International visas

If you are planning a trip to Singapore and you need a visa.

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 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.

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.