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The Istana

The Presidency

Learn about Singapore's Head of State.

Last updated 28 May 2026

The President is Singapore’s Head of State and serves as a unifying figure for all Singaporeans. Alongside ceremonial and community roles, the Elected President has specific powers under the Constitution aimed at strengthening checks in the system, including safeguarding Singapore’s past reserves and ensuring the integrity of the public service.

Before 1991, the President was elected by Parliament and represented the nation in ceremonial roles at home and abroad. In January 1991, the Constitution was amended to introduce the Elected Presidency. Since then, the President has been directly elected by the citizens of Singapore for a term of six years. There are no term limits.

The Elected President continues to perform the traditional ceremonial roles of the Head of State.  He or she also has discretionary powers under the Constitution, including to veto government budgets that risk drawing on past reserves and key appointments in the public service. The President also plays a unifying role in the community – championing causes including multiculturalism, social upliftment, volunteerism, and sports and the arts.

The current President, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, was sworn in as the ninth President of the Republic of Singapore on 14 September 2023. Encik Yusof Ishak was the first President of the Republic of Singapore, serving from 1965 to 1970. (See List of Former Presidents here.)