Complete guide to visas and passes for Singapore, application and requirements for a Singapore visa and FAQs
If you are planning a trip to Singapore and you need a visa, this article details the Singapore visa application.
A Singapore visa allows the holder to enter a Singaporean point of entry, where they will be checked by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers. The ICA decide whether the visitor meets the requirements for entry into the country.
You have to apply for a Singapore visa at least 30 days before you arrive in Singapore.
But keep in mind that just because you have a Singapore visa, it does not mean you will be allowed to enter since the Singapore visa is just pre-entry permission.
If you meet the entry requirements, however, you will receive a Pass which allows you to enter Singapore and stay for the duration that the Pass is issued. For example, for a Singapore tourist visa, you will receive a Visit Pass, usually valid for a maximum of 30 days within a 90-day period.
The majority of the world’s countries can freely enter Singapore without a visa. However, for those that do need a visa, the application process has been simplified. You can apply online, at any time, after Singapore introduced the e-Visa.
The countries whose citizens need a Singapore visa have been categorized into two groups. The Assessment Level I Countries and Assessment Level II Countries. The level in which your country is in determines part of the application process as well as the visa processing time.
See here for a detailed list of who needs to apply for a Singapore visa.
Countries from either assessment level can apply for a Singapore at one of the following:
Even though you fill out your own visa application form, and gather your documents, you cannot submit a Singapore visa application yourself. You need to find an authorized visa agent, strategic partner or local contact in Singapore to submit the Singapore visa application for you.
Authorized visa agents and strategic partners are travel agencies that the Singaporean government has authorized to submit visa applications. They can submit an application on your behalf through the SAVE (Submission of Application for Visa Electronically) that is available on ICA’s (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority) website.
You can ask the nearest Singaporean mission about the information on how to get in touch with a strategic partner.
A Singapore local contact is someone you know and trust in Singapore (citizen or permanent resident) that is eligible to register on SingPass and submit an application for you. They must be at least 21 years old.
If you are applying through a Singaporean diplomatic mission, you will have to get in touch with them regarding their requirements and application process.
You will also have to pay a Singapore visa processing fee.
The requirements for a Singapore Visa application are:
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Once you receive your Singapore visa, you or your partner can print a paper copy of the e-Visa.
If you are from an Assessment Level I Country, it will usually take about 1 day for your Singapore visa to be processed.
If you are from an Assessment Level II Country, your visa will be processed within three days.
In both cases, some applications may take longer to process than usual.
Then, after receiving your visa, you can travel to Singapore, where the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers determine at the entry points whether you should be allowed to enter and issue you a Pass.
If you want to travel to Singapore for tourism purposes, you need to apply for a Singapore tourist visa. The tourist visa application process Singapore is as explained above.
When you reach the immigration checkpoint, if the officers find you suitable for entry, they will give you an Entry Pass.
The Singapore entry pass for a Singapore tourist visa is called a Visit Pass, and it is valid for 14-30 days. If you overstay your visa, you will be punished, so make sure not to do so.
If you want to stay for longer than the permitted time, you will have to apply for a Singapore tourist visa extension before your current visa expires. The visa extension application can be submitted online on ICA’s website or in person at their offices in Singapore.
If you enter via a Singapore tourist visa, you are not allowed to take up any sort of paid employment.
As mentioned before, Singapore visas only allow the holder to travel to Singapore not enter. So, while there are only two types of Singapore visas, Multiple and Single Journey Visa, there are different types of Passes.
If your passport is a machine-readable passport (biometric passport) which follows the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines, you may be eligible for the
Singapore enhanced-Immigration Automated Clearance System (eIACS).
eIACS enables you to clear immigration checks at ICA quicker.
To be eligible for eIACS, you must have an ICAO passport and fulfill one of the following conditions:
You can register and use eIACS at an eIACS Enrollment Center in Singapore, such as at the ICA Building or an eligible checkpoint (Changi Airport Terminal 3, Woodlands Checkpoint, or Tuas Checkpoint).
Your passport must be valid for at least six more months when you apply.
Singapore may be small, but it’s nevertheless one of the most popular destinations in the world.
It is one of the world’s three remaining city-states (the other two being Monaco and Vatican City) as well as one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with an area of only 278.6 square miles (721.5 square km), and an estimated 5.6 million residents.
Out of the overall population, only 3.4 million of them are Singaporean citizens, while the remainder are permanent residents or international students and workers.
With its greenery-filled streets, modern, breathtaking landscapes, malls, delicious street food, and what is known as the best airport in the world (no joke, there’s a flower garden!), Singapore attracts millions of visitors every year.