
A well-drafted cover letter that features all your accomplishments and the various ways you can be an asset to Singapore, helps give you a unique edge over others. It gives you a chance to show your contributions to society, how well of a fit you are, and how enthusiastic, committed, and eager you are about the prospect of becoming a Singapore PR.
3. Brings Your Personality To The Forefront
The phrasing and wording of your letter can help you express yourself and shine some light on your personality in a way that other forms and documents can’t. As an ICA officer deals with thousands of Singapore PR applications, they know exactly what to look for, and a cover letter can not only help the officer get a peek into your personality but also gives them a sense of knowing what kind of a person you are and what you can bring to the table by becoming a Singapore PR.
Conclusion
Many applicants who apply for Singapore PR commonly follow a standardised cover letter template and only state their reasons and intentions such as safety, job opportunities, and a booming economy. But, are these factors enough?
Since no two people are alike and neither are their personal and professional lives, applicants need to draft a personalised letter that elaborates more on how they can contribute to society, and include more integral factors such as how their career or business can positively impact Singapore,
Plus, as this letter is addressed to government officials, the writing style and precise word selections are as important as the content.
As a professional immigration consultancy firm, we go beyond the extra mile and believe in creating a highly personalised cover letter that supports your profile and is true to who you are and what you want to portray.
Our experts selectively pick the elements that support your cause and skillfully write a letter that makes you stand out and provides all the relevant to-the-point information that the reviewing officer might need.
