Singapore · Student
Singapore Student's Pass
Student’s Pass
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Key facts
Student's Pass is a student route for Singapore. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- SGD 45 ≈ $35 · +2 more
Cost, time and long term
Government feesSGD 45 ≈ $35 · +2 more
- SGD 45 (≈ $35)Non-refundable processing fee per application.
- SGD 60 (≈ $47)Issuance fee for the Student’s Pass, paid on completion of formalities.
- SGD 30 (≈ $23)Multiple Journey Visa fee, where applicable.
RenewalRenewable
The pass is tied to your course and can be renewed with ICA approval.
Permanent residenceTime here counts
Students who have passed a national exam (PSLE, GCE N, O or A levels) or are in the Integrated Programme can apply for permanent residence. ICA weighs family ties to Singaporeans, economic contribution, qualifications, age and length of residency, and processes applications within 6 months if documents are complete.
CitizenshipTime here doesn't count
Citizenship needs at least 2 years as a permanent resident (aged 21 or over); time on this pass is not counted.
ProcessingOfficial timeline
ICA processes applications for universities, polytechnics and other institutes of higher learning within one week, or within two weeks if a visa is required. A new application for a private education institution is processed within one month (the page says within two weeks for an EduTrust-accredited institution); renewals and transfers there take one week.
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, SingaporeImmigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
- Needs a place at a school or university in Singapore
- Work isn't allowed on this route
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- The student is accepted for an approved full-time course at an eligible institution; part-time courses and courses held in the evening or on weekends are not eligible.
- A private education institution must be EduTrust-certified: only those can offer places to foreign students, and no Student's Pass is issued for study at one that is not certified.
- Some holders of a valid Dependant's Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass may study without a Student's Pass while that pass remains valid.
- Short courses may be exempt from the Student's Pass.
What you must show and pay3
- A fee of SGD 45 (≈ $35) · Non-refundable processing fee per application.
- A fee of SGD 60 (≈ $47) · Issuance fee for the Student’s Pass, paid on completion of formalities.
- A fee of SGD 30 (≈ $23) · Multiple Journey Visa fee, where applicable.
Steps1
- For a private education institution, apply online at least two months and not more than three months before the course starts.
What happens at day 183
How Singapore decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a preceding_calendar_yearOne key tax-residence test is presence/work for at least 183 days in preceding calendar year; additional tests include continuous 3-year presence and certain cross-year employment.
- At least 183 days in a previous calendar yearForeigner tax residence by stay or work in Singapore
- Foreign-source income
Territorial
Singapore taxes income arising in or derived from Singapore, including employment exercised there; foreign-sourced income received in Singapore by resident individuals is generally exempt.
All tax rules for Singapore Tax records checked
Full official text
Required for foreign nationals accepted for full-time study at an approved Singapore institution, unless an exemption/other existing pass applies. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- A fee of SGD 45 (≈ $35) · Non-refundable processing fee per application. 3
- A fee of SGD 60 (≈ $47) · Issuance fee for the Student’s Pass, paid on completion of formalities. 4
- A fee of SGD 30 (≈ $23) · Multiple Journey Visa fee, where applicable. 4
Requirements
- The student is accepted for an approved full-time course at an eligible institution; part-time courses and courses held in the evening or on weekends are not eligible. 1
- A private education institution must be EduTrust-certified: only those can offer places to foreign students, and no Student's Pass is issued for study at one that is not certified. 2
- Some holders of a valid Dependant's Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass may study without a Student's Pass while that pass remains valid. 1
- Short courses may be exempt from the Student's Pass. 1
- For a private education institution, apply online at least two months and not more than three months before the course starts. 2
Stay
- Normally tied to course duration and ICA approval; precise validity depends on the issued pass.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Open to eligible foreign nationals subject to the program rules and general entry requirements.
Work
No general work right; work is limited to separate statutory exemptions/permissions.
Official sources
- Student’s Pass · Immigration and Checkpoints Authority · checked 2026-10-12
- Student's Pass: private education institutions, application and processing time · Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore · checked 2026-10-12
- Student’s Pass: institutes of higher learning, application and fees · Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore · checked 2026-10-12
- Completion of formalities and issuance of Student’s Pass · Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore · checked 2026-10-11
- Becoming a Permanent Resident · Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Singapore · checked 2026-10-11
- Becoming a Singapore Citizen · Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Singapore · checked 2026-10-11
Student's Pass and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student's Pass | – | – | No |
| Study visa (ED) Thailand | – | 3 mo, renewable | No |
| Student visa Japan | – | 4.3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Student visa · Non-formal Indonesia | – | 4 yr, renewable | No |
| Student visa United Arab Emirates | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Student's Pass?
A fee of SGD 45 (≈ $35). Non-refundable processing fee per application. A fee of SGD 60 (≈ $47). Issuance fee for the Student’s Pass, paid on completion of formalities. A fee of SGD 30 (≈ $23). Multiple Journey Visa fee, where applicable.
How long can I stay on the Student's Pass?
Normally tied to course duration and ICA approval; precise validity depends on the issued pass.
How long does the Student's Pass take to process?
ICA processes applications for universities, polytechnics and other institutes of higher learning within one week, or within two weeks if a visa is required.
Can I work on the Student's Pass?
No. No general work right; work is limited to separate statutory exemptions/permissions.
Does the Student's Pass lead to permanent residence in Singapore?
Time on the Student's Pass counts toward permanent residence in Singapore. Time on the Student's Pass doesn't count toward citizenship.
How are Student's Pass holders taxed in Singapore?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Student's Pass. The standard rules apply: Singapore taxes income arising in or derived from Singapore, including employment exercised there; foreign-sourced income received in Singapore by resident individuals is generally exempt.
More in Singapore
Study visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 6 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Student’s Pass · Immigration and Checkpoints Authority · checked 2026-10-12
- Student's Pass: private education institutions, application and processing time · Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore · checked 2026-10-12
- Student’s Pass: institutes of higher learning, application and fees · Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore · checked 2026-10-12
- Completion of formalities and issuance of Student’s Pass · Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore · checked 2026-10-11
- Becoming a Permanent Resident · Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Singapore · checked 2026-10-11
- Becoming a Singapore Citizen · Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Singapore · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.