Singapore visas: tourism, study and work

A practical guide to entering Singapore for tourism, study and work: who needs an entry visa and who does not, the SG Arrival Card, the Student's Pass and the main work passes. Updated October 2026.

Important: Singapore's rules are set by ICA, Singapore's border and checkpoints authority, for entry and study, and by MOM (Ministry of Manpower) for work. For study and work, your In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter is the key document. Always check the official pages before you travel.

In short

• Do I need a visa for tourism? Most travellers do not. Citizens of the UK, the EU, the US, Canada, Australia and Latin American countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru can visit without an entry visa. Nationals of just over 30 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, India and Egypt, do need one.
• Do I need the SG Arrival Card? Yes. Almost all travellers must submit it online, free of charge, within 3 days before arrival. It is not a visa.
• How long can I stay? Your length of stay is set by the electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) issued at the checkpoint, not by the validity of any visa.
• Studying? You need a Student's Pass for a full-time course at an approved institution.
• Working? You need a work pass (EP, S Pass or another) before starting work. The employer applies, not the candidate.

1. Who needs an entry visa and who does not

No entry visa needed (examples)

• United Kingdom and the European Union, including Spain, as well as other European countries such as Switzerland and Norway;
• North America and Oceania: the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand;
• Latin America: none of the Latin American countries is on ICA's visa-required list as of October 2026, which covers Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay and others.

No visa does not mean automatic entry. At the border you may be asked for a passport valid for at least 6 months, a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation and sufficient funds.

Entry visa required

According to ICA, nationals of the following countries need a visa: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Moldova, Morocco, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Yemen. The rule also applies to certain travel documents, such as refugee travel documents and alien's passports. Holders of diplomatic and official passports of some of these countries may be exempt.

The list can change, so check your nationality on the ICA website before you plan your trip. Even with an entry visa, the final decision is made by the ICA officer at the checkpoint.

No-Boarding Directives since January 2026

Since 30 January 2026, ICA pre-screens passengers on flights to Singapore. Travellers who do not meet the entry requirements, for example because they lack a required visa or a passport with at least 6 months' validity, may be refused boarding by the airline at check-in.

2. Tourism and short business trips

For tourism, visiting friends and relatives, business meetings, conferences and short visits, most nationalities simply enter as visitors. Working on a visitor entry is not allowed.

Before you fly and at entry

• submit the SG Arrival Card with the electronic health declaration within 3 days before arrival (including the day of arrival), free of charge on the official ICA website or in the MyICA app. Avoid third-party websites that charge a fee;
• keep your accommodation booking, return or onward ticket, insurance and proof of funds handy;
• biometrics (fingerprints, face and iris) may be taken at the checkpoint; refusing may lead to refusal of entry;
• after entry, check the length of stay on your e-Pass. If you need more time, you can apply to ICA for an extension of your Short-Term Visit Pass.

If you need an entry visa: documents

• Form 14A: the completed and signed application form. With online submission through the e-Service, paper forms 14A and V39A may not be required unless ICA asks for them.
• Photo: colour, passport-sized, taken within the last 3 months.
• Passport: a copy of the data page; the passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
• Translations: documents not in English need an official translation (by an embassy or a notary, or certified by them).
• Form V39A / Letter of Introduction: may be requested; usually signed by a local contact or the inviting company.
• Purpose of the trip: hotel booking, itinerary, invitation, event registration, or a letter from a partner or relative.
• Funds and return ticket: bank statement, proof of income, return or onward ticket. These also matter at the border.
• Proof of legal stay in the country of application, if you are not applying in your country of nationality (residence permit or visa).
• For children: birth certificate, consent from the other parent and copies of the parents' passports.

Where to apply for an entry visa

• through an Authorised Visa Agent or a Singapore Overseas Mission in your country of residence, or in a third country where you hold a residence permit. The list of agents is published by the Singapore mission responsible for that country and changes from time to time;
• through a local contact or strategic partner in Singapore, using the ICA e-Service.

When to apply: ideally within 30 days before arrival. ICA fee: S$30, non-refundable if refused (agents add their own service charge). Processing: around 3 working days, longer for some cases.

96-hour Visa-Free Transit Facility

Some visa-required nationals, including citizens of CIS countries, Georgia, India, Turkmenistan and Ukraine, may use the 96-hour Visa-Free Transit Facility (VFTF) when travelling to or from a third country with a confirmed onward ticket departing within 96 hours. Eligibility is assessed by the ICA officer at the checkpoint and the stay cannot be extended. The VFTF does not replace a visitor visa if your goal is to visit Singapore itself.

3. Study: the Student's Pass

To study in Singapore you need a Student's Pass, which requires acceptance into an approved full-time course. Part-time, evening and weekend courses do not qualify. This applies to all foreign students, including those who can visit Singapore without a visa.

