Singapore Student Visa Requirements for Indians: 2026 Checklist

The Student's Pass is issued by Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). The Singapore High Commission in New Delhi and the Consulates-General in Mumbai and Chennai handle visit visas through Authorised Visa Agents, but a Student's Pass is applied for online with ICA directly. The checklist below is as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15.

Do you need a Student's Pass, or something else?

You need a Student's Pass if you have been accepted for full-time study at a Singapore institution such as a local university, a polytechnic, an approved offshore campus or an EduTrust-certified private school. Three rules decide eligibility:

• Full-time only. Part-time, evening and weekend courses are not eligible.
• EduTrust for private schools. Only EduTrust-certified Private Education Institutions (PEIs) can offer places to foreign students.
• Some pass holders are exempt. Holders of a valid Dependant's Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass or Immigration Exemption Order do not need a Student's Pass for full-time, non-religious studies.

You do not need to be in Singapore while ICA processes the application.

What is on the 2026 Student's Pass checklist?

Applicants aged 12 years 0 day or below must also submit vaccination information to the Communicable Diseases Agency. If you are an Indian applying from India, documents in regional languages need official English translations before upload.

How much does a Student's Pass cost?

• Processing fee: SGD 45, non-refundable, paid online when you apply.
• Issuance fee: SGD 60, paid when you complete formalities.
• Multiple Journey Visa: SGD 30 extra, if applicable.

ICA publishes these fees in Singapore dollars only; there is no official INR amount. Note that the Student's Pass does not go through an Authorised Visa Agent, so the INR 2,100 visa fee and agent fee that visitors pay in India do not apply to it.

When should you apply, and how long will ICA take?

Apply online at least two months and not more than three months before your course begins. Stay inside that window: it is ICA's own instruction, so have your school letter and documents ready by the three-month mark. ICA's processing times are:

• Universities, polytechnics and other Institutes of Higher Learning: within one week, or within two weeks if a visa is required, excluding the date of submission; some take longer.
• Private education institutions (new application): within one month, or within two weeks for an EduTrust-accredited PEI, excluding the date of submission.

Do you need to show a minimum bank balance?

No minimum is published. ICA's form asks for information on your financial support, and the official pages list no fixed balance, no ITR requirement and no salary-slip list for the Student's Pass. Be careful with agents who quote a 'mandatory' balance for Singapore. What you declare about financial support should be accurate and consistent with what your family can show if your school or ICA asks for more.

What happens after the In-Principle Approval?

Approved applicants receive an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter. If you need a visa to enter Singapore, as Indian ordinary passport holders do, the visa is automatically included in the IPA, so you do not apply for a separate visit visa through an Authorised Visa Agent. After you arrive, you complete formalities by appointment at the ICA Services Centre, or at an offsite enrolment arranged by your school, bringing a Medical Examination Report if applicable. The Student's Pass is then issued in digital form.

Which mistakes slow down an Indian student's application?

Most delays trace back to the checklist rather than to ICA. Before you submit, rule out these:

• The wrong course type. A part-time, evening or weekend programme cannot support a Student's Pass, however reputable the school.
• A private school without EduTrust. Only EduTrust-certified PEIs can offer places to foreign students, so confirm the certification before paying a deposit.
• Applying outside the window. ICA asks for applications at least two months and not more than three months before the course begins.
• An old photo. The digital photo must have been taken within the last three months.
• Untranslated documents. Anything not in English needs an official English translation.
• Incomplete family or financial details. The form asks about parents, spouse or siblings and about financial support; blanks or inconsistencies invite questions.
• Forgetting the medical report. If a Medical Examination Report applies to you, it is part of completing formalities after arrival, so arrange it before your ICA appointment.

For visit visas, fees and the missions that cover your state, see our Singapore visa guide for Indians, and read the ICA Student's Pass page for Institutes of Higher Learning.

If your family is visiting for your orientation or graduation, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for their visit-visa files, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full package. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us via the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I apply for a Singapore student visa at the High Commission in New Delhi?

No. The Student's Pass is applied for online with ICA through its e-Service. Singapore's missions in India handle visit visas through Authorised Visa Agents and do not process Student's Pass applications.

Can I study a part-time course in Singapore on a Student's Pass?

No. The Student's Pass is only for an approved full-time course. Part-time, evening and weekend courses are not eligible.

Do I need a separate Singapore visa after my Student's Pass is approved?

No. If you need a visa to enter Singapore, it is automatically included in the In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter. You travel on the IPA and complete formalities after arrival.

Is the Student's Pass processing fee refunded if ICA rejects my application?

No. The SGD 45 processing fee is non-refundable and is paid online when you apply. The SGD 60 issuance fee is paid only when you complete formalities.