Singapore Student's Pass

Any foreigner accepted by an educational institution for full-time study must apply, unless already holding a valid Dependant's Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass or Immigration Exemption Order; if that pass ends during the studies, a Student's Pass becomes necessary. ICA publishes slightly different procedures for universities and polytechnics, private institutions, government schools, foreign system schools and kindergartens.

The course must be approved and full time. Among private schools, only EduTrust-certified institutions may take Student's Pass holders; non-EduTrust schools can enrol foreigners only if they already hold a Dependant's Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass or exemption order valid for the whole course. A short course needs no Student's Pass if it ends within the Short-Term Visit Pass or 30 days, whichever is shorter, is a complete stand-alone module and has no practical training with walk-in customers.

ICA charges a non-refundable S$45 processing fee on application, payable by card, Singapore internet banking or PayNow. On issuance you pay S$60, plus S$30 for a Multiple Journey Visa if your nationality needs a visa.

Your school first registers you; you then apply online with its Registration Acknowledgement Letter at least two and no more than three months before the course begins. You may wait abroad, but in Singapore you cannot extend your stay while the application is pending. ICA decides within one week for institutes of higher learning (two weeks if a visa is required) and within one month for private institutions, two weeks for EduTrust-certified ones. Approval comes as an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter, which includes the visa for visa-required nationals but does not guarantee entry. Non-English documents need official translations.

After arrival you complete formalities either at an offsite session arranged by your school or by appointment at the ICA Services Centre, 2 Crawford Street, Level 3. Bring every document named in the IPA and, if required, the Medical Examination Report. Since 27 February 2023 the pass is issued only in digital form: an e-mail explains how to retrieve it on FileSG, and it appears in the Singpass app after three working days. Report passport or address changes to ICA, and cancel the pass when you finish or stop studying, at least three working days before it expires.

One parent or grandparent of a child studying on a Student's Pass may apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass, sponsored by a Singapore citizen or permanent resident aged 21 or over. Fees are S$45 on application and S$60 on issuance, and ICA processes complete applications within six weeks.

MOM lets full-time Student's Pass holders at listed institutions, including the universities and polytechnics, work without a work pass for up to 16 hours a week during term, or on internships that count towards graduation. During vacations students aged 14 and over at listed schools may work without that hourly limit. Exchange students may not work, and students at institutions outside MOM's lists are not covered.