Singapore is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, and why wouldn’t it be? The country has everything you could ever want: delicious food, fantastic shopping, awe-inspiring attractions, and verdant landscapes. If you are visiting Singapore, you are required to obtain the right visa according to your citizenship. It is possible to apply for a short-term tourist visa in advance of your trip or you can apply for a visa on arrival depending on your nationality. There is, however, more to know than just that! How do you get a tourist visa for Singapore renewed? Would you be able to extend your stay beyond the period set forth by the original visa if you wanted to? Our guide to Singapore visa renewal will explain what a Singapore visa is and how to renew it for people who want to stay in this beautiful country for an extended period.
What is a Singapore tourist visa?
Any individual from outside Singapore needs to apply for a Singapore tourist visa if they wish to visit this destination for social or tourist purposes. Some citizens of certain countries are eligible to gain access to a visa on-arrival service or are fully exempt from the requirement to obtain a visa to enter Singapore. Citizens of certain countries are also eligible for Singapore evisa. It is the responsibility of the citizens who require a Singapore Visit Visa before arriving at the point of entry in Singapore to apply and acquire the visa in advance of the stipulated departure date. A Singapore tourist visa has to be acquired by those who need a pre-approved travel document to enter Singapore. A short-term visa however only guarantees the holder to arrive in Singapore. For the visa holder to get past the immigration counter and step foot into the country, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority needs to assign a valid Singapore Arrival Card (A visit Pass) as this is the ticket that allows entry within the country. Whether or not a Singapore Arrival Card is provided to a foreign national depends solely on the Immigration Authority of Singapore.
What is the validity period of a Singapore tourist visa?
To have a better understanding of the Singapore visit visa, it would be helpful if we clarified a few key points first. The Singapore visit visa is a pre-requisite travel document that Singapore visitors must secure if they are citizens of certain countries that are not visa-exempt for Singapore travel. This visit visa is just permission to arrive at the entry point in Singapore. At the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the visa will be verified and Singapore Arrival Card also known as Singapore Visit Pass will be provided which reflects the actual days you are allowed to enter and stay in Singapore. It is therefore imperative to obtain the Singapore Visit Pass to enter Singapore. Singapore visit visas can be valid for a longer period than the time you are granted to stay in Singapore. Once you gain entry into Singapore, you should pay attention to the expiration date on your Visit Pass provided by the Immigration officer. You will need to exit Singapore before the due date of this Singapore Visit Pass lapse. If you overstay, you will be charged with heavy penalties. It is still possible to renew your Singapore visit pass before it expires while you are still in Singapore itself. On the other hand, if your Singapore visit visa expires, you will have to renew it.
How to renew a Short-term Singapore Tourist visa?
With a short-term visit visa, you can enter Singapore and get a 30-day Singapore Visit Pass. Singapore Visit Pass can be extended while you are in Singapore if the validity period is about to expire. For this, you should not have applied for an extension while in Singapore previously and your Singapore visit pass must still be valid for at least 3 working days from the date of the extension application submission. The number of days you can extend your stay is limited to 30 from the date when your visit pass expires. You will only need your Embarkation/Disembarkation number on the SG Arrival Card and a valid passport with at least six months of validity in order to extend a visit pass. As mentioned earlier, however, if you have a Singapore visit visa that has lapsed its validity, you will have to renew your Singapore visa, which means that you will have to go through the Singapore visa application process that you already went through when you had applied for your Singapore visa for the first time. In this case, you will have to
- Complete the Singapore visit visa application form thoroughly, correctly, and without any errors and submit it online.
- Gather all required documents for Singapore visa and photographs as per specification and hand them over to an authorized Singapore visa agent.
- Provide proof of financial ability to cover your stay in Singapore.
- Pay the visa fees and wait for the results.
Is there any fee to renew a Singapore visa?
In case you are extending your Singapore Visit Pass, then you need to pay a non-refundable fee of SGD 40 per application. If you are renewing your short-term Singapore tourist visa, you have to pay a non-refundable visa fee of SGD 30 per application.
After applying, how long does it typically take for a visa renewal?
To get a visit visa to Singapore extension and renewal of a Singapore visa, it takes about three to four working days, respectively. Ideally, if you are renewing your Singapore visa for an upcoming trip, you should do so at least 30 days prior to the departure date.