What are the ways to get a Singapore visa?

Famous for its multiversity, business forward approach, and cleanliness, Singapore attracts millions of tourists each year, and it makes a lot of sense. I was considering traveling to Singapore myself just to get a chance at trying the most prominent Asian cuisines (Malay, Chinese, and Indian) with one shot! Anyways, I have no idea what your reasons are for considering a trip to Singapore. I know they must be good, and that’s why to be assured that you have stumbled upon the right article because here you will find out how to get Singapore visa! Willingness to understand the traits of the Singapore visa policy is a very commendable move. After all, planning is a part of ensuring that your travel turns out seamless, isn’t it? 

What can you expect to experience if your application for Singapore visa turns out successful? Huge skyscrapers, economic development, and the greenest of the parks are some of the most recognizable traits of this country that happens to be smaller in size than many big cities. Above everything else, it is the cultural diversity that makes up the essence of modern Singapore - a melting pot of cultures and vivid moments every step of the way. The rich cultural background has formed historically and due to the convenient location on trade routes, but nowadays, the combination of these elements has allowed the emergence of this cosmopolitan place where, seemingly, all the important stuff takes place. It is why most tourists feel quite comfortable when visiting this land - everything seems to be arranged in a way to ensure ease of access and movement—not even mentioning the fact that English is one of the official languages. If you are a novice in Asian travel, this might be a great spot for starting the discoveries! So... how to get Singapore visa to have access to this multitude of wonderful things? First things first…do you even need to get a visa to Singapore?

Which are Singapore free visa countries?

I have rather good news for you. Almost 80% of travelers belong to the list of Singapore free visa countries! It means that everyone NOT mentioned on the list of countries that will need an e-Visa or a stamped visa (currently, the number of such nationalities is at 35) will be able to enter Singapore and stay there for up to 30 days without obtaining a visa. And people with passports from an EU country, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States can stay up to 90 days. Yet another feature that underlines the cosmopolitan nature of this country and nation, right?

Nonetheless, the rest of the article will be extremely useful if you are a holder of the passport of:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Egypt, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Moldova, Morocco, Nigeria, North Korea (DPRK), Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

NB! It is quite worrisome, but I find it important to mention here that it is not possible to obtain a visa if you are a single/unmarried/divorced/widowed or separated woman under 45 years old or a married woman traveling alone. Even if you are traveling with your husband, you will need to present the marriage certificate and his passport copy.

What are the ways to get a Singapore visa?

If you are a national of one of these countries mentioned right above, then you will be able to obtain an online Singapore visa or do it in person. Just the smallest fraction of travelers from that list are eligible to obtain an online Singapore visa. Namely, nationals of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, North Korea, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. If I didn’t mention your homeland on this list, then you will have to visit the closest Singaporean diplomatic mission or find another authorized agent to make it happen. You might as well contact a professional company like Pickvisa to save you time and headache in dealing with the peculiarities of this process.

There is another way you might be eligible to get easier access to a 96-hour visa to Singapore. When meeting a short list of requirements, some nationals are eligible for a visa-free transit facility (VFTF). What it means is that you don’t have to worry about a Singapore visa if you are transiting to or from any third country through Singapore. For example, nationals of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Georgia, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine are eligible for a 96-hour VFTF transiting to any other country if they are departing by air or sea and have a valid ticket proving the departure. However, the nationals of India and China:

● Should be entering by any means of transportation, but intend on leaving by a plane or a boat AND have a valid ticket that confirms the departure from Singapore after 96 hours.

● Should have a valid long-term pass or visa (valid at least one month from the date of entry into Singapore under the VFTF) that is issued by Australia, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland (if your visa is issued in one of these two countries or Schengen visa that would allow entering in them), Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

What are Singapore visa types?

According to the Singapore visa policy, there are a variety of visas depending on the length of your stay and the purpose. All Singapore visa types are usually divided into two main categories - the short-term type and the long-term one. 

The most popular would be the Singapore tourist visa, which falls under the category of short-term visas. Other short-term types might include a Singapore business visa (the same as congress or fair trade visit one), visiting family and friends, short-term study and work visas, etc. If you intend to stay longer, you will have to obtain a long-term Singapore student visa, employment visa, or a family reunion visa. Since the list and details are so variable, please check this information to find out more about each type and the particular requirements. On this page, you will also find a FAQ section that might help with troubleshooting in the visa obtaining process!

What are the basic requirements to obtain a Singapore visa?

The particular details depend greatly on your travel purposes as well as the length of the intended stay. You will find the information that corresponds to your particular case in the link I just provided in the paragraph above. However, to give you an impression of the necessary documents, I will write down a few general things that might be needed to arrange a legal entry in the country of Singapore.

The standard visa application will require you to have a filled form of application for Singapore visa (or do it online), a passport valid at least six months after leaving Singapore, two photos newer than 6 months, photocopies of the main passport, and the previous visas. Additionally, you will have to present your travel itinerary (valid flight and accommodation reservations OR a letter from the person you are staying with), proof of occupation (a letter from employer or university), as well as proof of financial means. Some nationals might be asked to present a certificate of the Yellow Fever Vaccination. As I mentioned before, the details are variable, and you will have to check the list of requirements for each visa type.

What are the fees for Singapore visa?

The fees are generally uniform for all types of visas. In all cases - if you want to acquire a short-term, e.g., a Singapore tourist visa or long-term, e.g., Singapore student visa, the fee will range from 25 to 100 USD depending on your nationality and/or current country of residence. The same applies to the Singapore business visa type, too. And you may pay an extra fee if you want to get your visa done quicker.

How long does an application for Singapore visa take?

I am happy to tell you that the process to acquire a visa to Singapore will be very speedy. Receiving a decision about the application to an online visa usually takes just 1-3 days, but applying in an embassy with an agent will give you an answer in about three days. The good news is that once you apply for a visa in person, you might be eligible to apply for an online visa later on. If you know you will be traveling to Singapore more often than just this one time, then ask the officials to explain how to make the next trips easier for you!

I hope I have given the desired answers to your questions about how to get Singapore visa! At least the main aspects of the Singapore visa policy will have given some clarity about the ease of the process and the requirements. Whichever of the Singapore visa types you are looking forward to obtaining, I am sure the trip will be one of a kind. Either way - if you are traveling for fun, for a job, or studies, I wish you the greatest luck on your journey to this bundle of colors, flavors, and cultures! Bon voyage!