How to apply

• online through the ICA e-Service (SOLAR), after the school registers you and issues a Registration Acknowledgement Letter;
• for Institutes of Higher Learning, apply no earlier than 3 months and no later than 2 months before the course starts;
• you do not need to be in Singapore while the application is processed; once approved, you enter and complete the formalities;
• ICA charges a non-refundable processing fee (S$45 for Institutes of Higher Learning), plus an issuance fee once approved. Processing usually takes about a week, or up to two weeks if you also need a visa.

Documents and information for the Student's Pass

• Registration Acknowledgement Letter or details from the school;
• passport data page;
• birth certificate, if applicable or requested by the system;
• a recent digital colour photo, taken within the last 3 months;
• the application form (Form 16), completed online;
• residence history, education, employment and financial support;
• family details: parents, spouse, siblings;
• your address and contacts in Singapore, if you already have them;
• proof of payment or funds, if requested by the system or the school;
• official English translations of documents in other languages, such as Spanish;
• a Medical Examination Report, not always, but it may be required before issuance; check your IPA letter.

Biometrics and issuance

After approval, the student receives an IPA letter with instructions and completes the formalities either at the ICA Services Centre (by appointment through the ICA e-Service) or at an offsite enrolment organised by the school. The Student's Pass is issued in digital form.

Can I work while studying?

A Student's Pass does not automatically give you the right to work. Full-time students at eligible institutions listed by MOM (such as the main universities and polytechnics) can work without a work pass for up to 16 hours a week during term, take part in an industrial attachment or internship that is part of their course, and work during official vacations. Exchange students cannot work without a work pass. Always check the rules for your specific school and programme.

4. Work

You need a valid work pass before you start working. In most cases the employer or an employment agent applies, not the candidate.

Main types of work pass

• Employment Pass (EP): professionals, managers and executives. The minimum qualifying salary is currently S$5,600 a month (S$6,200 in financial services), rising with age up to S$10,700 (S$11,800) for candidates aged 45 and over. Candidates must also pass COMPASS, a points-based assessment that needs 40 points, unless exempt. For new applications from 1 January 2027, the minimum rises to S$6,000 (S$6,600 in financial services).
• S Pass: mid-level skilled staff such as technicians and supervisors. The minimum qualifying salary is currently S$3,300 (S$3,800 in financial services), rising with age. For new applications from 1 January 2027 it rises to S$3,600 (S$4,000 in financial services), and for renewals from 1 January 2028. Employers are subject to quotas and levies.
• Work Permit: semi-skilled and lower-skilled workers in specific sectors. It is only open to nationals of approved source countries, mostly in Asia, so it is generally not an option for UK, EU or Latin American citizens.
• Training Employment Pass / Training Work Permit: practical training and training attachments.
• ONE Pass / Personalised Employment Pass: for high earners and outstanding talent.

Documents for EP / S Pass

• the candidate's passport;
• the candidate's written consent to the application;
• details of the employer and the position;
• job offer or contract: position, salary, duties, start date;
• CV;
• degrees and qualifications, which may need to be verified;
• proof of experience: reference letters, employment contracts, payslips, portfolio;
• English translations of documents in other languages;
• medical examination or insurance, if stated in the IPA or required for the sector;
• family documents for a Dependant's Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass: marriage and birth certificates, with translations.

The process

1. The employer checks the candidate's eligibility, salary, COMPASS score, quotas and job advertising requirements.
2. The employer or agent applies through the myMOM Portal.
3. The candidate can stay outside Singapore while the application is processed.
4. Once approved, an IPA letter is issued; the candidate enters Singapore with it and completes the process.
5. If required, the candidate gives fingerprints and a photo by appointment at a MOM service centre. A digital work pass is then issued, and the physical card is delivered within the timeframe set by MOM.

For every process, follow the letter from ICA or MOM (IPA, approval letter or notification letter): it tells you whether you need to appear in person, which documents to bring and by when.

5. Quick checklist

• Tourism: check whether your nationality needs a visa; passport valid for 6+ months; return ticket, accommodation and funds; SG Arrival Card within 3 days before arrival. If a visa is needed: Form 14A, photo, translations, trip and financial documents, proof of status in the country of application, and submission through an agent or a local contact.
• Study: offer or registration from the school; Student's Pass application through ICA (SOLAR); passport, photo, Form 16, family and financial details; after the IPA, an appointment for formalities with ICA.
• Work: a sponsoring employer; the right type of pass; salary, COMPASS and quota checks; passport, CV, degrees, experience and contract; after the IPA, formalities and biometrics if required.

How Via Globally can help

Via Globally is a private visa agency, not a government body. We work online and from our offices in Moscow and Barcelona. We can:

• check whether your nationality needs an entry visa and which pass fits your purpose;
• prepare your documents and translations;
• arrange visa submission through an authorised agent where one is needed;
• guide you on the SG Arrival Card, transit and the formalities after arrival;
• help students and professionals prepare for the Student's Pass or a work pass application with their school or employer.

Decisions are always made by ICA and MOM. Free consultation: WhatsApp +34 691 527 216 · viaglobally.com