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 a Singapore visa is just pre-entry permission, so it doesn’t automatically grant you immigration pass.
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.
Do I Need to Apply for a Visa to Go to Singapore?
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.
Here’s who needs to apply for a Singapore visa:
- Armenia*
- Azerbaijan*
- Belarus*
- Korea*
- Georgia*
- India*
- Kazakhstan*
- Kyrgyzstan*
- Moldova*
- China*
- Russia*
- Tajikistan*
- Turkmenistan*
- Ukraine*
- Uzbekistan*
- Afghanistan**
- Algeria**
- Bangladesh**
- Egypt**
- Iran**
- Iraq**
- Jordan**
- Kosovo**
- Lebanon**
- Libya**
- Mali**
- Morocco**
- Nigeria**
- Pakistan**
- Saudi Arabia**
- Somalia**
- Sudan**
- Syria**
- Tunisia**
- Yemen**
* Assessment Level I Countries
**Assessment Level II Countries
Countries that Don’t Need a Visa for Singapore
Every other country who was not mentioned on the list above is exempt from holding a Singapore visa. Visa-exempt nationals can stay in Singapore without a visa for a maximum of 30 days except for the following countries, who are allowed to stay for 90 days:
- European Union citizens
- New Zealand
- Norway
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- United States
Types of Visas and Passes for Singapore
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.
- Short Term Visit Pass, which allows the holder to enter Singapore with the purpose of a short social visit, for tourism, or medical reasons.
- Work Passes and Permits. This is what would otherwise be called a Singapore work visa. The holder of a work permit or employment pass 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 foreign 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 transit area of the airport and stay in Singapore for up to 96 hours while they wait for a connecting flight.
Required Documents for Singapore Visa Application
The documents required 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 (which must be a VISA or MasterCard) to pay for the Singapore visa processing fee.
- Yellow Fever Vaccination (If applicable). If you have been to the countries on the table below six days before traveling to Singapore, you will need to show the ICA officers at the entry point that an International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever.
How to Submit a Singapore Visa Application?
Even though you fill out your own visa application form, and gather your documents, you cannot submit a Singapore visa application yourself. 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
- 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.
At a Singaporean diplomatic mission
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.
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, the processing time for your Singapore visa will usually be 1 day.
- 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.
What is the Difference Between Multiple and Single Journey Visa?
- The Singapore Single Journey Visa (SJV) can only be used once. After you leave the country, you cannot travel with that visa again, even if you still have remaining days.
- The Multiple Journey Visa for Singapore (MJV) can be used multiple times for as long as it is valid.
What is eIACS?
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.
eIACS Eligibility
To be eligible for eIACS, you must have an ICAO passport and fulfill one of the following conditions:
- Be a Singapore citizen, permanent resident or Long-Term Pass card holder. You must be over six years of age and have your fingerprints registered with the ICA.
- Have a Singaporean S Pass, Employment Pass, Dependant’s Pass or Work Permit and have your fingerprints registered with MOM (the Singaporean Ministry of Manpower).
- You are registered in ICA’s Frequent Traveller Programme (FTP).
- You are leaving Singapore and had registered your fingerprints on arrival.
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.