Fraudulently obtaining or attempting to obtain an exemption from duty — and giving authorities false and misleading information — is an offence under the Enlistment Act.
Conviction will mean a fine not exceeding $10,000 or a maximum jail term of three years.
If you have specific questions on being transgender and serving NS, or have additional information to provide, email us:
For transfeminine people or trans women
SAF policy does not allow for exemptions based solely upon the evaluation that you have gender dysphoria, but a psychiatrist’s memo stating that you have gender dysphoria will help.
The general guideline to be exempted from NS for gender dysphoria appears to be that:
a person has undergone hormone therapy (medically transitioned) for more than a certain period of time. Community accounts estimate this to be between six months and one year.
they have lived in a cross-gender (i.e. largely feminine) role (socially transitioned) for a certain period of time. Community accounts estimate this to be approximately one year.
Transgender women and transfeminine people who inform MINDEF that they are trans before enlistment will likely be given a PES E.
They can make this declaration during the pre-enlistment medical screening. When they do so, they may be asked to undergo further reviews.
If a trans woman or transfeminine person wishes to declare that they are transgender after they have gone through the pre-enlistment medical screening, they can request for an additional medical review with CMPB.
It is unlikely for trans women and transfeminine people to be discharged from service, even if they declare that they are transgender.
They may have their PES status downgraded and may be posted to a suitable vocation.
If transgender persons in service require counselling support and psychological care, they can go to the SAF or Home Team Counselling Centre, where they can be matched to a counsellor who has experience or can best serve their needs.
If they do declare to a medical officer that they are transgender, they may also be asked to go for regular reviews at the SAF Psychological Care Centre (or equivalent).
Trans women and transfeminine people who would like to obtain deferment or exemption after they have completed full-time National Service should book an appointment for a medical review.
They may be granted a temporary PES status of PES E1 or E9.
Trans women and transfeminine people who have yet to be exempted from National Service must take note of their liabilities and responsibilities under the Enlistment Act and will have to comply with exit control regulations.
This means that they will have to apply for an exit permit if they are travelling and remaining overseas for more than 12 months. They will have to inform their unit if they are remaining overseas for more than six months, and renew their exit permit if they are unable to return to Singapore prior to its expiry.
For transmasculine people or trans men
Trans men who have legally changed their sex to male will automatically receive an enlistment letter in the mail. This should occur within 1-3 months from when you change your gender marker with the ICA.
They will have to complete their online pre-enlistment documentation and report for their pre-enlistment medical checkup at CMPB.
Not doing so may cause them to run into trouble should they wish to travel overseas.
They will be exempted (i.e. given PES F status) once they disclose or declare that they are a trans man at the pre-enlistment check-up.
