A Singapore tourist visa (e-Visa) is required for nationals of 35 countries traveling to Singapore as tourists.
Even though it’s an e-Visa, you cannot apply for it on your own. You need a Singapore local contact or an authorized visa agent to apply for the e-Visa on your behalf.
Quick summary:
- Who requires it: Nationals of 35 countries
- Validity: 30 days to 2 years, single or multiple-entry
- Allowed stay: 30 days
- Processing time: 3 working days
- Fee: 30 SGD
- Extensions: Once for 30 days
If you haven’t already, read the Singapore Visa Guide for information on various visa options for tourists, their eligibility and requirements.
Table of Contents
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Understanding Singapore Tourist Visa (e-Visa)
Tourist visa validity
Singapore tourist visa is valid from 30 days to 2 years. The validity of your tourist visa is decided on a case-by-case basis and nationality. The most common validity granted is 3 months. The exact validity will be written on the e-Visa after it’s issued.
Duration of stay
The allowed duration of stay in Singapore is 30 days. Your stay inside Singapore cannot exceed 30 days at a time.
If you need to stay longer and hold a multiple-entry visa, you can leave and reenter to receive an additional 30-day stay. You can also apply for a 30-day extension from within the country
Allowed number of entries
Singapore tourist visas are usually multiple-entry. But single-entry visas are also issued to certain nationalities such as Bangladesh.
Allowed ports of entry
You can enter Singapore from Changi international airport or any seaport or via land border crossing using the tourist visa. There are no restrictions on where you can enter from.
When to apply
You must apply for your tourist visa within 30 days before arrival in Singapore. The processing time is 3 business days. To summarize:
- Latest: 1 week before traveling
- Earliest: 30 days before traveling
Tourist visa extension
Tourist visa validity cannot be extended but you can extend your allowed stay for additional 30 days once.
You must apply online on the eServices portal no more than 14 days before the last day of your allowed duration of stay in Singapore.
You require a local sponsor to submit your extension application if you hold a passport from one of the Assessment Level II countries.
Visa extension fee is 30 SGD, are processed within 3 business days and are not guaranteed.
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Singapore Tourist Visa (e-Visa) Requirements
Tourist visa eligibility
The countries eligible for the tourist visa are divided into 2 tiers – Assessment Level I and Assessment Level II.
The difference is in the required documents. Chiefly, Level II countries must also submit a Letter of Introduction for Visa Application (LOI).
Assessment Level I Countries
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Georgia
- India
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Moldova
- North Korea
- Russia
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
The above countries except North Korea are also eligible for Singapore VFTF if holding a visa from an eligible country.
Assessment Level II Countries
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kosovo
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mali
- Morocco
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tunisia
- Yemen
Documents required
The following documents are required for the tourist visa.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months on the day of arrival in Singapore
- Photocopy of passport biodata page
- Completed and signed Form 14A
- One passport-size photo (digital photo if using a local contact to apply)
In addition, only Level II countries need to submit this:
- Completed Form V39A (also called a Letter of Introduction for Visa Application or LOI), issued by a local contact in Singapore.
The LOI must be issued by a local contact in Singapore. The local contact must meet the following requirements.
- Must be a Singapore citizen or a Singapore permanent resident
- Must be at least 21 years old
- Must have a Singpass account
If you don’t know anybody in Singapore who could help you with that, you can instead use an authorized visa agent to assist you with the Letter of Introduction.
Photo requirements
The photo must meet the following requirements.
- Must be taken within the last 3 months
- Must be in color against a plane white background
- Equal brightness, clear, sharp, and not pixelated
- Neutral facial expression with a closed mouth
- Fully visible shoulders and hair
- Any head covering must be dark in color against a white background
- Glasses are permitted as long as the lenses are untinted
- Fully visible eyes and no red eye
- No digital alterations
The digital photo file must meet the following requirements.
- Dimensions of the photo must be 400px x 514px
- Photo size must be of maximum 60KB
- Photo format must be JPG or JPEG
Tourist visa fee
The tourist visa fee is 30 SGD (~22 USD) and is payable online. If using an authorized agent to apply for your visa, you may have to pay the fee in cash in local currency.
Processing time
The standard processing time for the tourist visa is 3 business days excluding the day of submission.
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Tourist Visa (e-Visa) Application Process
You cannot apply for the Singapore tourist visa (e-Visa) on your own. You must apply using a Singapore local contact or an authorized visa agent.
Most Singapore overseas missions do not accept tourist visa applications. They will ask you to use a local contact or an authorized agent.
But there are still a handful of Singapore embassies in the world that are still accepting tourist visa applications.
In summary, there are 3 ways to apply for Singapore tourist visa.
- Apply using a local contact
- Apply using an authorized visa agent
- Apply at a Singapore Overseas Mission
Let’s look at each of these options in detail.
1. Apply for tourist visa using a local contact
You must know someone in Singapore who can act as your local contact to apply for the tourist visa on your behalf.
This local contact in Singapore must have a “Singpass” account. Only Singapore citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents have Singpass accounts.
Send the following information and documents to your local contact.
- A copy of your passport ID page
- A digital passport-size photo
- Your email address, phone number
- Your current occupation, highest educational degree and annual income (in SGD)
- Your date of arrival, intended stay, and country of departure
Have your local contact follow the below steps to apply for your e-Visa.
Step 1: Navigate to the Submission of Application for Visa Electronically (SAVE) portal.
