All You Need to Know about the Student Pass in Singapore

It’s no surprise that Singapore’s education system is regarded as one of the best in the world.

Singapore schools constantly rank high in world rankings, and countries even adopt the teaching methods used here because they’re effective (case in point: Singapore math).

Because of all this, many young people from all over the world want to come to Singapore to further their education. If you’re one of these people, then you should know that you need a student pass before you can make your dreams come true.

If you don’t know how to apply for a student pass in Singapore, I’m here to help. This article details everything you need to know—from the different types of student passes to the process of applying for one.

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What is a student pass in Singapore?

Also known as a student visa, a student pass is essentially a document that allows you to attend an approved education institution in Singapore.

If you’re 19 years old or below, your student pass application will be handled and processed directly by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

However, if you’re beyond 20 years old and you’re planning to study vocational, commercial, language, or fine arts courses, you may be required to appear for an interview as part of your application process.

What are the types of student passes in Singapore?

You’ll only need one student pass in order to study in Singapore, but this pass comes in two types:

Student Pass Based on the Duration of your Program. How long is your program going to be? Is it a short one that takes only a few months, or will it take a few years of study?
Student Pass Based on the Type of Program You Want to Attend. Is your program a certificate or a vocational course? Or are you taking a bachelor’s/master’s/doctorate?

No matter which variant you choose, the registration process and fees will be the same. So, make sure to pick the right type for your program.

What schools accept students with a student pass in Singapore?

International students with a student pass are accepted to study in any approved schools (whether public, private, or independent schools), Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), or Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs) that they prefer.

This table shows all the IHLs and ITEs that accept students with a student pass.

ITEs	Local Universities (IHLs)	Local Polytechnic Schools (IHLs)	Offshore Institutes with Local Campuses (IHLs)
ITE College Central ITE College East ITE College Wes	National University of Singapore Nanyang Technological University Singapore Management University Singapore Institute of Technology Singapore University of Social Sciences Singapore University of Technology and Design	Nanyang Polytechnic Ngee Ann Polytechnic Republic Polytechnic Singapore Polytechnic Temasek Polytechnic	École Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales INSEAD (Singapore) SP Jain School of Global Management DigiPen Institute of Technology German Institute of Science and Technology — TUM Asia Sorbonne-Assas International Law School

Can I get employed as a student pass holder in Singapore?

The great thing about being a student pass holder is that you’re allowed to get employed while you’re studying. You do need extra passes, which can be any of the following:

Type of Pass	Description
Training Employment Pass	Applicable to students who are undergoing practical training; must be earning at least S$3,000 per month
Work Holiday Pass	For students ages 18 to 25 who want to work and spend their holiday in Singapore
Training Work Permit	For students or semi-skilled trainees who are undergoing practical training for up to six months

Applying for a Student Pass in Singapore

When should I apply for a student pass in Singapore?

Anyone who’s not living in Singapore but wants to study here can apply for a student pass. That said, keep in mind that you can only apply for a student pass after you’ve been accepted into a full-time course in any of the nation’s schools.

On the off-chance that you want to transfer to a different school but you’ve already applied for a student pass, then you need to submit a new application.

What are the required documents for a student pass application in Singapore?

Whether you’re attending a private school, public school, IHL, or ITE, the documents for your student pass application will be mostly the same.

The Registration Acknowledgement Letter from your chosen school
Your birth certificate and travel document biodata page (if applicable)
Your personal information, including your educational background, employment history, financial support, countries or places you’ve previously lived in
Personal information of your parents, spouses, and/or siblings (if applicable)
Your residential details and contact details in Singapore
Your email address
A passport-sized, digital, and colored photograph of yourself that’s taken within the last three months
If you’re 12 years old or below, you need to submit your vaccination information to Health Promotion Board (HPB).

Security Deposit

If you’re attending an approved private education institution and your student application pass is accepted, you’ll get an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter that will inform you if you need to pay a security deposit or not.

