Singapore, a cosmopolitan city, has earned the title of the ‘World’s Greatest City’ by CNN. The education system of Singapore stands out & is one of the best in the world. The beautiful infrastructure of its universities also makes it a great option for students. Not only this, but Singapore is also comparatively cheaper than UK, USA, Canada, & Australia. It is also one of the leading global business hubs. If you plan to study here, you will need a Singapore student visa. In this article, we shall cover everything you should know about the Singapore student visa.
Eligibility:
In Singapore, a visa is called a pass. So what is a student visa in other countries is a student pass in Singapore.
Please note that international students whose study program lasts for less than 30 days do not need to apply for a Singapore student visa.
However, if your program is for more than one month, you will need a Singapore student visa. You will also have to fulfill the following eligibility requirements to successfully apply for the Singapore student visa:
-You must have a valid passport that must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your period of stay in Singapore.
-You have been accepted to an accredited institution or university in Singapore.
-You have enough money to cover your living expenses & pay for your tuition.
-You can prove to return to your home country once your program ends.
-You promise to obey the rules & do not overstay.
-You can prove your English language proficiency by submitting an English language test score.
Documents Required:
You will need the following documents to apply for the Singapore student visa:
1. Valid passport
2. Letter of acceptance
3. eForm 160
4. Proof of Financial Support
5. English language test score
6. Other Documents (as required)
The details of all these documents are given below:
1. Valid Passport:
You must have a valid passport that is valid for at least 3 months beyond your period of stay. Your passport also helps the visa officer to verify your identity & personal details. You may also be required to provide colored passport size photographs.
2. Letter of Acceptance:
Your letter of acceptance from the school or university where you have been offered a place is one of the most important documents. The school will also have to register you through the SOLAR system, without which you can not apply for a Singapore student visa.
3. eForm 160:
Once you have been successful registered in the SOLAR system, you will have to apply for eForm 160 & submit it. Make sure that you print a copy as evidence of your submission of the form.
4. Proof of Financial Support:
Like every other country, you will need to prove that you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses throughout your stay in the country & school tuition fees. It is one of the most important documents that carry a lot of weightage to finalize whether you should be granted a Singapore student visa or not.
5. English Language Test Score:
Since English is one of the four official languages of Singapore and the majority of the Corporates & Educational institutions strictly follow English, you will have to submit proof of your command over the English language.
6. Other Documents:
In addition to the above-mentioned documents, you may be asked to provide other documents, including the medical test document, character certificate, fixed deposits statement, academic transcripts, etc. So we would recommend you to keep these documents handy before you set to apply for the Singapore student visa.
How to apply?
To apply for a Singapore student visa, the first thing you will have to do is to gather all the required documents that are mentioned above. Once ready, follow the below-mentioned steps.
Step 1: Check whether you have been registered for the Students Pass Online Application & Registration (SOLAR) system. Generally, the school themselves register students through SOLAR.
Step 2: Fill out & submit eForm 16. It will include your passport details, email address, Singapore address, & your passport size photographs.
Step 3: Upon submission, print a copy to submit it to the Immigration & Check-point Authorities (ICA).
Step 4: Pay the processing fee of SGD 30. You will also have to pay the issuance fee of SGD 60 once your application is approved by the ICA.
What happens after you apply?
After you submit the application to ICA, you will have to wait for your application to be processed. Generally, the application for the Singapore student visa is approved within 2-3 weeks. But it is highly recommended to apply 4-5 weeks prior to your course begins to be on a safer side.
The application for your Singapore student visa is processed directly by the ICA. However, many a time Embassy demands an interview. The interview can play a major role to decide whether you should be given a visa or not. So take it very seriously.
Also, students are allowed to work part-time, that is, a maximum of 16 hours a week. After the program ends, if a student has bagged a full-time offer from a Singaporean company, then he/she can apply for an employment pass to continue staying in Singapore.
Arriving in Singapore:
Once your application is processed & approved by the ICA, you can prepare to travel to Singapore. After you land in Singapore, you will have to present yourself for immigration clearance at your port of entry. The officer will check all your documents, including passport, visa, SG arrival card, etc.
If satisfied, the officer will issue you a visit pass. You can then enter Singapore.
After that, you will have to present yourself for baggage clearance. Make sure that you do not fly with any items that are prohibited to bring in Singapore, including tobacco, drugs, or firecrackers.
Singapore is a country of great diversity & one of the most advanced and developed countries in the world. The country is also home to some of the most prestigious schools & universities. It is also said to be the smartest & safest country in the world. With so many benefits in the cart, Singapore is, no doubt, among the best choice to pursue your higher education.
You can check for Australia Student Visa, Canada Student Visa UK Student Visa US Student Visa Germany Student Visa
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