Step 2: Select “Apply for Entry Visa as a Local Contact (Individual Users)”. You will be redirected to the Singpass website to log in.
Step 3: Click on “Create a New Application”.
Step 4: Sequentially fill in the applicant’s details, travel information, and local contact details, upload a photo, and confirm.
Step 5: Pay the visa fee of 30 SGD from the “MyCard Payment Summary” page. Download the invoice.
Step 6: Print or screenshot the acknowledgment page and send it to the applicant. This acknowledgment page has the “Visa Application Reference Number” which is required to track or download the e-Visa.
If your email was used during the application process, you will also receive an acknowledgment email with the “Visa Application Reference Number”.
If your local contact used their email, they can forward the acknowledgment email to you so you can make a note of the “Visa Application Reference Number” and track the status of your e-Visa.
The processing of the e-Visa takes 3-5 working days. You can track the application status and download your approved e-Visa.
Instructions to track the status and download the approved e-Visa are in the sections below.
2. Apply for tourist visa using an authorized visa agent
The Singapore embassies that do not accept tourist visa applications usually post a list of authorized visa agents on their websites.
Find the nearest Singapore Overseas Mission in your country and check their website for the list of authorized visa agents.
Go to the authorized visa agent’s office and submit the following documents.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of your entry into Singapore
- Photocopy of your passport biodata page
- Completed and signed Form 14A
- One passport-size photo affixed on the form
- Round-trip flight tickets
- Hotel bookings
- Completed Form V39A LOI (if applicable)
- Visa fee and service fee in local currency
Authorized agents do not keep your original passport with them. Presenting the original passport at the time of application submission is only for verification purposes.
Authorized agents have access to the SAVE portal and they will apply for your visa on your behalf. They will send you the “Visa Application Reference Number” to track and download your approved e-Visa.
Instructions to track the status and download the approved e-Visa are in the sections below.
3. Apply for tourist visa at Singapore overseas mission
Check with your nearest Singapore overseas mission if they accept tourist visa applications. If they do, find out whether you need an appointment or you can just walk in.
Submit the following documents to the Singapore embassy.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of your entry into Singapore
- Photocopy of your passport biodata page
- Completed and signed Form 14A
- One passport-size photo affixed on the form
- Round-trip flight tickets
- Hotel bookings
- Completed Form V39A LOI (if applicable)
- Visa fee in local currency
The embassy will not keep your original passport. Presenting the original passport is only for verification purposes.
You will receive an email from the embassy with the “Visa Application Reference Number” to track and download your approved e-Visa.
How to track tourist visa (e-Visa) status
Even though you had to use a local contact or visa agent to apply, you can track status and download the e-Visa yourself. Follow the below steps to track your e-Visa status.
- Navigate to the Singapore SAVE portal
- Click on “Enquire Application Status”
- Enter your Visa Application Reference Number, and passport number and click on the “Next” button
- On the next page, you will see your current e-Visa status.
If your visa application is still in process, the status will be “Visa Application in Pending”. If approved, it will be “Your Application is Approved”.
How to download an approved tourist visa (e-Visa)
Follow the above steps to track your e-Visa status. If the visa has been successfully issued, you will see “Your Application is Approved” with your approved visa details.
Click the “Print e-Visa” button to download your e-Visa as a PDF file.
Print this e-Visa on an A4 or letter-size sheet and present it with your passport at immigration in Singapore.
How to contact tourist visa customer service
If you or your local contact have questions, use the following options to contact ICA customer service.
Webpage: Check the User Manual for questions on filling out the visa application
Email: ica_save_helpdesk@ica.gov.sg
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Entry Procedure at the Border
Make sure to print your e-Visa before your trip to Singapore. If you are eligible to use automated immigration lanes, you may not need a print. But the airline might want to see a print of your e-Visa.
Submit SG Arrival Card (SGAC)
You must submit your SG Arrival Card (SGAC) online within 3 days before arrival in Singapore. You can submit SGAC either online or using the MyICA Mobile App.
Use automated immigration lanes
Passport holders from 60 countries are eligible to use automated lanes at Changi airport and land borders. If you are not eligible to use automated lanes, you may pass through manned immigration desks.
You may be asked to present your e-Visa print. You may also be asked to produce proof of onward travel and proof of sufficient cash to ensure that you do not overstay your visa.
Receive Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass)
Singapore does not stamp passports on entry or exit. After clearing the immigration, an Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) is issued and sent to your email which you have mentioned in your SG Arrival Card.
You can also retrieve your e-Pass on the ICA website using your Disembarkation/Embarkation number (DE No.) or passport information.
You can find your DE No. in your SG Arrival Card (SGAC) acknowledgment email, PDF or mobile app.
The e-Pass contains the following details:
- Disembarkation/Embarkation number (DE No.)
- Date and time of issuance of visit pass
- Number of days of stay granted
- Last day of stay allowed in Singapore
The e-Pass will also mention whether you are eligible to use the automated lanes for your departure and any subsequent trips to Singapore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to print the Singapore e-Visa?
Yes. You must print the Singapore e-Visa. Singaporean authorities may have the e-Visa on file already, but you are still asked to present if you’re not using the automated immigration lanes. Also, the airline staff might want to see the e-Visa print when checking in.
Why is there no visa stamp in my passport?
Singapore has phased out issuing physical stamps in passports. Instead, you will be issued an electronic visit pass (e-Pass) and sent to your email shortly after you enter Singapore.
