How To Apply For A Long Term Visit Pass In Singapore

If a foreign national wants to stay in Singapore for more than 30 days, they may need to obtain a Long Term Visit Pass There are two types of LTVPs, issued by two separate Singaporean authorities. They have various eligibility criteria and application processes.

What are the Types of LTVPs for Singapore?

• The first type of LTVP is issued by the Singapore Immigrant and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). It works like an extension of a current Short-Term Visit Pass. It is available to foreign visitors who want to stay in Singapore longer than the 30 days that the Short-Term Visit Pass allows.
• The second type of LTVP is issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), and is available to the family members of foreign employees who do not qualify for the Dependant Pass but want to go live with their family member in Singapore.

This is a guide to the eligibility, application process, criteria, and requirements for Long Term Visit Passes based on the type you require or qualify for.

Who is eligible for the Singapore Long Term Visit Pass?

Long Term Visit Pass issued by ICA

You are eligible to apply for a LTVP at the ICA if you are:

• The spouse of a Singaporean Citizen or Permanent Resident
• The dependant child (under 21) of a Singaporean Citizen or Permanent Resident
• The parent of a Singaporean Citizen or Permanent Resident
• A graduate from a Higher Learning institution who wants to get employed in Singapore
• The mother or grandmother of a foreigner who is in Singapore with a Student Pass
• Foreigner who wants to give birth in Singapore

Long Term Visit Pass issued by the MOM

If a foreign employee in Singapore on a Work Visa wants to bring their spouse and/or dependent child with them, they can do so by applying for a Dependent Pass.

However, if the family member is neither a lawful spouse or a dependent kid (under 21), they are not eligible for the Dependant Pass. Instead, they require a Long-Term Visitor Pass. The Ministry of Manpower issues both the Dependant Pass and the LTVP to family members of aboard employees.

A foreign employee can bring their family member to Singapore with an LTVP only if:

• They have a Singapore Employment Pass (EP), S Pass, Personalized Employment Pass (PEP) or EntrePass.
• For EP, PEP, S Pass holders: Their fixed monthly salary is at least S$6,000, Their sponsor (employer) is a Singaporean-registered company.
• For EntrePass holders: They must meet Singapore’s requirements for total annual business spending (minimum of S$100,000) and local employment (at least 3 full-time local employees and 1 local professional, manager or executive).

Additionally, they are permitted to bring their

• Common law spouse.
• Child over 21 if the child has a mental or physical handicap making them dependant on their parent.
• Unmarried step-child under 21.
• Their parents. In this case, the requirement for each type of pass are doubled, including the number of local employees EntrePass
• holders must have in their company.

The Documents needed for a Long Term Visit Pass

When applying for an LTVP, all documentation must be original copies and in English. If not, they must be translated by a qualified translator.

If you are applying at the ICA

Anyone who applies for a Singapore LTVP must have the following documents:

• Photocopy of your passport’s bio-data page.
• Disembarkation/Embarkation (D/E) card
• Recent picture, based on Singapore photo requirements.

Additional documents required based on the purpose of travel:

For spouses:

• Marriage certificate
• Document showing the highest level of education of both spouses
• Divorce certificate, for either partner, in case one of you has had a divorce in the past.
• Letter of Long-Term Visit Pass Eligibility (LLE) (If applicable.)

For dependant child:

• Child’s Birth Certificate
• Parent’s divorce or custody documents (if applicable)
• For parent of Singapore citizen/permanent resident:
• Child’s birth certificate
• Adoption papers (if applicable)

For a foreign graduate seeking employment in Singapore:

• Certificate with highest academic achievement.

Mother/Grandmother of Student Pass holder:

• Marriage certificate
• Divorce certificate/custody documents, if applicable.
• The Student Pass holder’s passport
• The student’s Pass Card

For mother:

• Child’s birth certificate

For grandmother:

• Child’s birth certificate and birth certificates of his/her parents.

Foreign visitor wanting to give birth in Singapore:

• Marriage certificate
• Letter from local doctor informing about the mother’s due date and whether there are any complications.
• Letter from the mother’s embassy/high commissioning, informing that the child will receive the mother’s nationality, as well as a valid passport.

Documents necessary from Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents:

• Identity Card
• Income Tax Notice of Assessment for the past three years
• Central Provident Fund (CPF) Statement for the past 12 months which shows the monthly CPF contributions.
  Letter of employment, which shows the start date, position, and monthly salary.
• If self-employed: Valid registration certificate issued from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), The company’s Profit and Loss Statement over the last 12 months.

If you are applying at the MOM

When applying for a Long Term Visit Pass from the Ministry of Manpower, you and your family members must present the following documents:

For common law spouses (one of the following):

• A copy of your common law certificate
• Letter from the embassy which states that you and your partner are considered to be in a common-law relationship under their rules
  A notarised affidavit from you stating that you and your partner are in a common-law relationship under your home country’s rules.

