Apply for Appointment

All psychiatrists who intend to provide expert opinion on a matter concerning psychiatry in criminal proceedings in Singapore must be appointed to the Panel of Psychiatrists ("Panel").

Expert opinion provided by a psychiatrist who is not a member of the Panel will not be admissible as evidence, unless the transitional circumstances apply (see section (c) below).

To be appointed to the Panel, the applicant must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Professional Qualifications: The applicant must meet at least one of the following three criteria:

• The applicant is registered as a psychiatrist in the Register of Specialists under the Singapore Medical Council;

• The applicant has successfully completed 3 years of psychiatry residency training in Singapore and is receiving formal training and ongoing supervision by a medical practitioner who is registered as a psychiatrist in the Register of Specialists; or

• The applicant is:

  • registered and authorised to practise as a psychiatrist in a jurisdiction other than Singapore at the time of the application; and

  • the Selection Committee has received certificates of good standing (that are issued within 3 months before or after the date of the application) from the Medical Council or licensing authority of each jurisdiction in which the applicant is registered and authorised to practise as a psychiatrist at the time of the application; and

2. Conduct as an expert witness: The Selection Committee is satisfied that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant has displayed, or is likely to display, a clear lack of objectivity or competence as an expert witness.

More information can be found in the Criminal Procedure (Expert Opinion) Rules 2025.

The application forms will be available on the website on 31 December 2025.

The information that an applicant will need to apply for appointment include:

1. Name and contact details;

2. Basic medical degree, training and qualifications relating to psychiatry;

3. Current job title and name of employer;

4. Jurisdiction(s) in which the applicant is registered and authorised to practise as a psychiatrist at the time of application;

5. If applicable:

   1. Details of any disciplinary action that has been taken or is pending against the applicant as a medical practitioner or psychiatrist, in Singapore or elsewhere; 

   2. Details of any conviction or pending court proceedings for offences involving dishonesty, fraud, obstruction of justice, in Singapore or elsewhere; 

6. For Singapore-registered psychiatrists and local psychiatry residents, medical registration number;

7. For local psychiatry residents, name of supervisor and start date of psychiatry training; and

8. For foreign-registered psychiatrists, declaration that the applicant has arranged or will arrange for a certificate of good standing that is issued within 3 months prior or after the application, to be sent to the Selection Committee.

To minimise disruptions to criminal proceedings, there will be a transitional phase where expert evidence by psychiatrists who are not on the Panel will remain admissible in criminal proceedings if any of the following scenarios apply:

• Transitional scenario 1: Where the expert opinion is adduced in Court between 31 December 2025 and 28 February 2026;

• Transitional scenario 2: Where the psychiatrist has submitted his application between 31 December 2025 and 28 February 2026; and

  • The application is pending; or

  • There is a pending appeal against the Selection Committee’s decision or the psychiatrist is still within the timelines for filing an appeal.

• Transitional scenario 3: Where the psychiatrist's treatment or assessment of the subject had started before 31 December 2025.

More information can be found in the Criminal Justice Reform (Saving and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2025.

The applicant will be notified of the outcome of his or her application after the Selection Committee has considered the application.

If the application was unsuccessful and the applicant wishes to file an appeal against the Selection Committee’s decision, please click here for information on how to do so.

If the application is approved by the Selection Committee, the applicant will be appointed to the Panel for a period of up to 2 years.

Please take note of the following:

• All psychiatry residents who are appointed to the Panel must, within 14 days after being notified of the outcome of their applications to be (a) accredited as a psychiatrist by the Specialists Accreditation Board; and (b) registered as a psychiatrist in the Register of Specialists, inform the Selection Committee of the outcome. Please click here for more information.

• All members of the Panel are advised to familiarise themselves with the grounds for revocation and the revocation proceedings here.