Singapore has relaxed the immigration policies that allow students to become permanent residents of the country. Student Pass holders may now apply for Singapore Permanent Residency if they passed at least one national exam or are part of the Integrated Programme, regardless of the number of years they have been studying in Singapore.

The national exam could be Primary School Leaving Examination or General Certificate of Education N/O/A level examinations. The Integrated Programme could be a six-year course that eventually leads to the General Certificate of Education A-Level examination or International Baccalaureate Diploma or NUS High School Diploma.

Previously, Student Pass holders needed to wait for at least two years before they could apply for permanent residency.

Separately, a male guardian (parent or grandparent) of a child studying in Singapore on a Student Pass may now apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) and reside in Singapore to accompany and look after the foreign student, whereas previously only female guardians (either mothers or grandmothers) could apply for the LTVP. Only one guardian (either a parent or a grandparent) is allowed to accompany a student pass holder.

Foreign students who have been accepted by an educational institution to pursue full-time studies in Singapore have to apply for a Student’s Pass unless they have a valid Dependant’s Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass, or a Short-Term Visit Pass. To apply for a Student’s Pass, one must be accepted into an approved full-time course in Singapore. Part-time courses and courses conducted in the evening or on weekends are not eligible.

Holders of valid Long-Term Visit Pass, Dependant’s Pass and Immigration Exemption Order are not required to obtain a Student’s Pass to pursue full-time studies. They may enroll in any school within the duration of their existing pass. If the existing pass expires or is cancelled during the duration of their studies, the international student needs to apply for a Student’s Pass to continue their studies. The requirements and procedures for a Student’s Pass differ slightly depending on the type of educational institution in which you intend to study.

As a foreigner, you are eligible to apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass if you are a spouse of a Singapore citizen or parent of a Singapore citizen a Singapore Permanent Resident (PR). Also, a graduate from an Institute of Higher Learning seeking employment in Singapore and a parent or grandparent of a child studying in Singapore on a Student’s Pass is eligible for a Long-Term Visit Pass.