Student Pass
All international students require a Student Pass issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to study in Singapore. Please apply for the Student Pass early as the application process may take quite a while. The Office of the Undergraduate Admissions will be corresponding with you shortly with regard to your Student Pass application.
If you have any queries concerning your Student Pass application, please contact
| Ms Sarah Ng | Tel: (65) 6828 0305 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Student Pass
Do I need to apply for a Student's
Pass?
Yes, once you are accepted by SMU, you are required to apply for a Student’s
Pass, unless you have a Dependent's Pass (with letter of consent issued by ICA) or an Immigration Exemption Order. The
visa application procedure varies for different levels of education and different
education institutions.
Please go to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for details. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will also be able to provide guidance on the necessary procedures.
If I have a dependent pass, do I still have to apply for a student pass?
Dependant Pass Holders can choose to retain their dependant pass before reaching 21 years of age instead of having a student pass. However, they are still required to go through the application process. - The student can then proceed to ICA with their Form 16, Approval letter and a letter requesting for a letter of consent (LOC) to study. This is a self written letter to sign off by student and if present, the parent as well. On receipt of the 3 items, ICA will issue him/her a LOC. Students may choose to retain their dependant's pass but ICA must issue them with a letter of consent (LOC) to study.
What do I need to apply for a Student's Pass?
- A Valid Passport
- A Letter of Offer from SMU (You must have done your online acceptance)
Application for student pass is done online at the Immigration Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website. You must receive a SOLAR application number from SMU before you can submit your application online. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will be liaising with all accepted international applicants with regards to student pass application. Correspondences will be sent by email, thus please ensure that you have stated a valid email address in your application.
Are there any vaccination requirements
for foreigners visiting Singapore?
Visitors coming from or who pass through any country which is partially or wholly
endemic for yellow fever or cholera within six days prior to their arrival to
Singapore will have to produce recognised certificates of vaccination.
I am a foreign student. How do I
know whether I need a visa to visit Singapore?
For students who require visa to enter Singapore, the student pass application includes a Single-Journey Entry Visa for ONE-MONTH stay in Singapore till all formalities has been completed upon your arrival in Singapore. We will send the approval letter via registered mail once your student pass is approved, so that you may use the letter as a visa to enter Singapore. You are not required to apply for a separate visa.
If you wish to visit Singapore for personal reasons, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website will give you a list of countries whose nationals require visas to enter Singapore.
Medical Examination
Do I need to go for a medical check
up?
With effect from 1 March 2000, ICA requires all applicants for long-term passes,
including Student's Passes, to undergo a medical examination. This includes a
general physical medical examination, a chest x-ray and a test for AIDS-causing
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The examination must be conducted by approved
hospitals / clinics in Singapore. This rule applies to anyone visiting Singapore
for 6 months or more for the purpose of education.
Can the medical examination be done
in my home country besides Singapore?
If you are a new applicant and not in Singapore, the medical examination can
either be done in your home country or in Singapore by a qualified doctor.
However, the medical examination required for subsequent renewal of the Student's Pass must be done in Singapore. The doctor must record and certify the results of the medical examination in the designated medical report form.
The medical report should not be issued more than three months from the submission or renewal date of your application; and should be translated in English. If a medical report is submitted to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority or Ministry of Manpower not more than two years from your submission date, there is no need to re-submit a fresh medical report.
Withdrawal of Studies
What should I do if I terminate
my studies early?
On early termination of your studies (e.g. withdrawal or refused re-admission)
at the University, students should bring their Student's Pass to the Immigration
and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) within 7 days of cessation of the studies
for cancellation.
Working in Singapore
As an international student, can
I work part-time?
A full-time matriculated international student of the university holding a valid
Student’s Pass may take up employment in Singapore during the vacation
and is exempted from applying for a work permit as stated in the Work Permit
Exemptions Notification.
However, during term time, a student holding a valid Student’s Pass is only allowed to work part-time for less than 16 hours per week. A letter of consent is not required from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority or the university.
Useful Information
I will be visiting Singapore for
the first time. Are there customs formalities I should
observe when I arrive at the airport?
You may wish to visit the Singapore
Customs website for more information.
Where can I obtain general information
on visiting Singapore?
You can obtain information on Singapore's tourist attractions from the Singapore
Tourism Board (STB) website, Visit
Singapore.
How much does it cost to study and
live in Singapore?
Compared to other countries, the cost of education and living in Singapore comes
with a relatively affordable price tag. Your monthly expenditure, however, is
highly dependent on your course of study, lifestyle and personal needs.
