Indian travellers with plans to visit Singapore must hold a valid visa before entering the country. Whether travelling for vacation, business, or family purposes, Indian travellers must hold a valid visa to meet immigration requirements. Obtaining a Singapore study visa or tourist visa from India is a straightforward process, provided that one follows the specified steps and submits the correct documentation.
The Singapore visa for Indians is easy to obtain when you follow the official process and submit all required documents correctly, including for tourist and study purposes. Understanding the Singapore visa process for Indians helps avoid many roadblocks, allowing for smoother travel. The main reasons Indian citizens apply for a Singapore visa include:
- Tourism: For leisure travel, sightseeing, and holiday visits
- Business: For meetings, conferences, or client visits
- Family Visits: To visit relatives or friends staying in Singapore
- Transit: For brief stays while getting to a connecting international destination
Hence, whether you are planning a short holiday or a long-term academic stay, this article will guide you through the process of obtaining a Singapore visa from India, including eligibility, documents, application procedures, fees, and tips on a successful visa application.
Visa Categories for Indians
Before filing a Singapore visa application from India, it is imperative to identify the kind of visa you’ll apply for, depending on the intent of your trip:
Tourist Visa (Short-Term Visit Pass)
This is the most common visa issued to Indian tourists in Singapore. It involves short stays (up to 30 days) for sightseeing, fun, or visiting friends and relatives.
Travelling for vacation, events, or general tourism.
Business Visa
Indians who need to attend meetings, exhibitions, or business negotiations in Singapore can apply under the same Short-Term Visit Pass category but with additional documents such as a company invitation letter and a business cover letter.
To be chosen if one is visiting for professional or commercial activities.
Singapore Study Visa (Student Pass)
Indian students who are accepted into full-time courses in Singapore must obtain a Student Pass (Singapore study visa). Such applications are usually submitted by the educational institution via Singapore’s SOLAR+ system.
Required for students who wish to pursue diplomas, degrees, or long-term studies in Singapore.
Visa-Free Transit Facility (VFTF)
Indians making a transit from Singapore to another country can be eligible for the Visa-Free Transit Facility, on a visa-free stay for 96 hours, if certain conditions are met.
Perfect for brief layovers if you have a valid onwards flight ticket and a visa for the destination country, Singapore.
Singapore Visa Eligibility for Indian Citizens
Before applying for a Singapore visa from India, make sure that you satisfy all the general eligibility criteria. The Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority has determined these requirements to be met by any Indian candidate applying for a tourist, business, or Singapore study visa.
Indian tourists require the following to be eligible for a Singapore study visa:
Valid Passport
Your passport should be valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the date of entry in Singapore.
Tip: Please ensure that the passport has a minimum of two blank pages to be stamped.
Clear Purpose of Travel
You should be able to clearly state the intention for travelling—tourism, business, family, or study—with supporting documents such as
- Confirmed return air tickets
- Hotel booking confirmations or details of accommodation
- Invitation letter (for business visits, family visits, or stays sponsored by another person)
This proof establishes the legitimacy of your visit, and this alone is a key factor in getting your Singapore visa approved from India smoothly. For an admission letter from the institution in Singapore or for a student visa consultant, contact us now.
Financial Stability
You need to demonstrate that you are able to sustain yourself financially during your visit to Singapore. This is normally achieved through current bank statements (the last 3-6 months), demonstrating adequate funds to take care of accommodation, food, and local transport costs.
Student visa applicants who wish to study abroad after the 12th must provide proof of funds or sponsorship documents to be eligible for a study visa in Singapore.
Required Documents for Singapore Visa for Indians
To successfully apply for a Singapore visa from India, a complete set of paperwork must be correctly submitted. One of the most common causes of the long delay in processing or outright rejection of a visa is incomplete or incorrect paperwork submitted by the visa applicant.
Here is a checklist of the documents needed by Indian applicants:
Passport Copy
Clearly scanned the first and last pages of the passport’s biodata section
Valid for a minimum of 6 months (some are stringent about doing this from the date of travel)
Two Passport-Size Photographs
Size: 35 x 45mm
Background: White
Photo Specifications: Recent background (last 3 months), matte, undeniably clear with facial features in light.
Form 14A (Visa Application Form)
Fully completed
Issued by ICA Singapore
May be completed online or manually after printing the same
Form V39A – Letter of Introduction (LOI)
If you have a local contact in Singapore (either a citizen or PR), then this is required.
Signed by the local contact, along with a photocopy of their NRIC
Not always required for tourist visa applications when applying through authorised agents
How to Apply for a Singapore Visa from India
Indian citizens may apply for a Singapore visa either through an authorised visa agent in India or through a local contact in Singapore. Here is how the respective processes go:
Apply Through Authorized Visa Agents in India
The Singapore High Commission in India does not accept walk-in applications. Instead, you are to apply through authorised visa agents whose offices exist in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, and others.
Steps
- Choose an authorised agent you trust; for example, Eduprofound, or a recognised agent along with a travel organisation at the destination.
- Submit your passport along with valid documents to your agent.
- Your agent will upload your application to the Singapore visa portal on your behalf.
Processing Time
- Standard processing: 3 to 5 working days
- Fast-track approvals may be granted within 24–48 hours
- For most Indian tourists, business travellers, and students applying for a Singapore visa, this option is the most convenient.
Apply Through a Local Contact in Singapore (SAVE System)
In case you have a sponsor or relative in Singapore, whether they are a permanent resident or citizen, Singapore’s immigration officers have a scheme to get the application for an e-visa done on your behalf using the ICA SAVE (Submission of Application for Visa Electronically) system.
Steps:
- Your local contact would have to access their SingPass account.
