Singapore at a Glance

Visa Requirements for Singapore

Most travelers do not require a visa to enter Singapore.

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Most travelers do not require a visa to enter Singapore. There are, however, two groups of countries (Assessment Level I and Assessment Level II) whose nationals must apply for a visa before travelling to Singapore.

This can be done online through a local contact via the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority or in person at the nearest Singapore Overseas Mission. Business visitors need to provide details of their Singapore business contacts, and tourist visitors should also have a local contact person with a Singapore identity card.

Assessment Level I and II

Visa countries in the Assessment Level I group include

Georgia
India
Myanmar
Nigeria
the People´s Republic of China
members of the Commonwealth of Independent States
holders of a Hong Kong Document of Identity
holders of a Macao Special Administrative Region Travel Permit

Assessment Level II includes:

Afghanistan
Algeria
Bangladesh
Egypt
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Tunisia
Yemen
holders of a Palestinian Authority Passport
holders of Temporary Passport issued by the UAE
holder of Refugee Travel Documents issued by a Middle-East country

Visit Passes and Residency

Everyone entering Singapore, whether from a visa country or not, has to be granted a visit pass. You can apply for a visit pass online or via mail (depending on the purpose of your stay). While a visit pass is usually valid for a short term only, it is possible to apply for an extension.

Spouses or unmarried children of Singapore Citizens can apply to become a Singapore Permanent Resident, as can holders of a P, Q or S work pass (see below), as well as investors and entrepreneurs. Aged parents of Singapore Citizens are also eligible to apply for permanent residency. The completed application must be submitted in person at the Permanent Resident Services Center in Singapore.

It used to be possible to apply for “In-Principal Permanent Residence” before moving to Singapore. Unfortunately, this residency scheme is currently not available. Please contact SMC Management Consultants Pte Ltd in Singapore for further details. Permanent resident status gives foreigners access to Singapore´s social security system.

Employment Passes

Singapore has several categories of work permits, called Employment Passes, which are grouped according to salary rather than occupation. The Ministry of Manpower offers an online self-assessment tool to help applicants find out if they qualify for a certain type of work permit. Below you’ll find a basic overview of the different categories.

There are three types of Employment Pass for highly-skilled professionals who already have a job offer in Singapore: P1 for people with a fixed monthly salary exceeding S$ 8,000, P2 for those who earn more than S$ 4,500 and possess recognized qualifications, and Q1 for everyone with a fixed monthly salary of at least S$ 3,000 and recognized qualifications or relevant work experience.

Application Process

The recruiter must apply on behalf of the prospective employee, which is why these passes are tied to one specific job. Existing EP holders can apply for a Personalized Employment Pass if their employment period has ended and they would like to remain in Singapore in order to seek a new job. The maximum period of stay for a PEP holder is 6 months. Entrepreneurs planning to start and operate a new business in Singapore should apply for the EntrePass.

Until December 2011, people who wanted to work in Singapore but did not have a job offer yet, could apply for the Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate which enabled expats to stay in Singapore for 1 year. Unfortunately, the Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate is not available anymore. If you have received an EPEC before December, 2011, you will be happy to learn that it is still valid. You are eligible to apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass until your EPEC expires.