Singapore is evidently a popular Asian tourist destination. The country’s airport, on the other hand, is known for being one of the most beautiful and well-managed in the world. Because of its air traffic and proximity to other Asian and Pacific countries, the airport has been a welcoming point for many airlines, and it is one of the busiest airports in Asia. Singapore, as a popular airline hub, sees many transit passengers who arrive for only a few minutes before continuing on to another destination. So, in such cases, do visitors need a Singapore visit visa? Here’s a quick overview of Singapore transit visas that you can use to transit through international airports in Singapore.
Singapore Transit Visa – In a nutshell.
A Singapore transit visa is a travel permit that allows the visa holder to enter Singapore for a limited time in order to catch a connecting flight to another destination. Singapore transit visas are not required for everyone. A transit visa is not required:
- If you are transiting through Singapore and are from a country where a Singapore visa is not required, you can simply transit to your connecting flight without having to apply for an additional transit visa.
- If you arrived at Singapore Changi Airport and are issued the onward boarding passes for connecting flights out of Changi Airport or obtain the onward boarding passes from any of the Transfer Lounges within the transit area, you may remain within the Changi Airport transit area until the time for flight departure. You do not need to apply for a transit visa if you stay in the Transit area (Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4) and do not pass through the Immigration area.
Which citizens require a Singapore transit visa?
Citizens who require a valid Singapore visa to visit Singapore need to apply for a Singapore Transit visa. The Singapore transit visa requirements remain the same as the Singapore visa. The application process and Singapore transit visa fees are the same as Singapore’s regular visa. These countries are as follows:
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Morocco, South Korea, Georgia, India, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, Russia, Tajikistan, China, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
For these nationals, a valid Singapore visa has to be procured before their arrival at Singapore airport if they will have to leave the transit area to catch their separate connecting flight.
If you are only transiting in Singapore, then it is not necessary to have a Singapore Transit Visa even if you are from Assessment Level I and Assessment Level II countries. All you need to do is fulfill the following conditions as mentioned below:
- You should have a ticket for a connecting flight from Singapore to another place, ie, a ticket for onward travel.
- You do not visit the Immigration Area.
- You do not cross the Airport Transit Area.
The 96-hour Singapore Visa Free Transit Facility (VFTF)
Some countries, however, are eligible for a 96-hour visa-free transit facility (VFTF) in Singapore. Citizens of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Georgia, India, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Turkmenistan, and Ukraine are currently eligible for the VFTF. This transit facility allows nationals with valid onward tickets to other countries to stay in Singapore for 96 hours. This travel facility cannot be extended. They must have a confirmed flight ticket for their onward journey, a valid visa for the third country, and sufficient funds to stay in Singapore for 96 hours. The traveler who is eligible for VFTF must leave Singapore within 96 hours, regardless of circumstance.
Just like in any other country, overstaying a Singapore visa is considered a severe offense, and you might be penalised, jailed, or both depending on the severity of offense. One thing you must remember is that if you own a valid VFTF, you can use it only once, either on your first or return trip.
So if you are a resident of any of these countries, as mentioned earlier and fulfil the requirements for VFTF, then you have to submit an application to the Singapore Immigration Services, aka ICA, during your point of entry. It is different from regular Singapore visa from Dubai and requires less documentation.
The ICA, a governing body, reviews these kinds of applications. They are also responsible for granting permission to travellers to enter Singapore. ICA also holds power to refuse or deny your application if they find any of your documents suspicious or invalid. ICA has the last and final decision, and you cannot challenge them.
Documents required for getting VFTF
When you want to enter Singapore using VFTF, you are requested to present the following documents to the ICA officers:
- A passport valid for the following six months from the time of your departure from Singapore airport
- An embarkation or disembarkation card
- An onward flight or cruise ticket
These citizens should also fulfill some additional requirements such as Indian and Chinese citizens should either have a valid visa or long-term pass with a validity of at least one month after arrival in Singapore for the following countries:
- Australia
- Canada
- Germany
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
Special conditions
If your single journey visa has been used up, you are still eligible to use the VFTF for your return flight. In such a scenario, you have to:
- Stop at Singapore to transit.
- Directly travel to Singapore from the country that issued the single journey visa on the way to their home.
- Not returned to your home country since the last time the visa was used.
Things to consider when applying for a Singapore Transit Visa
Even if you are transiting through Singapore without a Transit visa or by using the VFTF facility, you must always have a valid passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining.
Before arriving in Singapore, the visitor should check with the airline to ensure that they will receive their boarding passes without having to go through immigration. If not, then a Singapore transit visa is required. It should be noted that there is no distinct transit visa if you are required to apply for a Singapore transit visa. To transit through Singapore, visitors must apply for a regular Singapore visa.
You must meet the applicable entry requirements, which may include having an entry visa, requiring to obtain immigration clearance before obtaining your onward boarding passes at the Departure Check-in Hall.
When flying through Singapore, the traveler must have both flight tickets booked and confirmed, and luggage tagged through from the origin airport to the final destination airport.
Documents required for a Singapore Transit Visa
If your flights are lined up in such a way that you have to go through migration in Singapore, then you will have to apply for a pre-arranged visa. However, this condition only applies to residents of countries who are not allowed visas on arrival or a visa-free entry, like India.
This is why you must apply for a standard entry visa and have all the necessary travel documents:
- Photocopy or digital copy of your bio-data page on your passport
- Signed verified visa application form
- Proof that you have enough funds
- A digital copy of your return flight
- Valid passport with at least six months of validity
- A pay slip can act as proof that you have paid your visa application fee
How to apply for a Singapore Transit Visa?
The process of getting a Singapore Transit Visa is quite similar to the process of getting a standard visa in most countries. Here are three of the popular ways by which you can apply for a visa:
· Online Application
Do you want to apply for a Singapore Transit Visa without much hassle? Then the quickest way is through online visa consultancies or official websites. You can check out all details online and make the application process for your Singapore visit visa much easier.
· ICA Website
If you have friends, colleagues, or family members living in Singapore, they can apply for a visa on your behalf. They can do it using the ICA website. All you have to do is provide them with the correct information and documents. From the ICA website, it will take around three working days.
· Authorised visa agents
You can visit the website of the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs to learn about the authorized visa agents who can help you with a Singapore Transit Visa. It will take approximately 3 to 5 working days to get the visa, so remember to do it two weeks before your departure.
Apart from these methods visit singaporevisa.ae for easily getting Singapore Transit visa.
Takeaway:
In summary, if you are from a visa-required country, it is best to obtain a regular Singapore visa ahead of time if you are not eligible for visa-free transit or if you are unsure whether you will need to leave the Transit area in Singapore airport before boarding your connecting flight. In this case, it is best to know how to apply for a Singapore e-visa. For this, you need to seek the advice of a Singapore travel expert and stay in touch with the airlines you will be flying with to ensure that your journey is as trouble-free as possible.