- They apply for your visa and upload supporting documents through the SAVE system
- When approved, the e-visa for Singapore, including the soft copy, shall be sent to your email for printing and carrying
This way of application is usually utilised for:
- Entry to visit relatives
- Business tours
- Short-term sponsorships by Singapore companies
Visa-Free Transit Facility (VFTF) for Indian Citizens
Indian passport holders may be eligible for the Visa-Free Transit Facility (VFTF) when transiting through Singapore. The facility extends a brief stay of a maximum of 96 hours (4 days) without having to pre-obtain a Singapore visa—perfect for short layovers.
What is VFTF?
The VFTF provides permission for Indian transit travellers to enter Singapore visa-free for 96 hours, as long as they satisfy particular requirements. An excellent option for travellers who ask how to obtain a Singapore visa from India if they are transiting through the country.
Singapore VFTF Eligibility Criteria for Indian Citizens:
To be eligible for the Singapore VFTF, you should:
- Be transiting in Singapore to a third country (not returning directly to India)
- Possess a valid onwards flight ticket travelling in 96 hours or less
- Possess a valid visa or long-term residence permit from one of the following:
- USA
- UK
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Germany
- Switzerland
Note: The visa should be valid for a minimum of one more entry into the issuing country. E-visas can be accepted only in the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Not Eligible If:
- You’re returning straight to India without onward travel to a third country
- You do not have a valid visa from the list of approved countries
How to Use the VFTF?
- Show your passport, third-country visa, and onwards flight ticket that has been confirmed at immigration in Singapore.
- You can be allowed entry at the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)’s discretion.
- No advance application is required, but there is no assurance of entry.
Receiving and Printing Your e-Visa (If Applying Normally)
- For those not eligible for VFTF and wondering how to get a Singapore visa, the standard application process applies.
- After your visa is approved (either through an authorised agent or the SAVE system), you’ll receive an e-visa in PDF format.
How to Access and Use Your e-Visa?
- Your agent or local sponsor will send the e-visa to your email
- Download and print a hard copy of the visa to take along on your journey
- Have both the hard copy and electronic copy available at the airport and during immigration inspection
- Your Singapore e-visa is electronically attached to your passport, but a hard copy is highly advisable for hassle-free entry
What to Expect at Singapore Immigration?
Even if you’ve managed to apply for a Singapore visa from India, note that your e-Visa is merely a pre-entry approval, not an assurance of entry.
What Happens at Immigration
When you arrive in Singapore, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will check your travel documents. If things go smoothly, you will be given a Visit Pass stating your allowed length of stay (usually 30 days).
The officers may just ask him or her a few questions, such as
- Purpose of the visit: tourism, business, visiting, etc.
- Accommodation for the stay in Singapore
- Evidence of having enough finances or an onward or return ticket
Documents to carry and prepare for Immigration
- A printed copy of the e-visa
- A valid passport with at least 6 months validity
- A confirmed return or onwards flight ticket
- A hotel reservation or the address of the person you will be staying with
- If applicable: travel insurance, invitation letter, or sponsor documents
Tip: Speak politely, firmly, and clearly in your answers. This is a smooth entry process.
Travel Tips & Common Pitfalls
Simple errors committed during the Singapore visa application for Indians can result in delays or even rejections. Avoid such common pitfalls so that your experience can be relatively stress-free.
Common Pitfalls
- Incorrect or incomplete forms with disparate details on different documents (e.g., name different from passport)
- Poor photograph: not meeting ICA standards (35x45mm, white background, recent)
- Unverifiable or fake supporting documents, chiefly return airline tickets or hotel bookings.
- Last-minute submissions: File your application 2-4 weeks before your actual travel date
- Untrustworthy intermediaries: Always employ trusted agents for a Singapore visa to avoid foul play
- Transit Alert: Some passengers try to use fake onwards tickets for VFTF or visa purposes.
- ICA can immediately identify them, resulting in refusal of entry or even blacklisting.
Tips
- Double-check all personal information again before applying
- Only take photographs from approved studios or apps that meet ICA standards
- Keep hard and soft copies of the e-visa and supporting documents on hand
- Bookmark trustworthy portals such as ica.gov.sg and mfa.gov.sg
When unsure, refer to an authorized visa agent or the Singapore High Commission website
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do Indians easily get a visa for Singapore?
Yes, Indians can obtain a Singapore visa quite easily if the documents are complete and accurate. It takes 3–5 working days for most of the applications if applied through approved agents.
How to obtain an e-visa for Singapore?
To obtain a Singapore e-visa, Indian applicants should apply via an approved visa agent or a local individual in Singapore who applies for them using the SAVE system. The e-visa is delivered to you via email in PDF format.
What is the required bank balance for a Singapore visa?
Highly advise you to have evidence of adequate funds, typically ₹50,000 or higher, to pay for your stay, particularly for a tourist or someone visiting relatives.
Do you need an interview for a Singapore visa?
No, a Singapore visa application does not involve a personal interview for Indian citizens. It’s a document-based application and is conducted online by agents or sponsors.
Do I require a flight ticket to get a Singapore visa?
While a booked flight ticket is not necessary at the submission of the application, you may be asked to produce it during visa processing or at the point of entry. A booked return or onwards ticket is recommended upon departure.
May I apply for a Singapore visa independently without an agent?
No. Indians must apply through authorised visa agents since the Singapore High Commission does not entertain individual walk-in applications. Otherwise, a Singapore contact can apply through the SAVE system.
How long can I remain in Singapore on a tourist visa?
All Indian visitors are issued a 30-day Visit Pass on arrival. The period of validity lies in the hands of the Singapore immigration officers at the point of entry.
