CPF Nomination Form (Singapore)

A CPF Nomination Form in Singapore records the consent or release given and the scope of what the party agrees to.

The CPF Board — the statutory body established under section 3 of the CPF Act to administer the national social security savings scheme — maintains a central register of CPF nominations. A valid nomination requires the member to complete the prescribed form, specify each nominee's full name, NRIC or passport number, percentage share, and relationship, and execute the form in the presence of two witnesses who are at least 21 years old and are not nominees. The CPF Board processes nominations submitted online through my.cpf.gov.sg (with SingPass authentication via GovTech) or at CPF service centres.

CPF nominations operate independently from the member's will. The Wills Act 1838 (Cap. 352) governs testamentary dispositions of property in Singapore, but section 25(2) of the CPF Act expressly excludes CPF monies from the estate governed by a will where a valid nomination exists. The Court of Appeal confirmed this principle in the landmark case of CPF Board v Ong Kim Tiam [1993], establishing that CPF nominations take precedence over conflicting testamentary instructions.

Where no valid CPF nomination exists at the time of the member's death, section 25(2) of the CPF Act directs the CPF Board to transfer the deceased member's CPF savings to the Public Trustee's Office under the Public Trustee Act (Cap. 260). The Public Trustee then distributes the CPF monies according to the Intestate Succession Act (Cap. 146) for non-Muslim members or the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3) for Muslim members. Distribution through the Public Trustee typically takes four to six weeks and involves administrative fees deducted from the estate — 6% of the first S$1,000, 4% of the next S$9,000, and 2% of amounts above S$10,000, capped at S$15,000.

Marriage revokes all existing CPF nominations under section 25(5A) of the CPF Act (as amended by the Central Provident Fund (Amendment) Act 2009). A member who marries after making a CPF nomination must submit a new nomination form to the CPF Board if they wish to designate beneficiaries. Divorce does not automatically revoke a CPF nomination — a divorced member who wishes to remove their former spouse as a nominee must submit a new nomination form. The CPF Board sends periodic reminders to members who have had a change in marital status to review and update their nominations.

As of 2023, the CPF Board reported that approximately 40% of CPF members had not made a valid CPF nomination, meaning their CPF savings would be distributed through the Public Trustee upon death. The CPF Board actively promotes nomination through public awareness campaigns, roadshows at community centres, and integration with the my.cpf.gov.sg digital services platform.

A CPF Nomination Form is needed by every Singapore CPF member who wishes to direct how their CPF savings — across the Ordinary Account, Special Account, MediSave Account, and Retirement Account — will be distributed upon death. Without a valid nomination, CPF savings are handled by the Public Trustee under the Intestate Succession Act (Cap. 146) or the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3), a process that is slower and incurs administrative fees.

Life milestones trigger the need for a CPF nomination or nomination update. Marriage automatically revokes all existing CPF nominations under section 25(5A) of the CPF Act 1953, making a new nomination necessary after the solemnisation registered with the Registry of Marriages (ROM) or Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM). The birth of a child prompts members to add the child as a nominee and adjust existing percentage allocations. Divorce requires a nomination review because the former spouse remains a nominee unless the member files a new nomination — the CPF Board does not automatically remove divorced spouses.

Estate planning coordination demands a CPF nomination that aligns with the member's overall wealth distribution strategy. Since CPF monies are excluded from a will under section 25(2) of the CPF Act, members working with estate planning professionals must execute a separate CPF nomination to cover CPF savings. Members with substantial CPF balances — particularly those who have met the Full Retirement Sum (FRS) of S$205,800 and have excess balances — should review their nominations alongside their will, insurance nominations, and Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) nominations to prevent unintended distribution outcomes.

Members approaching age 55 should review their CPF nomination as their account structure changes — the CPF Board creates a Retirement Account (RA) by combining OA and SA balances up to the FRS when the member turns 55. The nomination form should reflect the member's intended distribution of all four CPF accounts.

Muslim CPF members should be aware that the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3) and Islamic inheritance rules (faraid) apply to CPF monies distributed through the Public Trustee where no nomination exists, but a valid CPF nomination can direct CPF savings to nominees who may differ from faraid beneficiaries. The Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) provides guidance on the interaction between CPF nominations and Islamic inheritance law.

A valid CPF Nomination Form submitted to the Central Provident Fund Board in Singapore must satisfy the requirements prescribed under section 25 of the CPF Act 1953 and the CPF Board's administrative procedures.

**CPF Member Identification** requires the member's full name as registered with the CPF Board, NRIC number, date of birth, residential address, email address, and mobile phone number. The CPF Board verifies the member's identity through SingPass authentication (for online nominations) or NRIC verification (for in-person nominations at CPF service centres).

**Nominee Details** must be provided for each nominated person. Each nominee entry requires: full legal name, NRIC or passport number (for nominees who are not Singapore citizens or PRs), date of birth, relationship to the member, residential address, and the percentage share of CPF savings to be received. The total percentages across all nominees must equal exactly 100%. The CPF Board does not impose a maximum number of nominees, but each nominee must be individually identified with a specific percentage allocation.

**Trustee Appointment for Minor Nominees** is required under section 25(1) of the CPF Act when any nominee is below 18 years of age at the time of the nomination. The member must appoint a trustee — a person aged 21 or above who is not a nominee — to receive and hold the minor nominee's CPF monies in trust until the minor reaches age 18. The trustee's full name, NRIC number, and contact details must be provided on the nomination form. The trustee owes fiduciary duties under the Trustees Act (Cap. 337) and must apply the funds for the minor's benefit.

**Witness Requirements** mandate that the nomination form be signed by the CPF member in the presence of two witnesses. Each witness must be at least 21 years old, must not be a nominee or the spouse of a nominee, and must provide their full name, NRIC number, and signature on the form. The CPF Board rejects nominations where witness requirements are not met. For online nominations through my.cpf.gov.sg, the SingPass authentication replaces the physical witness requirement.

**Legal Context Declaration** confirms the member's understanding that the CPF nomination overrides any will or testamentary instrument for CPF savings distribution under section 25(2) of the CPF Act; that marriage revokes the nomination under section 25(5A); and that the member may revoke or change the nomination at any time by submitting a new nomination form to the CPF Board.

**Muslim Member Advisory** notes that Muslim CPF members may make CPF nominations directing savings to specific persons, but should be aware that where no nomination exists, CPF savings distributed through the Public Trustee are subject to Islamic inheritance rules (faraid) under the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3). The Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) can provide guidance on aligning CPF nominations with Islamic inheritance principles.

**Nomination Confirmation and Records** section addresses the CPF Board's post-submission processing. The CPF Board processes nominations within five business days and sends a confirmation letter to the member's registered address. Members should retain a copy of the confirmation letter with their estate planning documents. The CPF Board recommends that members inform their nominees of the nomination's existence without necessarily disclosing the percentage allocations, so that nominees can contact the CPF Board promptly when the member passes away.

The forms-legal.com CPF Nomination Form template follows the CPF Board's prescribed format, enabling members to prepare their nomination details before submitting through the official CPF portal at my.cpf.gov.sg or at a CPF service centre. Under Singapore law, section 25 of the Central Provident Fund Act 1953 governs the core requirements for this type of document.