P1 Registration Singapore 2026: Complete Guide for Parents (2027 Intake)

P1 Registration 2026 Overview

Every year, the Ministry of Education (MOE) conducts the Primary 1 (P1) Registration Exercise for children entering Primary 1 the following January. The 2026 P1 Registration Exercise is for children starting Primary 1 in January 2027.

Registration takes place in multiple phases over July and August. Each phase has specific eligibility criteria, and priority is given to children with closer ties to the school — starting with siblings, then alumni connections, then volunteers, and finally open registration.

Key Facts at a Glance

Who Is Eligible for P1 Registration 2026?

Your child is eligible for the 2026 P1 Registration Exercise if they were born between 2 January 2020 and 1 January 2021 (inclusive). This means your child will turn 6 or 7 years old in 2027.

Citizenship Requirements

• Singapore Citizens (SC): Eligible for all phases and have priority over PRs during balloting
• Permanent Residents (PR): Eligible for all phases but ranked below SC children in the same distance band during balloting
• International Students: Not eligible for P1 Registration. Apply through MOE’s International Students Admissions Exercise instead.

All Phases & Estimated 2026 Dates

The P1 Registration Exercise is conducted in five phases. Each phase serves a specific group of applicants. You may only register your child at one school per phase.

Phase 1 — Sibling Priority

Phase 2A — Alumni & School Connections

Phase 2B — Volunteering & Community

Phase 2C — Open Registration

Phase 2C Supplementary — Remaining Vacancies

Summary: All Estimated Dates at a Glance

Distance Priority System

When a school is oversubscribed in any phase (except Phase 1), MOE uses a distance-based priority system to determine which children are offered places. Distance is the most critical factor in balloting.

The Three Distance Bands

How Priority Is Determined

Within each distance band, the priority order is:

1. Singapore Citizens living within the distance band
2. Permanent Residents living within the same distance band

If there are still more applicants than places within the same citizenship and distance group, a computerised ballot is conducted.

How Distance Is Measured

• Distance is based on the home address on the child’s or parent’s NRIC
• It is calculated using a straight-line measurement between the residential address and the school
• Address changes made after the registration deadline will not be considered

How Balloting Works

Balloting occurs when a school receives more applications than available places in a given phase. Here is how it works:

1. Applications are sorted by distance band (within 1km, 1–2km, beyond 2km)
2. Within each distance band, SC children are prioritised over PR children
3. If there are more applicants than places within the same citizenship and distance group, a computerised random ballot determines the outcome
4. Children within 1km are balloted first. If all children within 1km can be accommodated, remaining places go to 1–2km applicants, and so on.

What Happens If Your Child Is Not Offered a Place?

• Your child can be registered at another school in the next phase for which they are eligible
• If unsuccessful in all phases including Phase 2C Supplementary, MOE will post your child to a school with vacancies
• You will not be left without a school place

Frequently Oversubscribed Schools (Based on 2025 Data)

The following primary schools have historically been oversubscribed, meaning they required balloting in one or more phases during the 2025 P1 Registration Exercise. If you are targeting any of these schools, living within 1km is especially important.

Source: MOE P1 Registration 2025 vacancies and balloting data. Past oversubscription does not guarantee the same pattern in 2026.

Parent Volunteering (Phase 2B)

One of the most common strategies parents use to improve their chances is volunteering at their preferred school to qualify for Phase 2B.

Key Requirements

• You must complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer work at the school
• All 40 hours must be completed by 30 June of the registration year (i.e. 30 June 2026)
• Volunteering typically needs to begin by July of the year before registration (July 2025 for the 2026 exercise)
• Each school manages its own volunteer programme — contact the school directly to apply

Types of Volunteering

Common volunteer roles include:

• Library duty
• Helping at school events
• Reading programmes
• Art or sports coaching
• General administrative support

The 30-Month Stay Requirement

If your child is admitted under the “endorsed active community leader” category in Phase 2B, your family must reside at the registered home address for at least 30 months from 1 July 2026. MOE may withdraw the child’s place if the family moves before the 30-month period ends.

7 Tips for Parents

1. Live Within 1km of Your Preferred School

Distance is the single most decisive factor when balloting occurs. Use MOE’s School Finder to check which schools fall within 1km of your home address. If you are planning a move, factor in primary school proximity.

2. Do Not Rely Solely on Alumni or Affiliate Ties

Being an alumni parent (Phase 2A) gives you an earlier phase, but you still need a distance advantage if the school is oversubscribed. Many parents assume alumni status guarantees a place — it does not.

3. Start Volunteering Early

If you plan to qualify for Phase 2B, you need to complete 40 hours of volunteering by 30 June 2026. Many schools have limited volunteer slots. Contact your preferred school by mid-2025 to enquire about their volunteer programme.

4. Shortlist 2–3 Schools, Including a Safer Option

Do not put all your hopes on a single oversubscribed school. Identify at least one school within 1km that is less competitive, so you have a realistic backup plan for Phase 2C.

5. Track Balloting Trends from Past Years

MOE publishes vacancies and balloting data from previous exercises. Study these to understand which schools are consistently oversubscribed and at which phases.

6. Check MOE’s 2025 Vacancies and Balloting Data

Before the 2026 exercise begins, review the 2025 data to see how many places were available at each school after each phase. This gives you a realistic picture of your chances.

7. Understand That Phase 2C Is Open to All

Phase 2C has 40 places reserved per school (shared with 2C Supplementary). Even parents without any prior connections to a school can register in this phase. For many families, Phase 2C is the main opportunity — and living within 1km makes a significant difference here.

P1 Registration Checklist

Use this checklist to prepare for the 2026 P1 Registration Exercise: