Singapore Student Visa

Singapore has emerged as a popular study destination and is home to renowned institutions like  Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and National University of Singapore (NUS) which have state-of-the-art faculties and high-quality programs. Owing to its quality institutions, affordable education and low cost of living, Singapore attracts a large number of students all around the world. Singapore was also ranked as the world’s second safest city after Tokyo by the Economic Intelligence Unit. If you are aspiring to study in Singapore, here’s a guide on obtaining a Singapore student visa, including the application process, the documents you will require and other key essentials to keep in mind.

Must Read: Top Colleges in Singapore

Why Study in Singapore? 

Singapore is home to well-reputed international universities such as Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and National University of Singapore (NUS) which are amongst the top-ranked academic institutions renowned for state-of-the-art faculties and high-quality programs. The low cost of living and affordable tuition fees are the central factors contributing to its popularity as a study destination amongst foreign students. The Economic Intelligence Unit has ranked Singapore as the world’s second safest city after Tokyo and has been lauded for the maintenance of ‘Health Security’ comprising of speedy access to healthcare and emergency series, amongst others.

What is Singapore Student VISA?

Also referred to as the ‘Student Pass’, a Singapore Student Visa is an essential document that foreign students need to obtain to pursue full-time study programs in Singapore especially for courses lasting for more than 30 days. The Singapore government has designed a specific scheme named the SOLAR system, i.e. Student’s Pass Online Application and Registration system which is the official registration department that monitors the student visa applications.

•  Students are advised to submit an application for a Singapore Student Visa at least a month before the beginning of the academic year or semester during which you will be pursuing a program. 
• For students below 19 years of age -The student passes are processed directly by the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority for students who wish to study in a private institution.
• For students aged 20 or above, they are required to give an interview in case they plan to study Vocational, Fine Arts degrees or Language or Commerce programs. 
• Students in possession of a Singapore Study Pass are allowed to work part-time jobs in the city. Further, you will be asked to submit your Singapore Student Visa a week after the course completion. 
• For those students looking for employment opportunities in Singapore after the end of their course, they are required to apply for the ‘visit’ pass that allows international students to extend their stay for a year in order to explore work prospects in the country.

Country	Singapore Student Visa
Duration	2 years
Work Permit	Up to 16 hours in a week
Age Limit	Above the age of 19
Processing time	15 Days to 4 Weeks
Price	-Rs. 1637 Processing Fee -Rs. 3275 Issuance Fee

Covid-19 Latest Update 

Covid- 19 has affected international education. Several countries have imposed travel restrictions. While some countries are welcoming students from across the globe, some are still not open for international students. Students with the student pass will be allowed to study in Singapore. Students also have to provide the health declaration authorized by the ICA and MOE.

Cancellation of Student Pass

International students are expected to cancel and return their student pass (STP) after the completion of their programs. Students are expected to surrender their pass to the immigration and checkpoints authority within 7 days in case the students are

1. Converting to part time Studies.
2. Students terminating their studies.
3. Are opting for Leave of Absence (LOA) for prolonged periods. 

Many universities have authorities that help with the cancellation of STP’S online. However, students can also do it in person by visiting the below address:

Visitor Services Centre ICA Building
10 Kallang Road, Level 4 (next to Lavender MRT Station)
Singapore 208718

In order to get the STP  cancelled the students must carry STP Cancellation Form, Valid travel document, and STP card. Students also have an option of submitting their student pass to the ICA authorities who will be present at the airport.

Types of Passes

Students can procure various passes in order to work in Singapore in various categories, namely

Type	Required by
Training Work Permit	Students undergoing practical training upto 6 months as well as semi skilled foriegn workers.
Training Employment Pass	Foriegn professionals undergoing practical training and must earn a minimum of S$3,000/ month.
Work Holiday Pass (under Work Holiday Program)	Students in the age group of age 18 to 25 who’d like to work and holiday in Singapore for no longer than 6 months.
Work Holiday Pass (under Work and Holiday Visa Program)	This visa is for Australian students in the age group of 25 – 30 who’d like to work and holiday in Singapore for no longer than a period of 6 months.

Visa Fee for Singapore Student Visa

To obtain a Singapore Student Visa, candidates need to submit the processing fee as well as the issuance fee which is as follows:

• Processing Fee: S$30 [1629 INR roughly] (Non-refundable and need to be submitted along with the application to ICA.
• Issuance Fee: S$60 [3258 INR roughly] (required to be paid by the applicant once they complete the formality at the issuance of a visa at ICA)

Step-by-Step Guide to Get a Singapore Student Visa

Let’s have a look at the detailed process of obtaining the Singapore Student Visa and the other documents required for the process: 

Documents Required

As per the guidelines specified by the SOLAR authorities of Singapore, here is a list of documents you need to submit while applying for a student pass:

• Proof of sufficient funds 
• Letter of admission from the university 
• Passport and at least 2 recent passport size photographs
• Birth certificate 
• SOP, resume as well as 3 Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
• Visa fee receipt and 3 completed application forms
• Degree certificates, academic transcripts and scores of international exams such as GRE, IELTS/TOEFL, etc. 
• Travel and Health Insurance
• Vaccination Certificates

Application Process

Once you have gathered the above-mentioned documents, the application process for the student pass might differ as per the university or the institute where you have gained admission. You can explore the official website of Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore to know more about the process specified for your chosen university. Below mentioned are the key steps that your application will go through once you have successfully registered for a Singapore Study Visa:

• After you have submitted the student pass application, it will take minimum 15 days or a maximum of 4 weeks for visa processing.
• The visa interview might not be a part of the process (depending on the university where you have got admission) and in this case, the candidate will be informed beforehand.
• The final processed visa will be sent to the candidate through courier or it can be collected directly from the Embassy. 
• The Singapore Student visa is then submitted to the ICA two months before the beginning of the academic session. 
• For those students applying through the online portal, you can keep a tab on your visa application by logging on the website using your Unique Transaction Reference Number. 

Rejection Rate for Singapore Student Visa

Every year many students from India move to Singapore to pursue their higher education abroad. The entire process is long and involves many steps. One of them is applying for a Singapore student visa. Applying for a visa does not mean that it will be accepted. Authorities have the right to deny or reject the Singapore student visa application. While the chances are less but it can be rejected. Some of the few reasons it is rejected are because of the incomplete documents, not able to fulfill the academic requirements, English proficiency scores, etc.

Success Rate for Singapore Student Visa

As compared to other countries the success rate of Singapore student visas is good. The success rate of the visa is 90% above. Here are some of the things to keep a check on while applying for a Singapore student visa to ensure the success rate. Academic records, employment details, financial documents, passport size photographs, etc. 

Where to Apply for Singapore Student Visa?

New Delhi

• Embassy: Singapore High Commission
• Address: Chancery N-88, Panchsheel Park
• Contact No.: +91-11-41019801

Chenni

• Embassy: Singapore Consulate
• Address: 17-A North Boag Road
• Contact No.: +91-44-2815-8207

Mumbai

• Embassy: Singapore Consulate
• Address: Consulate 101, 10th Floor, Maker Chambers IV, 222, Jamnalal Bajaj Road, 
• Contact No.: +91-22-2204-3205

FAQs

We hope that this blog provided you with the details of obtaining a Singapore Student Visa. If you need assistance for writing impressive SOPs, LORs and academic essays, you can get in touch with our Leverage Edu experts and we’ll guide you throughout the process of applying for a study program in Singapore along with sorting out accommodation issues as well.