Step children under 21 years old:

• Copy from the court in regards to the child’s custody
• Letter confirming the other parent does not object to the child coming to Singapore
• Verification of Vaccination Requirements issued by the Health Promotion Board if your child is under 12 years old.

Dependant children over 21 years of age:

• Letter or report from a doctor in regards to the child’s condition.

Parents:

• Your birth certificate which states your parent’s names.

Note that this is not an entire list of documents, and Singaporean authorities reserve the right to request additional documents as they see suitable.

How to Apply for a Long Term Visit Pass?

Depending on the type of LTVP you qualify for, you must apply at the appropriate location. Because different authorities handle the processing, the Long Term Visit Pass application vary.

If you qualify for the LTVP issued by the ICA

Who applies?

• To apply for a Long Term Visit Pass, you must be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident with a SingPass account. They function as your sponsor and submit the application through SingPass at ICA’s e-Service*, which can be found on their website.
• For example, if you are married to a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, your spouse will serve as your sponsor.
• If you don’t have a Singapore citizen or permanent resident relative, you’ll need to find an authorized visa agent, strategic partner, or other local partner with a SingPass account.
• To submit an application on your behalf, all sponsors must be at least 21 years old.

When to apply?

You must apply for the LTVP when you are already in Singapore with a standard Visit Pass, at least 10 days before it expires.

The application process

• You must pay a non-refundable processing charge of S$30 using a valid credit or debit card (Visa or MasterCard, American Express (AMEX) credit card, or Internet Direct Debit).
• Then you must wait for the LTVP to be processed, which may take up to six weeks. During this time, the ICA may contact you and your sponsor to request additional documentation or ask you to an interview.

After your LTVP is approved

• You must pay a S$60 fee (using ICA’s eService) for the LTVP itself. Depending on your situation, you may be needed to pay additional expenses, such as a Multiple Journey Visa, if applicable.
• If you do not pay the fees, your LTVP will be worthless.
• The ICA will also send you an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter. The IPA letter includes information about the paperwork you must bring when you visit the ICA offices with your sponsor for the final stage of your LTVP application.
• You will need to schedule an appointment in advance.

If you qualify for the LTVP issued by the MOM

Who applies?

• If you are a foreign worker in Singapore with an EP or S Pass, you cannot apply for your family members’ LTVP on your own.
• Instead, your employer or chosen employment agent (EA) must submit the application on your behalf via EP Online (accessible on MOM’s website).
• This sort of LTVP does not require your family member to be in Singapore while the application is being processed.

When to apply?

Your employer/EA can submit the application for your family member’s LTVP at either time:

• At the same time they apply for your own employment pass
• After you are in Singapore and want to bring your family member to live with you.

The application process

• Your employer/EA must apply through EP Online*, upload the appropriate documentation, and pay a S$105 processing charge.
• They must submit an application for each family member separately, thus there is a charge for each.
• The application is usually processed within three weeks. If your family members receive their Pass, they will receive an in-principle approval (IPA) letter, which your employer must print and deliver to them.
• They can utilize the IPA letter to enter Singapore. If you are an EP holder, they can enter with their IPA letter within six months. For S Pass holders, the validity period is two months.
• After your family member goes to Singapore, you must apply for their LTVP together through EP Online. You must pay an additional cost of S$225 for each of the passes.
• You will receive a notification letter authorizing your family member to travel in and out of Singapore while the Pass Card is being processed. It also includes information about whether they need to have their picture and fingerprints taken.
• Your family members will obtain their Pass Cards within four days after completing all prerequisites.
• If you are unable to submit an application online, please contact the proper authorities for instructions on how to proceed.

The Duration of the Long Term Visit Pass

In both circumstances, the LTVP can last up to two years, depending on the cause for your application. If you want to join a family member who is a foreign worker in Singapore, your Pass will be valid for the same period of time as their Employment Pass.

Singapore Long Term Visit Pass Plus

Spouses of Singapore nationals or Permanent Residents may be eligible for the Singapore Long Term Visit Pass Plus. The LTVP+ allows the holder to stay in Singapore for three years initially and can be renewed for up to five years each time. Holders of an LTVP+ can receive employment and health benefits.

However, qualifying for the LTVP+ requires at least one Singaporean kid. If you have been married for at least three years but do not have a kid, you may still be eligible.

Can you renew a Singapore Long Term Visit Pass?

Yes, you can can renew either type of LTVP using the same procedure as when you initially applied.

• If you want to renew an LTVP issued by the ICA, you have to do it at least ten days before your current one expires.
• If you want to renew an LTVP issued by the MOM, you must do it a maximum of six months before it expires. It is advised to start the renewing process early.

Applying for an LTVP renewal does not ensure that you will receive your new Pass. You will still be reviewed using the existing standards and your eligibility.

Working in Singapore with a LTVP

In all circumstances, you can only work in Singapore if you find a job and your prospective employer requests a Work Permit for you. If the ICA has given your LTVP, your employer must first apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) from the Ministry of Manpower. They can apply for a Letter of Consent using MOM’s online application service.