The following are the only ones who don’t have to pay a security deposit:

Citizens of Malaysia or Brunei
Foreigners who hold a valid Dependant’s Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass, or Work Pass
Children or spouses of a citizen or permanent resident
Foreign students attending a full-time course at an EduTrust-accredited PEI
Foreign students attending a full-time university program (graduate or postgraduate) at an EduTrust-accredited PEI (except the tuition programs at the University of London)
Students who are under 16 years old when applying for their student pass

If you don’t meet any of the criteria above, you’ll have to pay the security deposit, and you must do it using Banker’s Guarantee. The amount that you have to pay depends on the country you’re from.

Country/Place	Amount Per Person
Bangladesh, Myanmar, People’s Republic of China, and India	S$5,000
Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand	S$1,000
Others	S$1,500

Local Sponsor

If you’re attending an ITE, a government-aided institution, or an independent school, another requirement you need to have is a local sponsor. Essentially, a local sponsor must either be a Singaporean Citizen or a permanent resident (PR) aged 21 or older.

Ideally, your local sponsor should be your parent/step-parent or any relative. If you don’t have anyone you know, don’t worry because there are citizens and PRs who are willing to sponsor foreign students.

How do I apply for a student pass in Singapore?

The general procedure for applying for a student pass is submitting your application via the ICA’s e-Service portal. You must submit your application at least two months and not more than three months before your classes begin.

You don’t have to be in Singapore while your application is still being processed by the ICA. In fact, it’s recommended that you only come to Singapore when your student pass application has been approved.

If you’re attending an IHL or an ITE, you might have to undergo additional steps, as detailed below.

If You’re Attending an IHL

If you’re attending an IHL, you need to get your admission letter from your chosen IHL and see if the school is registered with the SOLAR system. If so, then the school will have already provided your important details to SOLAR.

The IHL will then provide you with an application reference number, which you can use to access SOLAR and begin your application process. Simply put in the required information and submit the necessary documents.

If You’re Attending an ITE

If you’re attending an ITE, your Registration Acknowledgement Letter will have a unique reference number that you can use to get your application forms: one for yourself and another for your parents.

After that, your local sponsor will have to log in to e-Service so that they can complete and submit Forms V39s and V39Q.

Once you’ve done everything, it’s time to pay the application fees.

How much does it cost to apply for a student pass in Singapore?

When you apply for a student pass in Singapore, you’ll have to pay a processing fee of S$30.

This amount is non-refundable, and you can pay it using any of the following methods:

Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card
American Express (AMEX) credit card
Internet Direct Debit (DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB, and Standard Chartered Bank Internet Banking accounts in Singapore)
PayNow

How long does it take to process the student pass in Singapore?

It usually takes around two weeks for the ICA to process your student pass application in Singapore. The average turnaround is 10 days for most applicants.

That said, it’s possible that the processing time might take longer, especially if you’re applying sometime between July and August. That’s because this is a busy period; most universities in Singapore start their classes during this time.

FAQs about Student Pass in Singapore

Can I stay in Singapore after my student pass expires?

Your student pass should last as long as you need to finish your studies, and if you ever plan to continue taking classes, you can always renew your pass via the e-Service.

However, if your student pass has expired but you still want to stay in Singapore, you can do so—but only if you have a valid short-term visit pass.

Applying for a short-term visa pass is another procedure altogether, so keep that in mind when you’re considering going through this process.

What are the benefits of having a student pass in Singapore?

The main benefit of having a student pass in Singapore is that you get to study in any of the elite schools in the country. In other words, you’ll be able to enrich your education in ways you’ve never done before.

Additionally, you’ll have the chance to work while studying here too, which is great because you’ll be able to gain experience that you can use when you enter the workforce full-time in the future.

Can I convert my student pass into a full-time employment pass in Singapore?

Students can definitely convert their student passes into full-time employment passes if they decide to stay in Singapore to look for work. But you’ll have to do a few extra steps before this happens.

First, you need to get a visa pass—preferably one that’s valid for a year—so that you can have enough time to look for employment in the country. Then, when you finally get work, you or your employer can apply for an employment pass.

How much is the monthly expense for students in Singapore?

There’s no way to determine exactly how much students spend every month because it depends on their lifestyle and programs. That said, the common monthly expense average for students in Singapore is about S$1,500–3,300.

It’s possible to stay on the lower end of the monthly expense spectrum, especially if you have family in Singapore. However, it’s also possible to have a higher monthly expense, especially if you choose to get other necessities like health insurance.