Quick answer: A short term visit pass Singapore issues is the e-Pass you get on entry. It tells you your last day of stay. Most visitors can enter without a visa, but nationals of 34 listed countries need one first. You cannot work on this pass, and you extend it online through ICA’s e-Service, not at a counter.
The short term visit pass Singapore gives tourists is easy to get. It is also easy to get wrong. This guide covers visas, stay length, the SG Arrival Card, extensions, fees and papers.
Short Term Visit Pass Singapore Basics: What It Is
A Short-Term Visit Pass (STVP) is the permission to stay that you get at the checkpoint. People also call it a social visit pass. It is not the same as a visa.
ICA stopped stamping passports for visitors in 2022. Since 11 March 2022, you get an electronic Visit Pass, called an e-Pass, by email. It shows the most days you may stay and your last allowed day.
The e-Pass goes to the email address you gave in your SG Arrival Card. Check your spam folder if you cannot find it. You can also look it up on ICA’s e-Pass Enquiry Portal.
Visa-Free Entry vs Nationals Who Need a Visa
Most passport holders can enter Singapore without a visa. They just submit the SG Arrival Card and show their passport. Plan for a passport that is valid for at least six months from the day you arrive.
Holders of passports from 34 countries and places need a visa before they travel. The list includes:
| Region | Examples that need a visa |
|---|
| South Asia | India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan |
| Middle East and North Africa | Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia |
| Former Soviet states | Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan |
| Africa | Nigeria, Mali, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan |
Some travel documents also need a visa. These include Hong Kong Documents of Identity and PRC Travel Documents. Check ICA’s full list before you book.
A visa costs S$30. You can apply online through a local contact or a strategic partner. You can also apply at a Singapore Overseas Mission or its visa agent. ICA does not take visa forms at the airport. Is any of your support paperwork in Hindi, Urdu or Russian? Many applicants fix that early with Singapore translators who handle visa files. Then the file is complete on day one.
How Long Can You Stay on a Short Term Visit Pass?
ICA officers decide your stay when you arrive. There is no fixed number for everyone. Your e-Pass shows the exact days.
Some examples from official sources:
- China (PRC ordinary passports): visa-free for up to 30 days since 9 February 2024.
- Brazil: up to 30 days at a time, and not more than 180 days in a year.
- Business visits: MOM says short business trips, such as meetings, can add up to 90 days a year.
A visa is different from your stay. Even a long visa does not let you stay longer than your e-Pass says. Your pass also ends early if you leave Singapore.
Visa forms ask for original papers plus official translations of anything not in English. Do you have bank or invitation letters in another language? Think about translating documents for a Singapore visa before the form is filed.
The SG Arrival Card and Your D/E Number
Every foreign visitor must submit the SG Arrival Card (SGAC) before arrival. It is free on ICA’s website and the MyICA app. You can submit it within three days before you arrive, counting the day you land.
After you submit, you get a Disembarkation/Embarkation (D/E) number. Keep it safe. You need it to check your e-Pass and to apply for an extension.
News reports in August 2026 said ICA was refreshing the SGAC with more languages. Always use ICA’s own website or the MyICA app. Avoid paid websites that offer to submit it for you, because ICA does not link to them. For the full set of steps, see our guide to filling in the SG Arrival Card.
Need Family Papers Translated for Your Visit Pass Extension Request to ICA Soon?
Can You Work on a Short-Term Visit Pass?
No. A visit pass is for tourism, family visits and short business meetings. To take a job, a foreigner needs a work pass from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
There is one narrow exception. MOM lists some “work pass exempt” activities. Examples are speaking at a seminar, performing, or showing at an exhibition. You must notify MOM online before you start. These activities can add up to 90 days in a calendar year.
Tour guiding and on-the-job training are not exempt. They still need a work pass. Doing exempt work without telling MOM first is an offence.
How to Extend Your Short Term Visit Pass Singapore Stay
ICA only accepts extension requests online. Walk-in requests are not accepted. Here are the steps:
- Wait for the right time. Apply when your pass has 14 days or less left.
