Do Indians Need a Consultant for a Singapore Visa? DIY vs Agent

That makes Singapore unusual. For most countries, 'DIY or agent' is a choice. For a Singapore visit visa, an intermediary is built into the system, and the real question is which one you use. All facts below are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. For the complete process, read our Singapore visa guide for Indians.

Can you apply for a Singapore visa yourself?

Not in the strict sense. Singapore issues e-Visas, but there is no self-service application for Indian visitors. The application is filed in the e-Visa system of Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) by one of two intermediaries:

• an Authorised Visa Agent (AVA) appointed by a Singapore mission in India, or
• a local contact or strategic partner in Singapore, a local sponsor with Singpass, who submits online on your behalf.

The High Commission in New Delhi and the Consulates-General in Mumbai and Chennai do not accept walk-in applications, and VFS Global does not handle Singapore visas.

What you can do yourself is everything around the filing: fill and sign Form 14A, collect documents, choose your agent, track the status and print the e-Visa.

Authorised agent, local contact or private consultant: how do the routes compare?

The Chennai page may predate the INR 2100 fee, and Chennai's AVA list dated 24 September 2024 shows Rs 650, so confirm the current charge with the agent. The New Delhi list updated as at 01 August 2026 shows Rs 1300 at all its Indian agents, up from Rs 1000 in July 2026.

What does an Authorised Visa Agent actually do for you?

• Files the application in ICA's e-Visa system with your Form 14A and documents.
• Collects the fees: the INR 2100 visa fee, which is non-refundable, and the service fee. The Mumbai page says there is no extra charge for urgent applications.
• Gives you the reference number (for example DEL...SA...), generated when the application is submitted. Ask the AVA if you do not receive it.
• Can print the e-Visa once approved, although you can also print it yourself.
• Handles appeals: the Chennai FAQ says an appeal must be submitted within one month of the rejection through the AVA that filed it, and generally takes 14 working days. ICA does not disclose rejection reasons.

Which agent serves your city?

Apply through an agent listed by the mission for your state:

• High Commission, New Delhi: serves north, east and north-east India, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Its AVAs are in Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Chandigarh and Ambala.
• Consulate-General, Mumbai: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat and Odisha. Its visa page refers to a list of participating AVAs but links none, so ask the Consulate-General.
• Consulate-General, Chennai: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, with AVAs in Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Before handing over your passport copy and fee, check the agent's name against the mission's current AVA list.

Do students and workers need an agent?

No AVA is involved in long-stay passes:

• Student's Pass: you apply online through ICA's e-Service yourself, at least two months and not more than three months before the course. ICA charges SGD 45 to process and SGD 60 on issuance. A required visa is included in the In-Principle Approval letter.
• Employment Pass, S Pass and Work Permit: your employer or an employment agent it appoints applies to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The missions in India do not process work passes. Employment Pass and S Pass candidates need not be in Singapore during the application, while Work Permit candidates from India cannot be.
• EntrePass: the candidate can apply directly to MOM.

What can you safely do yourself?

1. Complete and sign Form 14A, with all columns filled.
2. Check your passport has at least six months' validity on the date of entry.
3. Get two colour photos, 35mm by 45mm, white background, taken within the last 3 months.
4. Arrange a Form V39A Letter of Introduction from a Singapore citizen or PR aged 21 or over, if the case requires it.
5. Translate any document in Hindi into English.
6. Apply about 30 days before arrival. Chennai suggests at least a week ahead off-peak and two to four weeks in the March-May peak.
7. Track the status and print the e-Visa on ICA's website with your reference number and passport number.

Which promises should make you walk away?

• Promises of a sure visa. ICA considers every application, including the visa duration granted, on its own merits.
• Offers to 'extend' or 'upgrade' your visa. Visa validity cannot be amended or extended, and the visa type cannot be changed.
• Charges for 'urgent' processing in Mumbai's jurisdiction, where the page states no extra charge applies.
• Claims that a visa guarantees entry. ICA officers decide admission at the checkpoint; carry funds and a confirmed onward or return ticket if applicable.

Yatra For Fun is not a Singapore Authorised Visa Agent and does not file Singapore visas. Our India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Singapore visa fee refunded if my application is rejected?

No. The INR 2100 visa processing fee is charged per application and is non-refundable. The SGD 30 fee for applications filed by a local contact in Singapore is also non-refundable.

Do I need a visa if I am only transiting through Singapore?

Possibly not. Indians may use the 96-hour Visa Free Transit Facility with an onward ticket departing within 96 hours and a visa or long-term pass, valid at least 1 month, from Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK or the USA.

Can an agent get my old Singapore visa moved to a new passport?

No. A Singapore visa cannot be transferred from an old passport to a new one. You need a fresh application through an Authorised Visa Agent, with the prevailing fee.

How long does a Singapore Employment Pass take?

MOM processes or updates most online Employment Pass applications within 10 business days. Overseas companies without a Singapore-registered office, applying through a local sponsor, should allow about 6 weeks for most cases.