What You Need To Know About The Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme

Last updated on July 16th, 2022

When you’re applying for your HDB flat, you may have come across the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme.

This is one of the ways that makes you eligible to apply for a flat.

So how does this work and what are the eligibility criteria?

Here’s what you need to know.

What is the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme?

The Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme allows you and your partner to purchase a new flat or a resale flat from HDB, without having to be married at the point in time of your application. However, you would need to solemnise your marriage within 3 months of collecting the keys to your flat.

To be eligible to purchase a flat from HDB, you can apply under a few schemes, including:

1. Public Scheme
2. Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme
3. Single Singapore Citizen Scheme
4. Joint Singles Scheme
5. Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme
6. Non-Citizen Family Scheme
7. Orphans Scheme
8. Conversion Scheme

Some schemes like the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme and Joint Singles Scheme only allow you to buy a flat from 35 years old.

Moreover, you may not qualify for the Public Scheme either. This is because it requires you to form a family nucleus with 1 of the following groups:

1. Spouse and children
2. Parents and siblings (if you are a single SPR buying with parents, at least one of your parents must be an SC or SPR)
3. Children under your legal custody, care and control (for widowed/ divorced persons)

So this is where the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme comes in, if you’re a young couple who has not been married yet!

This is great news as you do not have to be pressured to marry first before you can purchase a flat.

However, you and your partner will need to solemnise your marriage within 3 months of collecting your keys.

Can I apply for a BTO flat before marriage?

You are able to apply for a BTO flat before marrying your partner via the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme. The only criteria you’ll need to meet is to solemnise your marriage within 3 months of collecting your keys from HDB.

Is there a difference between the Public Scheme and the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme?

The Public Scheme requires you to be married to your spouse when applying for the flat. Meanwhile, the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme allows you to apply for a flat with your unmarried partner. You would need to solemnise your marriage within 3 months of collecting your keys.

The Public and Fiancé / Fiancée Schemes are just 2 methods that you can be eligible to apply for a HDB flat.

What types of flats can I buy under the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme?

You are able to buy both a new flat and a resale flat from HDB under the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme. For new flats, you are able to purchase either a BTO flat or an EC flat. However, your average household monthly income needs to be below the income ceiling for the house type that you’re purchasing.

Under the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme, you are able to buy different types of new flats:

1. HDB flat
2. 2-Room Flexi flats
3. Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) Flat
4. Executive Condominiums (EC)

You are also able to buy a resale flat as well.

The good thing about buying a resale flat is that there is no income ceiling to meet!

This is in contrast to the income ceilings required for a HDB flat or an EC:

Type of Flat	Income Ceiling
4-room flat or bigger	$14,000 or $21,000 (if purchasing with extended or multi- generation family)
3-room flat	$7,000 or $14,000 (depending on project)
EC	$16,000

If you are above the income ceiling, you will be unable to purchase the flat or EC!

However, you will still need to be below the income ceiling to be eligible for:

1. CPF Housing Grants
2. HDB loan

You can read my guide on how to calculate your income ceiling.

What is the eligibility criteria for the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme?

To be eligible for the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme, you can only form a family nucleus with your spouse-to-be. You will need to solemnise your marriage within 3 months of collecting your keys. Moreover, you are unable to change the names to the people listed in the application.

The 4 criteria for the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme is pretty straightforward:

#1 Form a family nucleus with your spouse-to-be

First, you can only form a family nucleus with your spouse-to-be.

This means that there can only be 2 people applying for the flat under this scheme. You are unable to include your family members!

#2 Solemnise your marriage within 3 months of key collection

Next, you’ll need to solemnise your marriage within 3 months of collecting your keys.

The collection of keys is where you’ll need to pay the second part of your downpayment, if you’re eligible for the Staggered Downpayment Scheme.

The solemnisation can be done at the Registry of Marriages in Singapore.

However, if you registered your marriage overseas, you will need to submit a photocopy of your marriage certificate to HDB.

This is done in 2 ways, depending on when you registered your marriage:

Period When You Solemnised Your Marriage	Who To Submit Your Marriage Certificate Photocopy To
Before collecting keys	To HDB Sales Office during key collection appointment
After collecting keys	To managing HDB Branch

The HDB website did not mention the need to submit your certificate if you are solemnising your marriage in Singapore. I believe that you solemnise your marriage with the ROM, HDB will have a record of it too.

Am I able to defer the submission of the marriage certificate to HDB?

It may be possible for you to defer the submission of your marriage certificate. Each appeal will be assessed by the HDB office on a case-by-case basis.

However, you should not rely too much on getting approved for a deferment!

You’ll need to plan it carefully with your partner so that you’ll be able to produce your marriage cert!

#3 You are unable to change the names in the application

When you apply for the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme, only you and your partner will be considered as the joint applicants.

To be eligible for your flat under this scheme, you are unable to change the 2 names in the application.

This means that you can’t add another person’s name when you break up, such as:

1. A new fiancé / fiancée
2. Your parents

Once you and your partner breaks up, you will be forfeiting your application!

#4 Special criteria if you or your partner is below 21 years old

There are some special criteria that you need to meet if you or your partner is below 21 years old:

1. Spouse-to-be is between 18-21 years old

If you are applying for a HDB flat between 18-21 years old, you’ll need to get written consent from your parent or guardian.

Moreover, you can only be listed as an essential occupier in the flat application.

2. Spouse-to-be is below 18 years old

If you are applying for a HDB flat below 18 years old, you will need a Special Marriage Licence from the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).

You will need to submit it to HDB during the flat selection appointment.

What happens to the flat that I applied under the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme if I broke up with my partner?

If you and your partner break up, you will no longer be eligible for the HDB flat you applied for under the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme. As such, neither of you would be able to retain the flat in this scenario.

Applying for a BTO is a major milestone, both financially and for your relationship.

It is very important that you plan ahead first, before going ahead with the application!

What grants am I eligible for if I apply for a flat under the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme?

You are able to apply for the Enhanced Housing Grant (EHG) if you are under the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme. If you are applying for a resale flat, you may be eligible for the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) as well.

For the EHG, you will need to make sure that you are below the income ceiling of $9,000 to be eligible.

Meanwhile, the PHG does not have any income ceiling criteria!

Am I able to rent a flat if I booked an uncompleted HDB flat under the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme?

You are able to rent a flat under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) if you booked an uncompleted HDB flat under the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme. However, you would need to submit your marriage certificate within 3 months of obtaining your PPHS flat.

The PPHS allows you to rent a flat if you’ve booked an uncompleted flat and meet any of these criteria:

1. A married couple
2. Applying under the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme
3. Divorced or widowed parent with children

If you apply under the Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme, you need to submit your marriage certificate within 3 months of obtaining your PPHS flat.

So if you’re thinking of renting a flat from HDB, this is something you’ll need to consider!

You will need to have been married within 3 months of obtaining your rented flat, instead of your new flat.

This may push the timeline for your BTO and marriage even nearer. As such, you’ll need to come up with a comprehensive plan with your partner!

Conclusion

The Fiancé / Fiancée Scheme allows you to apply for a HDB flat with your partner, even though you are not married yet.

Along with the Deferred Income Assessment, this will help you better prepare for your BTO application, even if you’ve just started working!

You can find out what happens when your BTO queue number exceeds the total flat supply here.

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