The National Service Punggol families deal with is mostly online at ns.gov.sg, from registration at 16½ to exit permits for long trips abroad. The main in-person visit is to the Central Manpower Base (CMPB), now at 91 Hillview Link opposite Cashew MRT, for the pre-enlistment medical screening.

It is a big step for sons and parents alike. A little planning from age 13 makes it much smoother.

This page is part of eduKate Punggol’s Essential Information for Punggol, our quick answers and where-to-go lists for everyday life in Punggol. It walks through the NS timeline from 13 to enlistment: exit permits, registration, medical screening, the enlistment-day packing list, key contacts and where families can find support.

Quick answer

• From 13: male Singapore Citizens and PRs need an exit permit for overseas stays of three months or more.
• At 16½: NS registration. A Notice for NS Registration letter arrives, and your son registers at ns.gov.sg with Singpass.
• Medical screening: at CMPB, 91 Hillview Link, Singapore 669723. Cashew MRT (Downtown Line), Exit A.
• CMPB hours: Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 8am–1pm (appointment only). Check CMPB’s contact page for any temporary closures before you go.
• Questions: NS Contact Centre 1800-367-6767, Monday to Friday, 8am–5.30pm.
• 24-hour support: SAF Counselling Hotline 1800-278-0022.

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National Service Contacts for Punggol Families

There is no CMPB office in Punggol. Most steps are online, and the places below cover the rest.

Where	Address and getting there	Hours (checked October 2026)	Good for
Central Manpower Base (CMPB)	91 Hillview Link, Singapore 669723. Cashew MRT (Downtown Line) Exit A, then the linkbridge to Level 2. Buses 67, 170, 176, 177, 178, 961, 961M, 963 and 970.	Mon–Fri 8am–5pm. Sat 8am–1pm, appointment only. Closed Sun and public holidays.	Pre-enlistment medical screening, in-person registration and other NS transactions.
OneNS / NS Portal	ns.gov.sg (online)	Online	Registration, exit permits, and changing medical appointments.
NS Contact Centre	1800-367-6767 (overseas +65 6567-6767). Email contact@ns.gov.sg (PDF or JPG, up to 4MB).	Mon–Fri 8am–5.30pm, except public holidays.	General questions and reporting sick before enlistment.
SAF Counselling Hotline	1800-278-0022 (mobile charges apply)	24 hours	Counselling support, listed in CMPB’s parents’ guide.
SCDF counselling	1800-286-6666	24 hours	Support for SCDF servicemen.
SPF counselling	1800-255-1151	Mon–Fri 8.30am–6.30pm, except public holidays.	Support for SPF servicemen.
SAFRA Punggol	9 Sentul Crescent. SAFRA’s own page gives two different postal codes, so check the SAFRA Punggol page before using one.	Daily 9am–9pm	The NSmen club in Punggol, with family facilities. Tel +65 6329 5996.

Hours checked October 2026 on CMPB’s contact page. Confirm before you go, and check the same page for temporary closures, which CMPB announces there. If a blog sends you to 3 Depot Road, it is out of date: CMPB’s new building at Hillview was officially opened on 14 October 2025. The NS Contact Centre’s current hours took effect on 17 July 2025.

Which Stage Is Your Son At

Aged 13 to 16½ and going overseas

CMPB writes to boys at 13 about exit permits. For time overseas of three months to under two years, he needs an Exit Permit. For two years or longer, he needs an Exit Permit and a bond. Apply, renew, extend, cancel or check status in OneNS. A permit for overseas study can cover the full course, and extensions are considered case by case.

Above 16½ and going overseas

Overseas stays of three months or longer between 16½ and enlistment are also covered by exit permit rules. We could not confirm the exact requirements for this age group, so check the CMPB exit permit page before booking flights.

Turning 16½

All male Singapore Citizens and PRs are liable for NS registration at 16½ under the Enlistment Act 1970. CMPB asks for registration “at the earliest possible time”. Full-time students apply for deferment during registration. As an example of how the cycle runs, sons born from 1 July to 30 September 2008 registered from 2 to 22 July 2025.

Keen to start early

The Voluntary Early Enlistment Scheme is open to medically and physically fit males aged 16½ and above, with parental consent.

How NS Registration and Medical Screening Work

1. Watch for the letter. The Notice for NS Registration arrives around 16½.
2. Log in at ns.gov.sg. Your son uses his own Singpass.
3. Fill in the details. Personal and family particulars, education details and bank account details.
4. Parent or guardian acknowledges the Medical Screening Questionnaire. Sit down together for this part.
5. Apply for deferment if he is a full-time student. It is done during registration.
6. Book the medical screening. This is the last step of registration. The psychometric test is on the same day.
7. Need to change the date? Do it in OneNS at least three days in advance.
8. Attend at CMPB. Family members can wait at the food court or family-friendly café, and there is a childcare centre on site.

