Frequently Asked Questions

Q.	Who can apply for a Student’s Pass?
	Any foreigner who wishes to pursue full time studies in Singapore in an institution that is registered with the Ministry of Education or has obtained approval from the Controller of Immigration to accept foreign students, is required to apply for a Student’s Pass. However, Dependant’s Pass holders studying in Government, Government-Aided, Independent, Foreign System School, Kindergartens and Immigration Exemption Order holders are exempted from applying for Student’s Passes.

Q.	Where can I obtain/submit the application Forms for a Student’s Pass?
	You may obtain/submit the application forms together with the supporting documents to Visitor Services Centre (VSC), Singapore Immigration & Registration Building, SIR Building, 4th Storey, 10 Kallang Road, Singapore 208718, Information/Queue Ticket Counter. However, you can also submit your applications through the school you intend to study in.

Q.	Who can be a local sponsor?
	Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident above the age of 21 years old or the school that applicant intends to study can be the local sponsor. Companies are not allowed to act as sponsors.

Q.	Which documents need to be certified or notarised at the time of application?
	Applicant's highest academic educational certificate and result transcripts need to be certified/notarised. For People's Republic of China (PRC) nationals, they may submit the notarised copies of the supporting documents.

Q.	Who can certify true copy of supporting documents?
	The Singapore school that accepts a foreign student would have looked through the student's educational certificate and results transcripts before accepting him/her. Therefore, the school can certify the photocopies of educational certificate and result transcripts. The authorised personnel from the school should sign on the certified copy and endorse the schools stamp on the certified copies. Nonetheless, the foreign student is required to produce the original copies of the certified educational certificates and result transcript at the time of collection of the Student's Pass if he/she is an approved Student's Pass holder.

Q.	Do PRC applicants taking courses in private schools still need to submit their application to Singapore Embassy in Beijing?
	Yes. PRC nationals who wish to attend language, commercial, vocational and fine arts course at private schools in Singapore are still required to submit their new applications for Student's Passes through the Singapore Embassy in Beijing. Applications will not be accepted at the Visitor Services Centre. However, PRC nationals who are pursuing a degree programme registered with the Ministry of Education in private schools could submit their applications to the Visitor Services Centre at the Drop-in Box or by post.

Q.	How do I know if ICA has received my application for the Student's Pass after I have deposited my application into the Drop-In-Box?
	ICA will send an acknowledge card to the school or applicant or local sponsor once we received the application for the Student's Pass. If you do not receive our acknowledgement card after 1 week from the date of your submission, you could call ICA at Tel: 63916100 to enquire on the status of the application.

Q.	What should I do if I do not hear from ICA after 4 weeks?
	Your local sponsor will be informed of the outcome of your Student's Pass application by post as soon as ICA has finalised your case. You may call us at 63916100 for enquiries and clarifications.

Q.	Is the security deposit refundable?
	The security deposit is refundable provided the student has not breached any of the conditions stated in the security bond executed by the local sponsor and his/her departure from Singapore is confirmed by ICA.

Q.	Must my medical examination be done in Singapore?
	If you are a new applicant and not in Singapore, the medical examination can either be done in your home country or in Singapore by a qualified doctor. However, the medical examination required for subsequent renewal of the Student's Pass must be done in Singapore. The doctor must record and certify the results of the medical examination in the designated medical report form. The medical report should not be issued more than 3 months from the submission date of your application or renewal. If a medical report was submitted to ICA or MOM not more than 2 years from your submission date, there is no need to re-submit a fresh medical report. (The above requirement is not applicable to applicants who are below 15 years old.)

Q.	When can my security deposit be refunded?
	Generally, it takes about 6 weeks to process the refund or release of the cash deposit or banker's guarantee upon the cancellation or expiry of your Student's Pass and/or after the applicant has left Singapore.

Q.	Am I allowed to work?
	No. You are strictly not allowed to engage in any form of employment, whether paid or unpaid, or in any business, profession or occupation in Singapore during the validity of your Student's Pass unless you have the consent in writing of the Controller of Immigration. Violators will be prosecuted by law.

Q.	How can a prospective student find out if a particular school obtained the CaseTrust for Education award?
	All CaseTrusted PEOs will be listed on CASE website at "www.case.org.sg." Alternatively, the prospective student can always contact CASE (Tel: 6461 1800) for further enquiries on the list of CaseTrusted PEOs.

Q.	How does the CaseTrust for Education affect Student's Pass applications?
	With EDB's launch of the new initiatives under the Education Excellence Framework, from 1 September 2005, all private education organisations will need to be awarded with the CaseTrust for Education to offer school placement for international students. Hence, with effect from 1 September 2005, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority will only accept Student's Pass applications if they are for foreign students who are enrolled in a CaseTrusted institution.