 A Singapore Government Agency Website How to identify

Application for an HDB Flat

Eligibility (HFE) Letter

Make an informed decision

:
 Log in to the HDB Flat Portal using your Singpass to apply for an HFE letter. The HFE letter will
provide you with a holistic understanding of your housing and financing options and help you
plan your flat budget before you embark on your home buying journey. If you are a second-
timer, it will also provide information on the resale levy/ premium that you will have to pay if
you purchase another subsidised flat from HDB.

Integrated loan application service

You can request an In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the participating financial institutions (FIs)
concurrently when you apply for an HFE letter. The IPA will provide you with the FI’s indicative
loan assessment. Your chosen FIs will liaise with you directly on the outcome(s) of your IPA
application and you will be able to confirm the FIs’ loan offer through the HDB Flat Portal after
securing a flat. Read more about the integrated loan application service.

Guide to HFE letter application

Find out about the application process and important information about the HFE letter below.

When to apply
Plan and apply for the HFE letter early before you buy a flat. 

You must have an HFE letter when you are buying a flat:

Buying a new flat Buying a resale flat

You must have a valid HFE letter when you You must have a valid HFE letter before
apply for a flat in our sales launches from you obtain an Option to Purchase (OTP)
August 2023 or during open booking of from a flat seller, and when you submit
flats. your resale application to HDB.

We have made the following arrangements to facilitate the transition to the HFE letter:

Buying a new flat Buying a resale flat

For flat applications submitted before 9 If you have a valid Intent to Buy (ITB) and a
May 2023 valid HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE) letter for
an HDB housing loan, you may proceed to
:
 You may proceed with your flat purchase obtain an OTP from the flat seller and
without an HFE letter. If you are submit your resale application without an
shortlisted to book a flat and intend to take HFE letter.

up an HDB housing loan, we will invite you

to apply for an HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE)
letter, ahead of your appointment to book
a flat.

For the May 2023 sales exercise

To participate in the May 2023 sales
exercise, you will need to obtain a
preliminary HFE assessment by
completing “Step 1: Preliminary HFE
check”. Thereafter, you may apply for a flat
in the May 2023 sales exercise.

You must complete “Step 2: Apply for an

HFE letter” and submit the required
information to HDB, within 30 calendar
days of initiating Step 1.

If you are shortlisted to book a flat, you

must have a valid HFE letter before you
book a flat.

Additional notes
Applicants must submit a fresh application for an HFE letter if they wish to make any
changes (e.g. change in household members). This is on the condition that they have
not used the earlier HFE letter to apply for a new flat or obtain an Option to Purchase
from a resale flat seller.
Eligible first-timer couples who are full-time students or National Servicemen, or have
completed their studies or National Service in the last 12 months before their flat
application may qualify to defer the income assessment for an HDB housing loan and
the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant till about 3 months before keys collection.

How to apply
Here is an overview of the HFE letter application process. 
:
 Read the steps below for more details, or view our step-by-step guide to applying for an
HFE letter.

Step 1: Based on the information you provide, you will receive an instant
Preliminary preliminary assessment of your household’s eligibility for flat purchase,
HFE check
CPF housing grants and HDB housing loan. You can use the
information for your advance planning.

Proceed to Step 2 within 30 calendar days of starting Step 1 to

confirm the outcome, if you are keen to buy a flat.
:
 Step 2: Apply All applicants and required occupiers, where applicable, will need to
for an HFE log in to HDB Flat Portal with Singpass to retrieve personal particulars
letter
from Myinfo, and fill up the application.

You will be notified via SMS to view your HFE letter details on the
HDB Flat Portal within 21 working days* upon HDB’s receipt of your
completed application and full set of information. You may use the
HFE letter to work out your flat budget and begin your home search.

* The processing time is expected to be longer during peak periods such as in the
months nearing a sales launch, and you could receive a confirmed outcome beyond 21
working days. Do apply for an HFE letter early.

Additional information
Have valid All applicants and required occupiers must have a valid Singpass
Singpass account when applying for the HFE letter.
account
Please visit the Singpass website if you need to register for a Singpass
account.

Provide You have to start Step 1 afresh if there are any changes to the details
accurate you have provided.
information
when
completing
Steps 1 and 2

Complete If you can, complete your preliminary HFE check and apply for an HFE
Steps 1 and 2 letter within the same calendar month that you started Step 1.
within the
same calendar Otherwise, you will need to update the employment and income
month details of all persons listed in the application^.

^ E.g. You have completed Step 1 in May 2023 and proceed with Step 2 in Jun 2023.

Check status of Log in to the HDB Flat Portal at any time to check the status of your
application HFE letter application.
:
 Income guidelines and documents
Understand the guidelines for income assessment and documents to get a
headstart on your application.


When you apply for your HFE letter, you will be guided to retrieve your information via
Myinfo to minimise form-filling and reduce submission of documents. Notwithstanding,
supporting documents may be required on-request basis for some cases. You will be
informed accordingly if you need to do so.

Get a headstart on your application by reading our income guidelines. If supporting

documents are required, do ensure the following before uploading your documents for a
smoother application process:
• All files are in PDF, JPG or PNG format, and are not encrypted
• Each file is up to 5 MB and the total size of all files is up to 40 MB
• The file names have only alphabets, numbers, spaces, dashes (‘_’), hyphens (‘-‘) or
full stops (‘.’)

Validity and review of HFE letter

Understand when and why your HFE letter may be reviewed. 

Validity of HFE The HFE letter is valid 6 months from the date of issue.
letter
There will be no re-assessment during this period if:

There are no adverse changes in the incomes and financial

positions of the household; and
There are no changes to the applicant(s) and occupier(s) listed in
the HFE letter application

Review of HFE The outcome of your HFE letter will be reviewed if:
letter
Any given information is untrue or incorrect
You and any persons listed in the application do not comply with
:
 any terms and conditions to buy an HDB flat, apply for CPF
housing grants and/ or take up an HDB housing loan
There are any changes in your household income, family
members, or other circumstances such as changes in HDB’s
policies and/ or processes which may affect your eligibility to buy
an HDB flat, apply for CPF housing grants and/ or take up an
HDB housing loan

If you have We will review your financial position nearer the completion of the
booked an flat, to confirm that there are no adverse changes in your ability to
uncompleted
service the HDB housing loan. If there are such changes, the HDB
flat from HDB
housing loan amount may be reduced.

Next steps with your HFE letter

Set off on your home buying journey with your valid HFE letter. 

With your HFE letter, you can embark on your buying journey with certainty. Check out the
infographic for the next steps in your home buying journey.
:
:
 NEXT STEPS

Income Guidelines Working Out Your Finding a Flat

and Documents Flat Budget Find out more about the
Understand the Plan your finances and types of HDB flats
guidelines for income budget for a flat available for sale and
assessment and purchase with our ABCs design features of new
documents to get a of financial planning flats.
headstart on for your and financial tools.
HFE letter application.

Housing & Development Board

Contact Us Feedback    
Subscribe to HDB eAlert Service

Download Mobile@HDB

© 2023, Government of Singapore

Last Updated 10 May 2023
: