Singapore Student's Pass Guide 2026 | ICA e-Service, Eligibility, Fees & Work Rules

Definition

The Student's Pass is the Singapore immigration permission used by eligible foreign students pursuing qualifying full-time studies.

Who Needs It

A foreigner accepted for approved full-time studies generally needs a Student's Pass unless the person already holds an immigration status that exempts them under ICA's rules.

Existing Pass Exemptions

• Valid Dependant's Pass.
• Valid Long-Term Visit Pass.
• Immigration Exemption Order.

Important Point

The exact eligibility and application procedure depends on the type of educational institution and programme.

Full Time

The course must be approved for Student's Pass purposes and generally must be full-time.

Part Time

Part-time courses are generally not eligible for a Student's Pass.

Evening Weekend

Courses conducted only in the evening or at weekends are generally not eligible for a Student's Pass.

Short Course Exemption

Ihl

ICA's current IHL process says applications should generally be submitted at least 2 months and not more than 3 months before the course begins.

Pei

ICA's current PEI process says new Student's Pass applications should generally be submitted at least 2 months and not more than 3 months before the course begins.

Fss

ICA's current Foreign System School and privately-funded-school process uses the same 2-to-3-month window for new applications.

Government Schools

The applicable school category procedure should be followed because sponsor and form requirements differ.

Transfer

For PEI students changing to another school or course, ICA requires a new Student's Pass application and the relevant lead-time rules apply.

Practical Advice

The safest approach is to begin preparation as soon as the school confirms the student's admission and then follow the precise filing window for that institution type.

Rule

For documents that are not in English, ICA requires original documents and official English translations for applicable application categories.

Accepted Translation Methods

• Translation by the embassy of the country/place that issued the document.
• Translation by a notary public in Singapore or the country/place that issued the document.
• Privately prepared translation attested by the relevant embassy or notarised by a notary public in Singapore.

Important Point

ICA does not endorse individual private translation companies.

General Rule

A security deposit or banker's guarantee should not be presented as a universal Student's Pass fee applicable to every international student.

Sponsored Cases

ICA's local-sponsor undertaking forms provide for a security deposit by Banker's Guarantee or Cashier's Order as a condition in applicable sponsored cases.

Amount

The amount is case-specific and should be stated only where ICA's applicable application category requires it.

Important Correction

The old generic 'S$1,000–S$5,000 for Student Pass holders' statistic has been removed because it implies a universal fee and is not supported as a blanket requirement for all applicants.

General Rule

A medical examination is not a universal automatic requirement for every Student's Pass applicant.

Ipa Rule

After approval, ICA's in-principle approval letter will state the requirements the student must satisfy before the Student's Pass can be issued.

Medical Report

Where a Medical Examination Report is required, the applicant must download the relevant form and submit the completed report before issuance.

Age Claim

Do not state that all students aged 15 and above must automatically undergo an HIV test and chest X-ray. The current ICA issuance guidance uses the phrase 'if applicable' and the IPA/formalities determine whether a medical report is required.

Practical Advice

Students should follow the exact medical instructions contained in their IPA rather than rely on a generic age-based rule.

Ipa Purpose

The IPA confirms that ICA has approved the Student's Pass subject to the stated requirements.

Entry Visa

Where an entry visa is required, ICA states that the visa is automatically included in the IPA letter.

Entry Warning

The IPA does not guarantee entry into or stay in Singapore. ICA decides whether to grant entry and which immigration visit pass applies at the checkpoint.

Timing

Students should not assume that approval allows indefinite delay before entry or formalities; the IPA contains the relevant instructions and validity conditions.

Location

ICA Services Centre, 2 Crawford Street, Level 3, Singapore 207218, where an in-person appointment is required.

Appointment

Completion of formalities at the ICA Services Centre is strictly by appointment.

Offsite Option

Some schools may arrange offsite enrolment for biometrics and formalities. In such cases, the school provides the date, time and location.

