Statute Details
- Title: Fees (Ministry of Home Affairs) Order 2025
- Act Code: FeA1920-S343-2025
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Fees Act 1920
- Legislative Instrument No.: S 343/2025
- Date Made: 15 May 2025
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Enacting Formula (Key Authority): Made pursuant to section 2 of the Fees Act 1920
- Key Provisions: Section 2 (fees payable to the Ministry of Home Affairs); Section 3 (remission of fees); Section 4 (revocation)
- Schedule: Sets out the specific fees (second column) for specified matters (first column) and identifies the person authorised to remit (third column)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Fees (Ministry of Home Affairs) Order 2025 is a subsidiary legislative instrument that establishes the fees payable to Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (“MHA”) for particular administrative matters. In practical terms, it is the legal mechanism that converts fee amounts into enforceable obligations by specifying (i) what matters attract fees, (ii) the amount of those fees, and (iii) the officer or authority empowered to remit those fees in appropriate cases.
This Order is made under the Fees Act 1920, which provides a framework for the imposition of fees by ministerial order. The 2025 Order therefore does not create a new regulatory regime by itself; rather, it updates and consolidates the fee schedule for MHA-related processes. For practitioners, the significance lies in the fact that the fee amounts and the remission authority are set out in a legally binding instrument, and compliance (including payment and any remission applications) must be handled according to the terms of the Schedule and the remission provision.
Although the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule’s detailed fee table, the structure is clear: the Schedule lists “matters” in the first column, the corresponding “fees” in the second column, and the “person” authorised to remit in the third column. The Order’s operative sections then connect those Schedule entries to enforceable payment and discretionary remission.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation). Section 1 identifies the instrument as the “Fees (Ministry of Home Affairs) Order 2025”. This is standard drafting, but it is important for legal referencing, especially where fee disputes or compliance audits require pinpointing the exact instrument in force at the relevant time.
Section 2 (Fees payable to MHA). Section 2 provides the core legal obligation: “The fees specified in the second column of the Schedule are payable to the Ministry of Home Affairs in respect of the matters specified opposite in the first column of that Schedule.” In plain language, this means that if an applicant or person is dealing with one of the “matters” listed in the Schedule, the corresponding fee amount is legally payable to MHA.
From a practitioner’s perspective, Section 2 is the provision that makes the Schedule operative. It is not merely descriptive. It establishes that the fee amounts are not optional and that payment is tied to the specific “matter” category. This is particularly relevant in disputes about whether a particular application, request, or administrative step falls within the “matter” headings in the Schedule. Where classification is contested, the legal question is whether the matter in issue matches the Schedule’s first-column description, thereby triggering the second-column fee.
Section 3 (Remission of fees). Section 3 introduces an important discretionary relief mechanism. It states that “The person specified in the third column of the Schedule may remit wholly or in part the fees specified in the second column of that Schedule in respect of the matters specified opposite in the first column of that Schedule.” This provision authorises remission (full or partial) by the named person for the named matters.
Practically, remission can be critical for applicants facing financial hardship, exceptional circumstances, or where policy considerations warrant relief. The legal effect of Section 3 is that remission is not available to everyone by default; it is available only (i) for matters listed in the Schedule and (ii) through the specific person identified in the third column. For counsel, this means that any remission request should be directed to the correct decision-maker identified by the Schedule and should be framed around the relevant “matter” category.
Section 4 (Revocation). Section 4 revokes the previous “Fees (Ministry of Home Affairs) Order (O 28).” Revocation is legally significant because it clarifies that the 2025 Order replaces the earlier fee instrument. In fee disputes, transitional issues may arise—such as whether the new fees apply to applications lodged before the new Order took effect. While the extract does not state the commencement date, revocation indicates that the prior fee schedule is no longer the operative legal basis once the new Order is in force. Practitioners should therefore confirm the effective date and the relevant version timeline when advising on historical fee liabilities.
Enacting formula and parliamentary presentation. The instrument notes that it is “To be presented to Parliament under section 3 of the Fees Act 1920.” This signals that the Fees Act includes procedural safeguards and oversight for fee-making powers. For practitioners, this is relevant when considering the legislative validity and procedural compliance of the instrument, particularly in the context of administrative law challenges.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured in a short, conventional format typical of fee orders made under the Fees Act 1920. It contains:
(a) A citation provision (Section 1), identifying the instrument;
(b) An operative fee provision (Section 2), which makes the Schedule’s second-column fees payable for the Schedule’s first-column matters;
(c) A remission provision (Section 3), which empowers the Schedule’s third-column decision-maker to remit fees wholly or partly for the relevant matters; and
(d) A revocation provision (Section 4), which removes the prior fee order.
The substantive content is therefore concentrated in the Schedule. The Schedule is the legal “engine” of the Order: it maps matters to fees and identifies the remission authority. When advising clients, lawyers should treat the Schedule as the primary source for (i) fee amounts and (ii) the correct remission pathway.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to persons who are required to pay fees to the Ministry of Home Affairs in respect of the matters listed in the Schedule. In other words, its direct legal effect is on applicants, permit holders, or individuals and entities engaging with MHA processes that fall within the Schedule’s “matters” categories.
Because the remission power is vested in “the person specified in the third column of the Schedule,” the Order also applies to that decision-maker and to the administrative framework for remission. Practically, this means that remission requests must be handled by the correct authority and in relation to the correct matter category. If a client seeks remission, counsel should ensure that the request is directed to the Schedule’s named person and that the factual basis aligns with the “matter” for which remission is authorised.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
First, the Order provides the legal basis for collecting MHA fees. In Singapore’s administrative system, fee payment is often a threshold requirement for processing applications or requests. If the fee is incorrectly calculated, not paid, or paid under the wrong fee category, it can delay processing, lead to rejection, or trigger enforcement consequences depending on the underlying MHA process. Section 2’s linkage between the Schedule’s matter categories and fee amounts is therefore central to compliance.
Second, the remission provision in Section 3 offers a structured, legally grounded avenue for relief. While remission is discretionary (“may remit”), the legal authorisation matters: it confirms that remission is contemplated by law and that the decision-maker has statutory power to remit wholly or partly. For practitioners, this supports properly framed administrative requests and can be relevant in judicial review contexts if a remission decision is challenged on procedural or substantive grounds.
Third, the revocation in Section 4 underscores that fee regimes can change through updated orders. For counsel advising on matters spanning different dates, the “current version” status as at 27 Mar 2026 and the timeline showing the instrument made on 15 May 2025 (and identified as SL 343/2025) highlight the need to verify the applicable version at the time the relevant application was made or the relevant administrative step occurred. Fee liability often turns on timing, and the revocation of the earlier order means that the earlier fee schedule should not be assumed to remain applicable.
Related Legislation
- Fees Act 1920
- Fees (Ministry of Home Affairs) Order (O 28) (revoked by Section 4)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Fees (Ministry of Home Affairs) Order 2025 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.