Overview
A foreign child must hold a valid immigration pass to attend a kindergarten or childcare centre in Singapore. Only pre-schools licensed by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) can offer placements to foreign children.
Eligibility
You must apply for a Student’s Pass if you are accepted as a full-time matriculated or registered student at one of the approved Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) in Singapore. This requirement does not apply if you hold any of the following:
- Dependant's Pass (DP)
- Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP)
- Immigration Exemption Order (IEO)
Documents Required
You will need the following documents and information ready before you apply:
- The child’s travel document biodata page and birth certificate (if applicable)
- The child’s personal information, including the list of countries/places they have previously resided in
- The parents’ and the child’s siblings’ personal information (if applicable)
- The child’s residential address and contact details in Singapore
- The parent’s email address
- The child’s recent, passport-sized, digital, colour photograph taken within the last 3 months. Please refer to the Photo Guidelines for more information.
- For foreign-born applicants aged 12 years 0 day or below, submit their vaccination information to the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA). For details, visit the CDA website.
You will need to provide original documents and official translations (for documents in languages other than English).
ICA accepts:
- Translations provided by the embassy of the country/place that issued the document
- Translations produced by a notary public in Singapore or the country/place that issued the document
- Privately created translations attested by the embassy of the country/place that issued the document, or notarised by a notary public in Singapore or the country/place that issued the document
ICA does not endorse any private translation companies or entities. Insufficient documentation may result in non-acceptance of your application. You may be required to provide additional documents to support your application.
Procedure
Submit your new, renewal, or transfer application online.
New Application
When to apply: 2 to 3 months before the course begins
The child does need to be in Singapore while your application is being processed. ICA recommends applying for a Student’s Pass before the child arrives in Singapore as their stay cannot be extended while processing is underway. Once approved, the child can enter Singapore to complete the formalities required to issue your Student’s Pass.
Renewal/Transfer
For a child continuing at the same pre-school or transferring to a different kindergarten or childcare centre.
When to apply: At least 4 weeks before the new course begins
Fees
You must pay a non-refundable S$45 processing fee.
You can pay online using any of the following:
- Visa or Mastercard credit/debit card
- American Express (AMEX) credit card
- Internet Direct Debit (DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB and Standard Chartered Bank Internet Banking accounts in Singapore)
- PayNow
Processing Time
Processing time depends on your application type and excludes the date of submission. Some applications may take longer to process.
| Application Type | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| New | Within 2 weeks |
| Renewal | Within 1 week |
Application Status
Log in with your Student’s Pass application number to check your application status.
Completion of Formalities
Once approved, you will receive an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter and must complete the formalities for the issuance of your Student's Pass.
FAQs
While you must be accepted into a full-time course by an approved education institution, your Student's Pass is issued by ICA.
The digital Student's Pass (STP) is equivalent to the physical STP cards that were issued before 27 February 2023.
Every Student's Pass application is processed and assessed on its own merits.
