Singapore Visa

About Singapore Visa

A Singapore visa is an official pre-entry permission that lets the holders arrive at the entry point of Singapore. The ICA or the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore determines all assessment for Singapore visa applications and entries. Look at some important features of the Singapore Visa for Indians:

*Values will vary depending on the category of the visa applied

However, obtaining a Singapore visa alone does not guarantee you entry here. Eligible Singapore visa holders will be issued a visit pass upon arrival in Singapore. The visit pass mentions the number of days that you are allowed to stay in Singapore.

It is wiser for all Indians travelling to Singapore to buy an international travel insurance policy before commencing their trip to Singapore. With a travel insurance plan by your side, you will be covered against any medical or financial emergencies that may occur during your trip.

Features of Singapore Visa

• 96 hours visa-free transit facility (VFTF) provided to all Indians
• Singapore e visa issued to all online applicants
• 10+types of work pass under Singapore work visa for Indians
• Mandatory medical insurance for applicants of S Pass work visa

Singapore Visa Types

There can be many reasons to visit Singapore. A Singapore visa can be availed to suit the requirements of different types of travellers. Indian nationals are eligible for a VFTF or visa-free transit facility for 96 hours. This means they do not need a Singapore transit visa to transit from the Singapore airport. The stay of VFTF cannot be extended beyond 96 hours. 

Look at the different Singapore visa types offered to Indian nationals:

• Singapore Tourist Visa
• Singapore Work Visa
• Singapore Transit Visa
• Singapore Student Pass

There are further subcategories under these Singapore visa types. You can find over 15 types of Singapore work visa and related info on the official website of Ministry of Manpower under Singapore Government.

Singapore Visa for Indians

All Indian passport holders who want to travel to Singapore will require a valid Singapore visa to enter this south-Asian country. Whether you want to visit Singapore as a tourist, for studying or to attend a business commitment, you will need to apply for a Singapore visa. 

Only in the case of Singapore transit visas, Indian citizens are eligible for 96 hours of visa-free transit facility or VFTF in Singapore. In case you need to stay in Singapore for more than 96 hours, you will need to apply for Singapore visa for Indians.

As there is no Singapore visa on arrival for Indians, they should obtain a Singapore visa before their scheduled departure from India. No Indian citizens will be granted a Singapore visa on arrival at Changi airport. However, Indians with official, diplomatic or service passports do not need to apply for Singapore visa for Indians in order to visit this Asian country.

Other than your Singapore visa, other important documents must also be arranged. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, all foreign and Singaporean arrivals must submit the SG Arrival Card before their arrival in Singapore. 

As per the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), travellers can submit their arrival and health-related details before entering Singapore. They can do so through ICA's website or by downloading the MyICA mobile application. Travellers can do so within three days before their day of arrival in Singapore.

Indians should also ensure they have valid travel insurance for Singapore so that they’re safe from emergencies like trip cancellation, emergency hospitalisation, baggage and passport loss, etc. 

How to Apply for Singapore Visa?

Singapore visa applications can be filed online through an authorised visa agent or strategic partner. You will find the list of approved visa agents on the official website. 

If you have a local contact in Singapore, then they can apply for a Singapore eVisa online on your behalf. The Singaporean resident who will apply as a local contact will need to provide details of their passport including passport number and date of expiry along with a Letter of introduction (LOI) for your Singapore visa application (Form V39A).

Follow the steps given below to apply for Singapore eVisa online:

• Visit the official website of ICA
• Go to ‘Apply Online’
• Log in to Singapore Personal Access
• Fill up all the required information
• Upload all the required documents
• Pay the Singapore visa price 
• Submit the visa application
• Download the copy of your e visa/ in-principle approval (IPA) letter

The IPA or the in-principle approval letter issued to an applicant of work visa is valid for 6 months i.e. the holder gets 6 months to come to Singapore. Moreover, it is valid for single entry only.

Documents Required to Apply for Singapore Visa

All Indian nationals who apply for Singapore eVisa need to attach a few documents in support of their visa application. Take a look at the list of documents that you would have to submit as per the type of visa below:

• Duly filled Form 14A signed by the applicant
• One recent passport size photo
• Photocopy of passport
• Copy of the local contact’s passport (if applying for Singapore visa online as a local contact)
• Proof of sufficient funds to support the stay in Singapore
• Submission of Disembarkation/ Embarkation Card or Electronic Arrival Card (Beta)

Refer to the table given below to know about any additional documents that you need to submit along with your visa:

Singapore Permanent Residence (PR)

Singapore PR or Permanent Residence (PR) is a residency permit offered to foreign nationals who want to become a resident of Singapore as a long-term legal resident. All foreign nationals who want to apply for Singapore Permanent Residence should suffice one of the following eligibility criteria. The applicant should be -

• Spouse of a citizen or permanent resident (PR) of Singapore
• Child of a citizen or permanent resident (PR) of Singapore who is below 21 years and is unmarried
• Parents of a citizen or permanent resident (PR) of Singapore
• Holder of S Pass or Employment Pass
• Student studying in a school/ university in Singapore
• Print Visa Application Acknowledgement

Do’s to Ensure Smooth Processing of Singapore Visa for Indians

• Form 16A should be uploaded in PDF format and should not be more than 445KB. Form V39A should not be more than 191KB.
• The photograph should be taken in the last three months and should be taken on a white background
• The passport should be valid for a minimum of six months from your date of arrival in Singapore
• The local Singaporean contact should be at least 21 years of age and more
• Carry a printout of your Singapore e visa while travelling to Singapore

Singapore Visa Fees

Every visa applicant needs to pay Singapore visa fee while submitting their application. Refer to the table given below to check the Singapore visa fees:

Travel Insurance for Singapore

Singapore is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. While Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world, it is also the world’s most expensive city. If in an unfortunate incident, you are forced to avail medical facilities in Singapore, it can cost you way more than it would have back in India. 

There can also be pre-trip emergencies like trip delay, trip cancellation, etc. that might interrupt your trip to Singapore and cause you a financial burden. The only way to stay protected from such emergencies is by purchasing travel insurance for your trip to Singapore.

A travel insurance policy is a safety agent that ensures that you are covered against any sudden emergencies that you may encounter during your trip to Singapore. It provides medical as well as financial assistance to the insured traveller in case of a risk, making sure that you enjoy every moment of the trip without any stress. 

Whether you are travelling to Singapore to study or for vacations, you can get travel insurance that provides coverage such as student travel insurance.

Most travel insurance providers cover the insured traveller from the following risks: 

• Medical expenses
• Personal accident
• Loss of passport
• Personal liability
• Trip & flight delay
• Trip cancellation & curtailment

Buying travel insurance for your Singapore trip is not compulsory as per the guidelines laid by the ICA. However, applicants of an S Pass work visa have to compulsorily maintain a medical insurance policy of a minimum cover of S$15,000. The insurance should cover day surgery and in-patient hospitalisation. 

Moreover, applicants of other types of Singapore visa should also possess a valid travel insurance policy given the unpredictability of life and Singapore being so expensive. Not only will you be better prepared to tackle an emergency but will also save yourself from additional expenses that might upset your travel budget.

How to Check the Status of Singapore Visa?

If you want to check the status of your Singapore visa online, you can do so by following the procedure given below:

• Visit the official website of ICA
• Go to ‘Check Status/ Make Appointment’
• Select the type of visa you had applied for
• Go to ‘Enquire Application Status’
• Enter your details including Visa Reference Number and your passport number
• Check the status of your Singapore visa online