- Find your policy number and ask your insurer for the current net surrender value.
- Check what you give up: the cover, any riders and future bonuses.
- Compare the alternatives: a policy loan, a partial withdrawal, a paid-up policy or a sale.
- Get your insurer's official form, or use its app or portal, and submit the request.
- Keep the acknowledgement, and check the payout against the figure you were quoted.
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How to surrender an insurance policy in Singapore
Surrendering, or terminating, an insurance policy ends it in exchange for its surrender value. This guide covers how it works at every major Singapore insurer, what to check first, and the alternatives.
Sources last checked 14 October 2026
Surrender in five steps
Your insurer's surrender route
Each link goes straight to the insurer's own page. We never ask for your details first. Service centres and phone numbers · Surrendering an endowment · Surrender planner · Surrendering for a parent · 中文退保指南
AIA
AIA+ app or the form library; separate forms for traditional life and Platinum series policies.
Prudential
Ask customer service or your adviser for the form; values in the app or PRUServices.
Great Eastern
Online, through your representative, or at the service centre at 1 Pickering Street.
Income Insurance
Application for surrender of life policy form, by branch or email.
Singlife, including Aviva
MySinglife for policies without cash value; forms by plan type for the rest.
Manulife
MyManulife or the app shows the Net Surrender Value; some policies need another route.
HSBC Life, including AXA
One form for partial withdrawal, full surrender and termination.
Tokio Marine Life
Surrender Discharge Voucher with the original policy for traditional plans.
FWD
Rules differ by product; its help centre explains full and partial surrender.
What you give up
- The policy's cover, including any riders attached to it.
- Future bonuses and the maturity payout.
- Your insurability on today's terms: new cover later may cost more, or be refused.
- The option to change your mind. A surrender usually cannot be undone; Tokio Marine, for one, says a surrendered policy cannot be reinstated.
Alternatives to surrender
Some keep the policy alive; one may pay you more than surrender. See them side by side.
Policy loan
Borrow against the cash value and keep the cover. The loan and its interest come off any later payout. Loan or surrender
Partial withdrawal
Take part of the value where the plan allows it. Cover and future benefits usually fall.
Paid-up policy
Stop paying premiums and keep a smaller policy, where the plan allows it. Ways to stop premiums
Lower premiums
Some insurers, Great Eastern among them, list reducing regular premiums as an option.
Sell the policy
For an eligible endowment or whole life policy paid in cash, a buyer may pay more than surrender value. How selling works
Documents you usually need
- Your identification, as your insurer asks.
- The policy number, and the insurer's form or access to its app or portal.
- Proof of your bank account, for direct credit.
- Sometimes the original policy document. Tokio Marine asks for it; Income says it does not need it.
- Consent from trustees or an assignee, where the policy has them.
How long insurers say it takes
These figures measure different stages, so they are not a ranking. Checked 14 October 2026.
| Insurer | What it publishes | What the figure covers |
|---|---|---|
| Great Eastern | About 3 to 7 working days to a local account; up to 2 weeks overseas | Payout after processing |
| Income Insurance | Aims to pay within 7 business days of processing | Payment |
| Singlife | About 5 working days after complete documents | Processing, before payout |
| Tokio Marine Life | About 3 days for complete cases | Payment |
| Manulife | A 3pm cut-off sets the processing day | Processing |
Cancelling a new policy is different
A newly bought policy usually has a free-look period, typically 14 days, in which you can cancel it under its own terms. That is not a surrender. Check your policy document for its free-look terms.
Surrender questions
Can I surrender online?
Many insurers offer an app or portal route; others need a form. Your insurer's official page above says which applies to your plan.
Will I get back what I paid?
Often not, especially in the early years, because set-up costs are recovered over the term. Why surrender value starts low
Can I surrender only part of a policy?
Some plans allow a partial withdrawal. It usually reduces the cover and the payout. Ask your insurer what your plan allows.
Can I undo a surrender?
Usually not. Once the insurer has processed it, the policy has ended.
Do I have to go through my adviser?
No. Insurers accept requests through their own channels, though your adviser can help you with the form.
Before you surrender, check one more number
We tell you whether we would buy your policy, and the surrender route stays open either way.