Kindergartens and Childcare Centres

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.

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)

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

• Registration Acknowledgement Letter from the pre-school the child plans to attend
• 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.

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

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.