Types Of Visas In Singapore: Explained

Ready to uncover the Lion City’s visa varieties? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered!

The glitz of Marina Bay Sands, the allure of hawker centers, and a thriving business hub: Singapore is more than just a stopover. Whether you’re exploring, working, or settling, the right visa type is your ticket in.

Let’s dive in!

Singapore Visa

A Singapore visa is an official document issued by the Singaporean Government that allows foreign nationals to enter, stay, and engage in various activities within the country’s borders.

It serves as legal authorization for individuals to visit Singapore for tourism, work, study, or business purposes, depending on the type of visa obtained.

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 decides whether the visitor meets the country’s entry requirements.

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 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 allowing you to enter Singapore and stay for the duration 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 90 days.

Do You Need To Apply For A Visa To Go To Singapore?

The majority of the world’s countries can freely enter Singapore without a visa. However, for those who do need a visa, the application process has been simplified. You can apply online anytime 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.

Types Of Visas And Passes For Singapore

Short-Term Visit Pass allows the holder to enter Singapore for a short social visit for tourism or medical reasons.
Work Passes and Permits: This is what would otherwise be called a Singapore work visa. A work permit or employment pass holder can legally take up work in Singapore.
Dependent’s Pass, available to the family members of Employment Pass. It allows the holder to remain in Singapore for as long as the EP holder does.
Long-Stay Visit Pass, available to the family members of EP holders who do not qualify for the Dependent Pass.
Student Pass: This is the Singapore student visa, available to international students who want to pursue higher education in Singapore.
Visa-Free Transit Facility – a Singapore transit visa available only to nationals from certain countries. It allows them to leave the airport’s transit area and stay in Singapore for up to 96 hours while waiting for a connecting flight.

Singapore Tourist Visa

If you want to travel to Singapore for tourism purposes, you need to apply for a Singapore tourist visa. The tourist visa application process in 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 longer than the permitted time, you must 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.

You must enter via a Singapore tourist visa to take up paid employment.

How To Submit A Singapore Visa Application?

Countries from either assessment level can apply for a Singapore at one of the following:

Online, through a local Singaporean contact or a strategic partner, using ICA’s e-Service.
At a Singaporean diplomatic mission.

Even though you fill out your visa application form and gather your documents, you need help submitting a Singapore visa application.

It would help if you found 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 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), which is available on ICA’s (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority) website.

You can ask the nearest Singaporean mission for 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) who 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.

What Are The Required Documents For A Singaporean Visa Application?

The requirements for a Singapore Visa application are:

Completed Singapore Visa application form: You have to answer questions regarding your personal information, marital status, where in Singapore you will be staying, your address in your home country, the purpose of your visit, your intended stay, and so on.
You must sign the document yourself. When you arrive at the entry port in Singapore, the ICU could ask you to submit it.
Your Passport/Travel Document: It has to be valid for at least six months after your visa expires.
Photocopy Of Your Passport’s Bio-Data: It has to be in an A4 format.
Photocopy of booked airline ticket or travel itinerary. A4 format.
Passport-Size Picture Of Yourself: It must have been taken in the last three months, have a white background, and show you facing forward with a neutral expression. You are not permitted to have headgear unless it is for religious reasons. Even so, the headgear cannot obstruct the face.
Letter of Introduction. This document must be signed by your local contact or strategic partner and be attached to your application.

It asks your contact/partner in Singapore to provide your personal information, the reason you want to visit Singapore, how long you will stay, as well as the relationship between you and them.

A credit card. You will use the card to pay for the Singapore visa processing fee. The card must be a VISA or MasterCard.
Yellow Fever Vaccination (If applicable).

Suppose you have been to the countries in the table below six days before traveling to Singapore. In that case, you must show the ICA officers an International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever at the entry point.

After You Receive Your Singapore Visa

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.

Your visa will be processed within three days if you are from an Assessment Level II Country. 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.

What Is The Difference Between Multiple And Single Journey Visas?

The Single Journey Visa can only be used once. After you leave Singapore, you cannot travel to Singapore with that visa again, even if you still have remaining days.
The Multiple Journey Visa can be used multiple times for as long as it is valid.

What Are The Fees For A Singapore Visa?

