Students are not allowed to engage in any undesirable or work-related activities for the duration of their studies in Singapore. The Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) reserves the right to cancel the student pass if students do not attend class without any valid reason for 7 consecutive days or their attendance is 90% and below. At the end of the program, students have to surrender their student pass to the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority for cancellation within 7 days.

The following information is extracted from the guidance notes issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority:

1.Local Sponsor

A local sponsor is required for the application of a Student Pass. The local sponsor must be a Singapore Citizen/Singapore Permanent Resident above the age of 21 years old or the school where the applicant intends to study in. Companies are not allowed to act as sponsors.

2. Basic Documents Required

From Applicant:

a) 2 copies of Form 16, Form V36 and Form V39S duly completed and signed by applicant, local sponsor and school at the relevant sections (The first set of forms must be original. The second set may be photocopies of the original set).

b) Data Amendment Card [IMM(E)555] duly completed.

c) 2 recent passport-sized photographs (Colour/Black & White) to be pasted on the top right-hand corner of Form 16.

d) Applicant's official Birth Certificate and Educational Certificates (original & photocopy).

e) Photocopy of applicant's travel document pages showing his/her full particulars and travel document and date of expiry.

From local sponsor:

f) Local sponsor's identity card (for Singapore Citizens) or Re-Entry Permit (for Singapore Permanent Residents) (original).

From School:

g) A Letter of Acceptance from the school issued not more than 1 month from the date of submitting an application for Student Pass.

h) A copy of Form V36A duly completed by school.

3. Processing Time

For new applications, the normal processing time is about 2 weeks upon receipt of your application and documents required. However, some applications may take a longer time to process. The local sponsor and the school will be notified of the outcome by post.

4. Fees

The fee for a Student Pass is S$40 per year or part thereof. The fee for the issue of a visa is S$20. The fee is payable when the successful applicant complete the formalities to collect the Student's Pass. Please make payment by NETS or Cash Card.

5. Security Deposit

When the application for a Student Pass is approved, an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter will be issued for the applicant to complete the formalities and collect the Student Pass card at ICA. The Security Deposit if required, would be indicated in the IPA letter to the applicant.
The amount of Security Deposit (if required) is listed in the table below:

Applicants are not required to furnish a Security Deposit if they are

• Nationals from Malaysia and Brunei;
• Holders of valid Dependant’s Pass, long term Visit Pass and work pass;
• Children/Spouse of Singapore Citizens/Permanent Residents;
• Foreign students who study in kindergartens registered with MOE/childcare centres licensed by MCYS;
• Foreign students who attend a full-time course at an approved PEO that is awarded the SQC(PEO) status by SPRING, Singapore;
• Foreign students who pursue a full-time university degree (Graduate/Post-Graduate) programme, except for the University of London (UOL) tuition programme, at an approved PEO; and
• Below 16 years old at the point of application.

6. Other Important Information

a) For the application of Student Pass, an applicant must be accepted into an approved full-time course. An applicant who wishes to take up part-time course or course conducted in the evening or weekend will NOT be eligible for Student Pass.

b) Holders of valid Dependent's Passes (issued by Ministry of Manpower) are exempted from having to apply to Immigration & Checkpoints Authority for permission to attend academic courses in Government, Government-Aided, Independent, Foreign System Schools and Kindergarten.

c) Applicant and local sponsor will have to furnish additional documents and information whenever necessary.

d) Please note that all original documents must be presented for verification. Official translation of the documents is required if they are not in the English language.

e) Please kindly ensure that all forms are duly signed and completed by applicant, the local sponsor and the school. Applications with incomplete forms or documents will NOT be accepted for processing.

f) Applicant needs to call in person with a valid immigration pass to collect the Student Pass only after the application has been approved. Student Pass will only be issued if the conditions as stipulated in the In-Principle Approval letter are fulfilled.

g) The student shall not enter or be retained as a student in any other school(s) or course(s) other than that indicated on the Student's Pass.

h) For change of local sponsor, the foreign student must submit a fresh set of application forms together with the new local sponsor's Identity Card or Re-entry Permit for our consideration.

i) Foreign students should surrender their Student Passes for cancellation within 7 days from the date of cessation or termination of their study. The following documents are to be produced:

(a) A letter from the student/the local sponsor about the cancellation of the Student Pass      (original);

(b) Confirmed return ticket (original);

(c) Applicant's valid travel document (original);

(d) Disembarkation/ Embarkation Card;

(e)The original receipt for the security deposit (where applicable).

j) For information on Student Pass application, please refer to: http://www.ica.gov.sg/data/resources/docs/Visitor%20Services/STP_Notes1f.pdf

Last Updated on 12 April 2011

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