- (c) neither of his parents was a citizen of Singapore and neither of them was a permanent resident in the Federation:
Provided that paragraph (c) of this clause shall not apply to any person if, as a result of the application of that paragraph, he would not be a citizen of any country.
Citizenship by descent. 55. (1) A person born outside the Federation after the coming into operation of this Constitution shall be a citizen of Singapore by descent if at the time of the birth his father is a citizen of Singapore:
Provided that such person shall not be such a citizen unless his birth is registered at a Consulate of the Federation or with the Government in the prescribed manner within one year of its occurrence or with the permission of the Government later.
- (2) A person born in the Federation outside the State on or after the date of the coming into operation of this Constitution shall be a citizen of Singapore by descent if one at least of his parents is at the time of his birth a citizen of Singapore and he is not born a citizen of Malaysia otherwise than by virtue of this clause.
Transfer of citizenship. 56. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a person of or over the age of twenty-one years, not being a citizen of Singapore, who is a citizen of Malaysia may on making application therefor to the Government in the prescribed form be enrolled as a citizen of Singapore if he satisfies the Government that he—
- (a) is of good character;
- (b) has resided in the State throughout the twelve months immediately preceding the date of his application;
- (c) has during the twelve years immediately preceding the date of his application resided in the State for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than ten years;
- (d) intends to reside permanently in the State; and
- (e) has an elementary knowledge of the national language:
- (2) In relation to citizens of Malaysia who are not citizens of Singapore, clause (2) of Article 57 and Article 58 of this Constitution shall apply to allow them to be enrolled as citizens of Singapore in the same way as those provisions apply in relation to persons who are not citizens of Malaysia to allow them to be registered as citizens of Singapore.
Citizenship by registration.
57. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, any person of or over the age of twenty-one years, not being a citizen of Malaysia, who was resident in the State on the coming into operation of this Constitution may, on application being made therefor in the prescribed form be registered with the concurrence of the Govern-