Singapore Visa Validity: Exploring Restrictions And Extensions

Singapore is one of the most popular destinations for Indians and one of the best destinations in Asia. There are a lot of things to explore in Singapore, right from futuristic-looking architecture, to cities that bustle with life and cultural attractions to go with them. Before you can fly out to Singapore, you will need to get your visa done.

Here is everything that you need to know about a Singapore visa.

Visa application process

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved several agencies, through which you can apply Singapore visa. You will need to fill out the visa application form, provide two passport-size photographs and have a passport that more than 6 months of validity.

You can choose a type of visa, based on the purpose of your visit. The three popular visa types include Tourist Visa, Business Visa, and Transit Visa.

Validity of visa

The validity of your visa and the length of your stay depends on your visa type.

1. Tourist visa

Tourist visas for Singapore are usually valid between 1 to 3 months. And you can stay in Singapore for up to 30 days, or as determined by the immigration office.

2. Business visa

Business visas for Singapore are usually valid between 1 to 3 months. And you can stay in Singapore for up to 30 days, or as determined by the immigration office.

3. Transit visa

A transit visa allows a traveller to leave the airport and explore Singapore. But you have only 96 hours to explore the city in the meanwhile. If a traveller meets the VFTF or Visa Free Transit Facility, they can leave the airport and explore Singapore without having to pay additional fees.

It must be noted that all the visas can be extended up to a duration of 2 years. Should you opt for this, you can stay in Singapore for 30 days at a stretch and come back anytime later, within the 2-year period. Post which, you will need to apply for a new visa.

Extension of visa

When you enter Singapore, your passport will be stamped permitting you to stay in the Lion City for a duration of 30 days. On or before the completion of 30 days you must exit the country.

However, in some cases, you can ask for an extension of your visa. The Immigration and checkpoints authority (ICA) can grant you the extension. Usually, they grant an extension of 30 days, if you provide adequate reasons for the extension.

Applying for extension

A traveller can ask for an extension of stay in Singapore if they meet the following conditions.

1. A traveller has not already availed an extension of stay on their current permit in the country.

2. The visit pass that you receive, should have at least 3 working days left before you apply for the extension of stay. Ideally, you should apply for the extension by your 22nd or 23rd day in Singapore to avoid any clashes with the weekend.

3. You want to extend your stay by 30 days from your entry date into Singapore.

4. An applicant must not return within 5 days of leaving Singapore.

The process to apply for an extension

Here are the steps that you need to follow to extend your stay in Singapore.

1. Fill out an online application form for the extension of your current stay and provide a scanned copy of your passport and the stamping that your passport has, on entry to Singapore.

2. Once you complete the application form, you must pay the necessary fees required to extend your stay. If you are applying for an extension of multiple people, you can come back and make the payment together.

3. As your application is verified, you will receive an email about your documents and receipt of payment.

4. You will receive the outcome of the extension by the Immigration authorities within 1 to 3 days of the application via email.

The above information will aid you in planning your upcoming trip to Singapore. Knowing the visa validity and extension rules will allow you to plan well and prepare yourself for all possible contingencies.