Institutes of Technical Education

Foreigners must hold a valid immigration pass to pursue full-time studies at an Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in Singapore.

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)

Local Sponsor Requirement

If you are required to apply for a Student’s Pass to study at any ITEs, you must have a local sponsor to complete the sponsor forms during your application. The following applies: 

• The sponsor must be a Singapore Citizen (SC) or Permanent Resident (PR) aged 21 or older.
• Companies and organisations cannot act as sponsors.
• If you have an SC or PR parent or step-parent, they must act as your local sponsor.

You will need the following documents and information ready before you apply:

• The Registration Acknowledgement Letter from the school you plan to attend
• Your travel document biodata page and birth certificate (if applicable)
• Your personal information, including the list of countries/places you have previously resided in, your educational background, employment history and financial support
• Your parents’, spouse's, and/or siblings’ personal information (if applicable)
• Your residential address and contact details in Singapore
• Your email address
• Your recent, passport-sized digital colour photograph taken within the last 3 months. Please refer to the Photo Guidelines for more information.

Submit your new or renewal application online using the unique reference number on your Registration Acknowledgement Letter to complete Form 16A and Form V103.  
Your local sponsor will need to complete and submit Form V39s and Form V39Q.

You do not need to be in Singapore while your application is being processed. ICA recommends applying for a Student’s Pass before you arrive in Singapore as you cannot extend your stay while processing is underway. Once approved, you can enter Singapore to complete the formalities required to issue your Student’s Pass.

You must pay a non-refundable S$45 processing fee.

Processing time depends on your application type and excludes the date of submission. Some applications may take longer to process.

Log in with your Student’s Pass application number to check your application status.

Once approved, you will receive an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter and must complete the formalities for the issuance of your Student's Pass.