Should I use an immigration consultant?

• “ICA does not support nor endorse the services offered by these commercial entities or consultants.” Applicants who use them are “advised to exercise caution.”
• ICA says it has no affiliation with any external migration agency claiming to be a specialist or partner.
• In 2026 ICA reported 12 cases of fake ICA letters involving applications for long-term immigration facilities since January 2026. In one, an applicant paid a commercial entity close to $5,000 and no application had actually been submitted.
• ICA encourages applicants to submit directly through its website.

Sources: ICA — Becoming a Permanent Resident · ICA — Applying through commercial entities · ICA — Advisory on fake ICA letters (2026)

Self-reported by applicants on public platforms. Not ICA policy; may not be representative.

• Published consultant fees we found mostly range from about S$1,500 to S$5,000, commonly S$2,500–3,000, and occasionally up to about S$8,000. ICA’s own application fee is S$100.
• Reputable consultants say they cannot influence ICA’s decision. What they sell is help with documents, organisation and cover letters.
• Scams are growing. Media reported at least S$8.8 million lost to ICA-related scams in 2026 up to September, including fake PR-help adverts and forged approval letters. One couple lost S$80,000 to a fake PR “service”.
• One agency argues that claims of 90%+ approval rates don’t survive basic arithmetic against official grant numbers.

Sources: Straits Times — S$8.8m lost to ICA-related scams (Sep 2026) · CNA — ICA warns of fake letters (Mar 2026) · Mothership — couple lost S$80,000 to PR 'service' · E&H Immigration — approval-rate myth