Singapore has lenient visit pass and visa requirements for citizens of most countries. If you are a citizen under the following countries mentioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it means that you wouldn’t have to apply for a visa before departure.
The period of the short-term visit pass varies for each country or region. Visitors from ASEAN countries, for instance, are entitled to 30 days of stay, whereas those from countries in the European Union are entitled to 90 days of stay. The length of stay may seem long enough for leisure purposes, hopefully, to entice tourists and travellers to Singapore, especially now that the country has begun to establish travel bubbles with several countries such as Germany and Brunei. These travel bubbles allow tourists to visit Singapore without serving a stay-at-home notice (SHN). You may roam around Singapore as long as you have your vaccination documents with you.
However, for those who visit for reasons other than leisure, like medical purposes, the given length of stay may not be adequate; they may wish to extend their stay in Singapore. This is where a Singapore visa pass extension comes into the picture. As the name implies, it means that you request your visit to be extended past your original date. This process must be done online via Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA). It is advisable to apply for a visa extension seven days before the expiry date of your visa pass to avoid overstaying, which is a punishable offence.
Visit Pass Singapore– What documents do you need to apply for an extension?
According to the ICA, in applying for your visa extension, several documents must be submitted via the e-Services. They are as follows:
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- Passport with at least six months validity and to submit a copy of the page that contains your personal particulars.
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- Disembarkation/Embarkation (D/E) number that can be found in your SG Arrival Card.
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- If you have immediate family members who are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents, a document proving the relationship is required.
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- Those seeking an extension for medical purposes must fill out a Form V75, stating the details of the illness and the length of stay needed for treatment. It must be endorsed by a registered doctor in Singapore.
The need for a local sponsor
Generally, you don’t need a local sponsor if your extension request is only for 30 days, unless you are originating from these countries. If you seek an extension of 89 days from the date of entry, you will also need a sponsor.
Please note that the local sponsor needs to be a Singaporean Citizen or a Singapore permanent resident who is at least 21 years old with a Singpass account. You and your local sponsor may also be requested to attend an interview at the ICA Building for further clarification.
Fees and processing time
You must pay $40 when the current valid pass reaches a period of 90 days or more from the date of entry or the pass being issued. It usually takes one to three business days for your extension pass to be given regarding processing time.
A $40 fee is required to extend your visa after your current valid pass reaches a period of 90 days after being issued. It usually takes one to three business days to process your visa extension request.
As you can see, applying for a visa extension in Singapore is not as complicated as it may seem if you know the proper documents and fees to submit. We hope this article can guide you to extend your existing pass with ease.
Having trouble getting your Visa extended in Singapore? Reach out to Lanturn today.