Here is the complete fee structure:

Singapore Student Visa: SGD 30 and issuance fee of SGD 60.
Singapore Work Visa: Up to SGD 405, depending on Work pass type.
Singapore Dependent Visa: SGD 105, and another fee of SGD 225 for the Pass.
Singapore Golden Visa: SGD 10,000 + Investment.

How Long Are Singapore Visas Valid For?

The detailed length of stay is as follows:

Singapore Student Visa: 3 months to the length of study
Singapore Work Visa: 6 months – 3 years
Singapore Dependant Visa: Up to 2 years, tied to the validity of the main work pass
Singapore Golden Visa: 5 – 10 years

Visa Extension

Most Singapore visas can be extended, but the process and eligibility depend on your visa type. Here’s a general overview:

Short-Term Visit Pass

If you’re in Singapore on a tourist visa or a short-term visit pass, you can extend it under exceptional circumstances.

You can apply for an extension of your stay in Singapore online using the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

Long-Term Visit Pass and Dependant’s Pass

These can be renewed online via ICA’s e-Service or through the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) website, depending on the specifics of the Pass.

Employment Pass

S Pass and other work-related passes can be renewed through the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) online portal. Your employer typically handles the renewal process.

Student’s Pass

If you’re studying in Singapore, your educational institution will usually assist with the renewal of your

Student’s Pass. Renewal can be done online through the SOLAR (Student’s Pass Online Application & Registration) system.

Moving To Singapore

Living in Singapore is something that many people dream of because life here is considered by many to be life at its best.

Singapore is an efficient and clean Asian city that retains much of the charm of its British colonial days while offering a cutting-edge, well-developed environment.

Singapore’s position on the southern tip of Malaysia has allowed it to develop into one of the most important trade and finance centers in Asia, and today, it is the fifth wealthiest country in the world according to GDP.

It also has the fourth-largest foreign exchange trading center in the world.

Singapore’s population of 5.08 million people (June 2010) primarily consists of people of Chinese (70%), Malay, and Indian backgrounds.

Singapore is a city of robust laws, which are adhered to strictly. While this has given it a reputation as an authoritarian state, the reality is that it keeps the city safe, clean, and well-ordered.

The main religions followed in Singapore are Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity and Tao.

Singapore As An Expat Destination

Expats from all over the world move to Singapore in large numbers yearly; there are approximately 1.31 nonpermanent residents/citizens living in Singapore (June 2010).

Singapore is widely regarded as the most accessible city in Asia for expats to fit into, and it allows foreigners an opportunity to become acquainted with different cultures in a relatively safe and modern environment.

Singapore is an excellent location to raise a family, and the availability of high-quality education, low price of home help, and strong security means that bringing up children here is often easier than it would be in your home country.

The standard of living available in this city is notoriously high, and the healthcare facilities are second to none. Singapore has a meager crime rate, and the streets are safe, even in the middle of the night.

There is no shortage of expat groups and clubs throughout the city, so no matter what your nationality, you can always be sure of finding fellow expats somewhere in the city.

One of the few disadvantages of living in Singapore as an expat and becoming a digital nomad is government-censored information that is broadcast via TV and media.

However, the reliable and inexpensive broadband services entail that expatriates can easily overcome this obstacle.

Language

The official language of Singapore is Mandarin Chinese, which is the Singaporean Government’s language. However, English is the most common language and is the language of business and trade.

Children will generally be taught in English in schools but will also be expected to learn Mandarin. Other common languages in Singapore include Tamil, Malay, and Cantonese.

Many Singaporeans speak a language that has come to be known as Singlish. Singlish is a mixture of English and other languages and can be difficult for English speakers to understand.

English speakers seldom experience real problems communicating with people in Singapore.

Critical Facts Every Expat Should Know About Moving To Singapore

It is actually warmer and drier in the eastern part of Singapore. This is worth bearing in mind when you are choosing which area to live in.
In Singapore, you must pay a tax to own a television (the license fee).
There is a restriction on which dog breeds you can bring into the country. There is also a limitation on the number and type of animals you are allowed to own depending on the building you live in.
Left-hand drive cars are not allowed in Singapore, and there is no point in importing any left-hand drive vehicle.
You may drive in Singapore on your license for up to one year, but after this period, you will be required to convert to a Singapore license.

Conclusion

Singapore, with its blend of cultures, cuisines, and commerce, remains a top destination for many. As you’ve navigated the plethora of visa options, remember: the right paperwork is your passport to everything the city-state offers.

Visa Victory!

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