Medical

Submit the Medical Examination Report if the IPA requires it.

Fees

• S$60 Student's Pass issuance fee.
• S$30 Multiple Journey Visa fee if applicable.

Digital Pass

ICA issues the Student's Pass digitally rather than as a physical card.

Retrieval

• Singpass app after the applicable waiting period.
• MyICA.
• FileSG.

General Rule

Student's Pass holders generally need a work pass to work in Singapore unless they qualify for a specific MOM work-pass exemption.

Term Time

Vacation

Approved Institution Examples

• National University of Singapore.
• Nanyang Technological University.
• Singapore Management University.
• Singapore Institute of Technology.
• Singapore University of Social Sciences.
• Singapore University of Technology and Design.
• Nanyang Polytechnic.
• Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
• Republic Polytechnic.
• Singapore Polytechnic.
• Temasek Polytechnic.
• Selected approved foreign universities/business schools and other institutions listed by MOM.

Important Point

The MOM approved-institution list is not identical to the broad list of schools that can issue a Student's Pass. Being eligible for a Student's Pass does not automatically mean the student has an unrestricted right to work.

Important Point

The current MOM list is longer than the five-university list in the original JSON.

Correction

Do not limit the work-exemption list to NUS, NTU, SMU, SIT and SUTD. It includes SUSS, polytechnics and a range of other listed institutions.

Verification

The institution list should be checked against MOM's current foreign-student work-exemption page because the work exemption depends on the exact institution.

Renewal

Students who continue the same course at the same school can generally apply to renew their Student's Pass online under the applicable institution-category procedure.

Transfer

Changing to a different course or school can require a new Student's Pass application rather than a simple amendment.

Pei Transfer

For PEI students changing course or school, ICA currently requires a new Student's Pass application at least 4 weeks before the new course begins.

Post Approval Transfer

If a student transfers schools after approval but before collecting the Student's Pass, ICA states that a new application is required.

Practical Point

Students should not assume their existing Student's Pass automatically follows them to a different institution.

Rule

The Student's Pass must be surrendered for cancellation when studies cease or are terminated, subject to the applicable ICA procedure.

Timing

ICA's sponsor undertaking documentation states that the Student's Pass is to be surrendered for cancellation within 7 days of cessation or termination of studies.

Work After Study

Once the Student's Pass expires or is cancelled, the former student cannot continue working under a Student's Pass work exemption unless another lawful work authorisation applies.

Immigration Status

A student remaining in Singapore after studies must have valid immigration status.

Employment

A graduate who secures a qualifying Singapore job may need the employer to apply for the relevant work pass, such as an Employment Pass or S Pass, subject to the prevailing eligibility requirements.

Graduate Ltvp

Certain graduates from Institutes of Higher Learning may be eligible to apply for an ICA Long-Term Visit Pass to seek employment in Singapore, subject to the specific programme criteria.

Important Correction

It is not accurate to state that every graduate from a Singapore public university automatically receives a one-year LTVP.

Timing

The graduate must maintain lawful immigration status while seeking or commencing employment.

Edutrust

Only EduTrust-certified PEIs can offer qualifying placements to foreign students who need a Student's Pass.

Non Edutrust

A PEI that is not EduTrust-certified cannot offer placements to foreign students who need a Student's Pass. Students who already hold certain other immigration passes may have different study options.

Religious Study

Approved religious-study programmes follow a separate ICA category and should not be treated as ordinary PEI programmes.

Not Universal

A Singapore Citizen or PR local sponsor is not required for every Student's Pass application.

Applicable Categories

• Certain Government / Government-aided / Independent school applications.
• ITE applications.
• Other categories expressly requiring a sponsor under ICA's institution-specific rules.

Sponsor Eligibility

Where required, the local sponsor generally must be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident aged 21 or older.

Companies

ICA specifies that companies and organisations cannot act as local sponsors in the sponsor categories requiring an individual local sponsor.