Picture this: you’re in the heart of Singapore, and someone asks for your NRIC. You might wonder, “What’s an NRIC?” Well, the National Registration Identity Card, or NRIC, is Singapore’s version of an ID card, and it’s a big deal in the Lion City.
So, What’s the Deal with NRIC?
The NRIC is like your official ID buddy in Singapore. It’s issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), and it comes with a unique 12-digit number, your name, date of birth, a snap of your face, and your citizenship status.
Who Needs an NRIC?
Pretty much all Singapore citizens and permanent residents who are 15 and older need to get themselves an NRIC. If you’re under 15, you’ll want to sort this out when you become a Singaporean citizen or resident.
NRIC in Singapore
We all love our pink NRIC (National Registration Identity Card) and can rattle off the digits and alphabet by heart, but did you know these fun facts about the Singapore NRIC number?
To learn more about the Singapore NRIC number, we’ve listed down 7 surprising facts about it. Seeing as how it’s important for us to live within the little red dot, some of this information you should probably know by now.
But some of these facts about the Singapore NRIC number might just surprise you and make you wonder “Why didn’t I know that before?”
7 Facts About The Singapore NRIC Number You Probably Didn’t Know
See how many of these you were already aware of and which ones you didn’t know!
1. S is not for Singapore
Many people used to think that ‘S’ stood for Singapore and ‘F’ for foreigner in the Singapore NRIC number. Not true.
The alphabet ‘S’ is used for Singapore citizens and permanent residents who were born in the 1900s, because well, ‘S’ is the 19th letter of the alphabet!
For those Singapore citizens and permanent residents born in the 2000s, the letter ‘T’ is used instead, because (you guessed right) ‘T’ is the 20th letter of the alphabet.
2. What about F and G?
Foreigners holding long-term passes, employment pass, student pass etc issued before the year 2000 are assigned the letter “F”.
Foreigners holding passes issued in and after the year 2000 are assigned the letter “G” in their NRIC number.
3. The first 2 digits of the Singapore NRIC number stand for?
Image courtesy: Stock
For most of us, the first two digits of our NRIC reflect the last two digits of our birth year.
For example, if your NRIC number is S8712345B, it means that you were born in the year 1987.
However, this only applies to Singapore citizens and PRs born in the year 1968 and after. For those born before 1968, their NRIC number will begin with a 0 or 1.
4. What do the last 5 digits of the Singapore NRIC number mean?
The last 5 digits of your NRIC number reflect the number of people who had their birth or citizenship registered before you.
For example, having an NRIC number of S8712345X means that you are born in the year 1987, and also the 12,345th child to register your birth/citizenship.
5. What about the last letter?
Image courtesy: iStock
Guess what, there is a formula to ‘calculate’ the last letter of the Singapore NRIC number! The algorithm for that has never been officially released though.
6. Little known fact
Did you know that, until 29 September 2002, the NRIC indicated its holder’s blood group?!
Apparently, this information was later removed due to advances in medical technology that enabled quick testing during emergencies.
7. NRIC numbers of some famous people
Just like the rest of us, even the most famous local people have a Singapore NRIC number. If you are wondering what the earliest NRIC numbers looked like, here is the Singapore NRIC number of some famous people:
- S0000001I (Yusof bin Ishak, first President of Singapore)
- S0000002G (Wee Chong Jin, first Chief Justice of Singapore)
- S0000003E (Lee Kuan Yew, first Prime Minister of Singapore)
- S0000004C (Kwa Geok Choo, wife of Lee Kuan Yew)
- S0000005A (Toh Chin Chye, first Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore)
- S0000006Z (Goh Keng Swee, second Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore)
- S0000007H (S Rajaratnam, first Minister for Culture)
Those were our seven surprising facts about the NRIC number! Did you know any one of these facts beforehand?
Getting Your Hands on an NRIC
Getting an NRIC is a piece of cake. If you’re a Singapore citizen, hop online and use the SingPass portal. But if you’re a permanent resident, you’ll need to go to an ICA Service Centre in person. Don’t forget your supporting documents like your birth certificate, passport, and proof of residency.
Lost Your NRIC? Update Time? No Worries.
If you lose it, break it, or need to update your details, it’s not the end of the world. You can get a replacement online or in person, or make updates via the SingPass portal or at an ICA Service Centre.
The NRIC in Your Daily Life
Now, here’s where the NRIC gets really interesting. It’s like a magic key for Singaporean life. You need it for loads of things, such as:
- Accessing government services
- Opening a bank account
- Applying for jobs
- Enrolling in school
- Renting a place
- Traveling overseas
Guarding Your NRIC
Your NRIC is precious, so guard it well. Keep it safe from sneaky thieves or wandering eyes. If it does disappear, report it to the ICA right away.
In a Nutshell
The NRIC isn’t just a card; it’s your Singaporean identity in a tiny piece of plastic. It’s always there when you need it, helping you navigate the complexities of modern life in this vibrant city-state. So, embrace it, protect it, and make the most of it.
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