Singapore is a lively country with many entertaining tourist spots that attract people from all over the world. The culinary experience offers a large variety which includes many Indian delicacies that attract Indian tourists. Also, the country is a financial hub, making it a hotspot for Indians to visit there for business purposes.
Nonetheless, for whatever reason you want to visit the country, the first and foremost thing that you need to do is get a visa to travel. Singapore visa for Indians is easy and hassle-free to apply. But if you are not aware of how to proceed with the application process, we are here to help you.
Continue to read this blog to learn more about the Singapore visa application details.
Types of Singapore Visas
An Indian can apply for the following types of Singapore visas:
- Social Visa: This visa allows Indians to visit the country for leisure and holidays. It is valid for 1 to 3 months, but once you enter the country, you can stay for a maximum of 30 days. A Singapore social visa cannot be extended or renewed once it has been issued.
- Business Visa: A business visa to Singapore allows an Indian to visit for professional reasons. It is valid for 2 years, and the stay period is 30 days. Also, an applicant can renew or extend a business visa depending on the purpose.
Please note that Indians may be eligible for the 96-hour Visa Free Transit Facility (VFTF) if they are travelling by air to or from any third country.
Documents Required for a Singapore Visa
Indians are required to submit the following documents to apply for a visa to Singapore:
- A completed and signed visa application form (Form 14A).
- Original passport with at least 6 months validity.
- A confirmed return ticket and proof of accommodation with contact information.
- At least 2 recent passport-sized photographs against a white background.
- Bank statement of the last six months.
- Travel insurance with a minimum coverage of $50,000 per person.
- Cover letter mentioning all travel details.
- An invitation letter from a Singaporean company in case of a business visa.
How to Apply?
You can follow these steps to apply for a Singapore visa from India:
Step 1: Download the visa application form from the official website of the Immigration & Checkpoint Authority.
Step 2: Fill in the required information correctly and do not leave anything incomplete.
Step 3: Attach all the required documents to the visa application form.
Step 4: You need to pay the required application fees.
Step 5: Upon completion of the visa processing, you will receive a confirmation mail.
Singapore Visa Processing Time
Once you complete your visa application process for Singapore, within 3 to 5 working days (not including the day of submission, weekends, and holidays), your visa application will be processed. You must understand that the processing times for some applications could be high due to the type of visa applied and the time when the application was done. Moreover, note that every Singapore visa application is considered for its own merit and may be rejected if the criteria are not fulfilled.
Reasons for Getting Rejected
There are several reasons why your Singapore visa application gets rejected. Some are discussed as follows:
1. Violation of Visa Rules and Regulations
Applicants for Singapore visas from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) must strictly follow the rules for visa application. The authorities will consider any provided fake documents or information as fraud, and they will immediately cancel your visa processing.
2. Incomplete Visa Application and Information Mismatch
You must provide all details correctly, or your visa application will be rejected for misrepresentation of information. If there are discrepancies in documents, you should first resolve them before applying for a visa.
3. Inapplicable Travel Insurance for Certain Destinations
All aspiring applicants need to have valid travel insurance of the required amount. It is a very common reason for Singapore visas getting cancelled. You can consider any reputed companies, like ACKO, to buy your travel insurance.
4. Unclear Intent to Travel
You must show the visa officials your correct intent to travel to the country. The visa officials will cross-question you to clearly understand your intent to visit the country and any discrepancies in the answer can lead to rejection.
5. Passport Status
Singapore visa applicants from India need to have a valid passport for 6 months before they can apply. Also, they need to have at least 2 blank pages for the visa sticker and immigration stamp.
6. Shortage of Funds
Indians need to have a minimum bank balance of Rs. 50,000 to apply for a Singapore visa. Moreover, proper bank statements duly signed by a bank official need to be submitted along with the visa application form.
7. Time of Visa Application
There are different types of Singapore visas that require different processing times. Therefore, an applicant needs to factor out a minimum time of 45 to 50 days for the entire process.
8. Criminal Records
Visa applications to Singapore can be denied because an applicant has a criminal record. Also, it will be considered a threat to the country until the record is legally cleared.
9. Unfavourable Travel History
Unfavourable travel history includes performing activities which will violate the rules and regulations of the visa application procedure, overstaying after the visa has expired, and cancelling any previous visa application. You will face visa rejection if you have a history of any of these activities.
Final Words
Hence, it can be concluded that obtaining a Singapore visa has become quite easy for Indians. However, your intent to visit, proof of accommodation, and duration need to be clearly mentioned during the interview process as it sets the tone for its approval. Furthermore, make sure to cooperate with the officials and provide all the necessary information honestly to increase the approval chances of your visa.