What to Bring on Enlistment Day

• Documents: NRIC, previous immunisation certificates and medical documents (such as the health booklet), and a printout of his PES and medical excuses from eHealth.
• Glasses and watch: spectacles with dark plastic frames only (no contact lenses during training), and a watch with a dark plastic or fabric strap.
• Personal items: toiletries, swimming goggles, civilian clothes with hangers, underwear, an alarm clock and a small padlock.
• SCDF or SPF postings: also a bank book or statement, and the original plus a photocopy of his highest educational certificate.
• Leave at home: cameras, valuables, excess cash, and any military or police equipment bought outside.
• Dress code for everyone: collared shirt, long trousers and shoes. No singlets, shorts, slippers or sandals. This applies to parents and friends too.

Venue and timings come in the Enlistment Notice, so follow that letter. The full list is on CMPB’s enlistment day page.

Bonds, Penalties and Financial Help

• Exit permit bond (ages 13 to 16½, overseas two years or longer): S$75,000 or 50% of both parents’ combined annual gross income for the preceding year, whichever is higher, by Banker’s Guarantee. The exit permit is issued only after the bond is completed.
• Not complying with NS notices or reporting orders: a fine of up to $10,000, jail of up to three years, or both.
• Exit permit breach, ages 13 to 16½: a fine of up to $2,000 for the boy and each parent or guardian.
• Above 16½ overseas without a valid permit: a fine of up to $10,000 and/or up to three years’ jail.
• Money worries during full-time NS: SAF servicemen can ask their Unit Manpower Officer (S1) or MINDEF Shared Services Personnel Services Centre (6373-1161 or 6373-1167). SCDF servicemen ask their Platoon Commander; SPF servicemen ask their Course Manager or Divisional PNSF Personnel Officer.

Neighbour’s Tips for National Service in Punggol

• Plan exchanges from 13. A school exchange or long family stay of three months or more needs an exit permit, so apply before you book.
• Take the train to CMPB. CMPB suggests public transport. Cashew MRT Exit A links to Level 2, and the car park entrance is via Hillview Avenue, with charges.
• Check for closures first. CMPB posts temporary closures and appointment-only days on its contact page, so look before you travel across the island.
• Ignore duplicate reminders. Reminder letters may still arrive after he has registered. Check his status online, and if it is complete, no action is needed.
• Bring something to do. Family members can wait at the on-site food court or café while he is screened.
• Sick before reporting? See a doctor, call 1800-367-6767, and email the MC to contact@ns.gov.sg by 12pm the same day.
• Beware of scams. CMPB says officials never ask for money transfers or bank log-ins by phone. ScamShield Helpline: 1799.

If It Is Urgent or Out of Hours

• Family emergency during SAF training: call your son’s unit using the number in his Enlistment Notice. Leave a message with the Manpower Officer, S1 or Orientation Officer in office hours, or the Duty Officer or Company Orderly Sergeant after hours. No unit details? Call 1800-367-6767.
• SCDF: company lines 6794-5750 to 6794-5755 or 6794-5305/6 (8am–5.30pm). After hours, Duty Officer 6794-5723 or 6794-5724.
• SPF: Home Team Academy Duty Officer 9118-9443.
• 24-hour counselling: SAF 1800-278-0022; SCDF 1800-286-6666.
• Life-threatening emergency: call 995 (ambulance) or 999 (police).

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is CMPB now?

At 91 Hillview Link, Singapore 669723, opposite Cashew MRT on the Downtown Line. The old 3 Depot Road address is outdated.

When must my son register for NS?

At 16½, when the Notice for NS Registration arrives. CMPB asks for registration at the earliest possible time, online at ns.gov.sg or in person at CMPB.

Does my 14-year-old need an exit permit for a holiday?

Only if he will be overseas for three months or more, which is where CMPB’s exit permit rules start for his age group.

How much is the exit permit bond?

For boys aged 13 to 16½ going overseas for two years or longer, S$75,000 or 50% of both parents’ combined annual gross income for the preceding year, whichever is higher.

Can parents wait at CMPB during the medical screening?

Yes. MINDEF says families can wait at the new CMPB’s food court or family-friendly café, and there is a childcare centre on site.

What if my son is sick on enlistment day?

He should see a doctor, call the NS Contact Centre on 1800-367-6767, and email the medical certificate to contact@ns.gov.sg by 12pm the same day.

More Help on eduKate Punggol

• Understanding Punggol: NS registration, deferment, IPPT and NSmen duties: the fuller explainer on NS rules.
• NS for Everyone at SAFRA Punggol: the January 2027 family camp.
• Haze, IPPT and NS FIT: training safety for NSmen.
• Bowling at SAFRA Punggol: a family outing at the club.
• Mental health help in Punggol
• Official: CMPB registration · CMPB exit permits · CMPB parents’ guide

National Service, One Step at a Time

Mark three milestones on the family calendar: 13 for exit permits, 16½ for registration, and the screening date once it is booked. Pack early, keep the Enlistment Notice handy, and save the hotlines in everyone’s phone. When the big day comes, a proper breakfast in Punggol before the journey never hurts.

And if your family is also looking for calm, small-group English, Mathematics or Science, eduKate Punggol teaches classes of three in Punggol. Come find out more: Book a consultation · Chat on WhatsApp

eduKate Punggol
Small-group English, Mathematics and Science
Primary and Secondary
By appointment · +65 8823 1234

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Checked October 2026. Addresses, opening hours, fees and rules change, so please confirm with the official source before you go.