What’s in this article
- Singapore Student Pass Eligibility Criteria
- Singapore Student Pass Exemptions
- Types of Student Visas in Singapore
- Singapore Student Visa Interview
- Documents Required for Singapore Student Pass Application
- Procedure, Timeline and Fees
- What happens if I want to Transfer Schools / Courses of Study?
- Do I need a Local Sponsor?
- Do I need to pay a Security Deposit?
- Applicants’ Security Deposit Furnishing
- Collecting my Student Pass
- Can I work with a Student Pass?
- FAQs
A foreigner who is 19 years old or younger and wants to study full-time in a private education organization (PEO) registered with the Council for Private Education (CPE) in Singapore must apply for a Student Pass.
Since the Council for Private Education (CPE) launched the Enhanced Registration Framework on December 21, 2009, all PEOs must have EduTrust status to place international students. Furthermore, ICA will only accept Student Pass applications for international students enrolled in EduTrusted PEOs.
You can refer to the Council for Private Education (CPE) for a list of EduTrust-certified institutions.
Singapore Student Pass Eligibility Criteria
If you have already been accepted into an approved Institute of Higher Learning in Singapore, you will be eligible to obtain a Singapore Student Pass. The courses must be full-time courses. Moreover, part-time, evening, or weekend classes do not qualify for a Singapore Student Pass. The following is a list of institutions to which you may apply for a Student Pass.
| Singapore Universities | Singapore Polytechnics | Foreign institutes with branches in Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| National University of Singapore | Nanyang Polytechnic | École Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales |
| Nanyang Technological University | Ngee Ann Polytechnic | INSEAD |
| Singapore Management University | Republic Polytechnic | University of Chicago – Booth School of Business |
| Singapore Institute of Technology | Singapore Polytechnic | DigiPen Institute of Technology |
| Singapore University of Social Sciences | Temasek Polytechnic | University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
| Singapore University of Technology and Design | German Institute of Science and Technology – TUM Asia | |
| Sorbonne-Assas International Law School | ||
| SP Jain School of Global Management |
Singapore Student Pass Exemptions
A foreigner is exempted from applying for a Student Pass if the course:
Types of Student Visas in Singapore
The following is a list of the different types of Singapore student visas:
| Type | Required By |
|---|---|
| Training Work Permit | Students and semi-skilled foreign workers who are receiving practical training in Singapore for up to six months. |
| Training Employment Pass | Foreign professionals who are earning a minimum of SGD $3,000 and are undertaking practical training. |
| Work Holiday Pass | Students between the ages of 18 and 25 who want to work and vacation simultaneously in Singapore for up to 6 months. |
| Work Holiday Pass | For Australian students and graduates between ages 18 and 30 who desire to spend a year working and vacationing in Singapore. |
You can submit Singapore student visa applications through the Student’s Pass Online Application and Registration (SOLAR) system. Furthermore, we will process student visa applications for students under 19 attending college directly. We will interview students over the age of 20.
Singapore Student Visa Interview
ICA interviews students over 20 applying for vocational, language, commercial, or fine arts degrees. Therefore, applicants should apply for a Student’s Pass before arriving in Singapore, as we cannot grant any extensions of stay while processing their applications. Depending on whether an interview is necessary, the process could take up to 2 or 4 months.
Documents Required for Singapore Student Pass Application
Here are the documents that you need to apply for a Singapore Student Pass.
Procedure, Timeline and Fees
You must submit new applications at least 2 months but no more than 3 months before the course start date. You do not need to be in Singapore while we consider your application.
Therefore, applicants should apply for a Student’s Pass before arriving in Singapore, as we cannot grant any extensions of stay while processing their applications. Applicants should only enter Singapore to complete the formalities for the issuance of a Student’s Pass after we have approved their applications. We will issue Student’s Passes within one month of the course start date.
The general processing time for a new application for a Student Pass is about 4 weeks. It may even take up to 2 or 4 months if we require interviews.
There will be a processing fee of $30 for every application and a $60 fee when the successful applicant completes the formality process upon issuance of the Student Pass at ICA.
What happens if I want to Transfer Schools / Courses of Study?
Applicants transferring schools or courses should submit applications at least 4 weeks before starting. ICA usually processes transfer applications in 3 business days, excluding the submission and collection days, after receiving a completed application. Nonetheless, some applications may require a longer time to process.
Do I need a Local Sponsor?
Only Government, Government-Aided, Independent Schools, and Institutes of Technical Education require a local sponsor.
For Singapore citizens or Permanent Residents, you may also opt to sponsor a foreigner to study upon acceptance of an educational institution to pursue full-time study.
Do I need to pay a Security Deposit?
We will issue an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter when we approve your application for a Student Pass. You will then need to complete the formalities and collect your Student Pass card at ICA. The IPA letter will indicate if a Security Deposit is required.
The amount of Security Deposit (if required) is listed in the table below:
| Country Form of Security Deposit | Rate Per Person | |
| i | Bangladesh, Myanmar, People’s Republic of China & India Banker’s Guarantee from any established bank in Singapore or Cashier’s Order | S$5000/= |
| ii | Indonesia, Philippines & Thailand Banker’s Guarantee from any established bank in Singapore or Cashier’s Order or NETS | S$1000/= |
| iii | Others | S$1500/= |
Applicants’ Security Deposit Furnishing
Collecting my Student Pass
After printing out the IPA letter, you can use it to travel to Singapore. Upon landing, show your IPA letter to immigration officers to get a Visit Pass.
You must make an appointment at the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) building to complete the formalities of obtaining a Student Pass before your Visit Pass expires. Additionally, you must submit all documents required on the IPA letter along with a signed Terms & Conditions of Student’s Pass (STP) document. This document declares that you agree to the terms and conditions of a Singapore Student Pass.
Please note that you must pay a fee of SGD $60 for the issuance of your Singapore Student Pass.
Can I work with a Student Pass?
Yes, you are able to work with a Singapore Student Pass without having to get a Work Permit. However, the following conditions need to be met:
Singapore does not allow exchange students to work.
FAQs
An Employment Pass and it’s Employment Pass Requirements is one of the most common work visas here. Employment Pass allows foreign professionals who have job offer in Singapore to relocate there and work. Specifically, it is geared towards directors, managers, executive or those in a specialist role. This pass is valid for 2 years and to be renewed thereafter.
The current regulations regarding the Employment Pass do not bar anyone from receiving one on the basis of nationality. Anyone who meets all of the relevant criteria may receive it. Therefore, any eligible person from any country may receive an Employment Pass.
Those who are interested in obtaining PR status in Singapore ought to know that receiving an EP will make it much easier for them to do so. Therefore, foreigners who are interested in becoming a Singapore PR ought to apply for an EP. However, those who already own an EP but have no desire to become a Singapore PR are not obliged to do so.