- Check if you need a sponsor. You need a local sponsor if you have close family who are Singapore citizens or PRs. You also need one if you hold a passport from certain listed countries.
- Ask your sponsor to log in. The sponsor must be a citizen or PR, aged 21 or above, with Singpass.
- Fill in the e-Service form. Add your passport details and your D/E number.
- Upload your documents. Include the passport biodata page and any proof ICA asks for.
- Pay once approved. Pay online. If you do not pay, ICA withdraws the request.
- Check your email. ICA aims to reply within five working days. An approved extension needs no stamp.
You can track the request with “Enquire Application Status”. Use your passport number plus your D/E number.
A common problem we see is a grandparent visiting a new grandchild. The family has a foreign marriage certificate but no English copy. If that sounds like you, sort out proof of marriage in English before the 14-day window opens.
Documents and Translations for Extension Requests
The basic set is short. ICA may ask for more, case by case.
| Document | When you need it |
|---|
| Passport biodata page scan | Always |
| D/E number from SGAC | Always |
| Proof of family ties, such as birth or marriage certificates | Often, when you visit a citizen or PR relative |
| Form V75 signed by a Singapore doctor | If you stay for medical treatment |
| Other papers ICA requests | Case by case |
Any paper not in English needs an official translation. ICA accepts translations from the issuing country’s embassy. It also accepts translations done by a notary public in Singapore or in that country. Is your reason a medical one? Then translating overseas medical records helps the officer see the full story.
Fees for a Visit Pass Extension
All fees are non-refundable. You pay only after ICA approves the request.
| Fee | Amount | When it applies |
|---|
| Extension fee | S$40 | When your total stay reaches 90 days from entry, and again for each further 90-day block |
| Visa fee | S$30 | For visa-required visitors, if it applies |
You can pay by card, PayNow or internet banking. Keep your receipt.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These errors cause the most trouble:
- Applying too early. ICA advises you to wait until 14 days or less remain.
- Applying at the wrong agency. If MOM gave you the pass after a work pass ended, ICA does not handle it. Contact MOM instead.
- Missing translations. A foreign document with no English version can hold up the request.
- Staying while you wait for an answer. If the extension fails, you must leave before your pass ends.
Overstaying is an immigration offence. Read about the fines for overstaying in Singapore before you plan your dates.
What Happens After Your Request?
If ICA approves, you get an email. Your new end date is in ICA’s records, so no stamp is needed.
If ICA rejects it, plan to fly out before your current pass ends. You can apply again if your situation changes, for example a new medical need.
Some visitors need to stay much longer. A long stay with a citizen or PR family member may call for a Long-Term Visit Pass instead. Each paper for that route needs the same care. For those files, a notarised English rendering is one way to meet ICA’s rules.
Planning a Longer Stay With Family in Singapore? Get Every Foreign Paper Ready First
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I study a short course on a visit pass?
Yes, if the course ends before your visit pass runs out. If it runs longer, you may need a Student’s Pass. ICA looks at extensions for study on a case-by-case basis, so an extension is not certain.
Does the visa-free stay for Chinese visitors cover business trips?
The 30-day visa-free rule is for holders of ordinary PRC passports. Other PRC passport types follow their own rules. Business visitors still cannot take paid work without the right pass.
Can visa-required nationals pass through Singapore without a visa?
Some can. ICA runs a Visa-Free Transit Facility for certain travellers, such as nationals of India, Georgia, Ukraine and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Strict conditions apply, so check ICA’s transit page before you fly.
What if ICA’s online form shows an error?
Use ICA’s STVP enquiry form. Attach a screenshot of the error, your passport details and how to reach you. Do this early, since your pass keeps counting down.
Conclusion
A Singapore visit pass is simple once you know the rules. Check if you need a visa, submit your SG Arrival Card and read your e-Pass on arrival. Remember that you cannot work on it.
If you need more time, apply online when 14 days remain. Have your D/E number, a sponsor if needed, and English versions of every foreign document ready.
