Quora Answer: If My Son has Double Citizenship, & Serves NS in Denmark, Does He Still Need to Serve NS in Singapore?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “My son has double citizenship - Danish and Singaporean.  If he serves NS in Denmark, does he still need to serve NS in Singapore?”

Singapore does not recognise dual citizenship.  While the government cannot force people not to be the citizens of other nations, since it is theirs to give and withhold, it can refuse to recognise their rights and obligations that contradict with ours.  As a Singapore citizen, he is forbidden, according to the Constitution, from serving in the armed forces of another nation.  In the case of a unit such as the French Foreign Legion, he might possibly have to serve a term in the detention barracks.  In the case of serving national service in the regular armed forces elsewhere, he will likely have his Singapore citizenship revoked.

If your son is below the age of 21, and he intends to renounce his Singapore citizenship, his parent or guardian has to write in to MINDEF, and request that his national service obligation be deferred to age 21, the age where he is legally allowed to renounce his citizenship.  Once he reaches 21, he must renounce his citizenship.  If he changes his mind, he has to fulfill his national service obligation.