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The Long-Term Visit Pass, or LTVP, is a pass from ICA, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, that lets some foreigners stay in Singapore for longer than a normal visit. Most holders are family of a citizen or PR. The fees are S$45 to submit and S$60 for the pass, and ICA says most applications take within 6 weeks. Checked .
Who can get a Long-Term Visit Pass?
ICA names six categories on its LTVP page.
| Category | Sponsor |
|---|---|
| Spouse of a Singapore citizen or PR | Yes, your spouse |
| Child under 21 of a citizen or PR (born in a legal marriage or legally adopted) | Yes, the citizen or PR parent |
| Parent of a citizen or PR | Yes, a citizen or PR child aged 21 or above, or any citizen or PR aged 21 or above if the child is under 21 |
| Graduate of a Singapore institute of higher learning seeking employment | No |
| Parent or grandparent of a Student's Pass holder (only one applicant) | Yes, any citizen or PR aged 21 or above |
| Visitor seeking permission to give birth | Yes, any citizen or PR aged 21 or above |
Eligible does not mean approved. ICA decides each case.
How do you apply, and what does it cost?
Log in with Singpass or the credentials ICA gives you. Where a sponsor is needed, the sponsor submits for you after you complete your part.
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Submission | S$45 per applicant |
| Completion of formalities, LTVP issued | S$60 |
| multi-trip visa, if it applies | S$30 |
ICA says most applications with complete documents are processed within 6 weeks. To renew, apply at least 3 months before the pass expires. The page we read did not state how long a new LTVP is valid, so check your approval letter.
Can an LTVP holder work in Singapore?
Not on the pass alone. MOM sets the work rules for LTVP holders:
- Spouses and children under 21 of citizens or PRs can work with a Letter of Consent. The employer applies through the myMOM Portal. A Pre-approved Letter of Consent (PLOC) can let someone work without a job offer first.
- Parents of citizens or PRs can work on a Work Permit. They count only under the employer's overall quota.
- Parents accompanying a child studying here cannot work in the first year. After that they can be eligible for a Work Permit.
A Work Permit for an LTVP holder needs at least 4 months left on the LTVP and carries the foreign worker levy. The permit is valid only as long as the LTVP. Some jobs, such as bar or dance hostess and masseur, are not allowed.
Is the LTVP a business pass?
No. ICA issues it on family or study grounds, and MOM controls who may work. If you want to run a company, the common paths are an Employment Pass, an EntrePass or, for dependants of a pass holder, a Dependant's Pass. The first two are MOM passes with salary or startup tests.
If you are married to a Singaporean and want to run a company here, speak to MOM and ACRA about your exact case first. We found no official page that answers it in general, so we do not guess.
What should you prepare before applying?
ICA's process depends on your category, so start with who your sponsor is. A sponsor must be a Singapore citizen or PR, usually aged 21 or above, and submits the application for you after you make your declaration. Gather passports, marriage or birth certificates where relevant and any proof ICA asks for in the e-service. Incomplete documents are the main reason for delay, since the 6 week figure applies to applications with complete documents.
If you are applying for a parent or grandparent of a Student's Pass holder, only one person can apply for that child. Decide which relative goes first.
What are the common mistakes?
- Assuming an LTVP lets you work. It does not. The employer must get a Letter of Consent or Work Permit.
- Applying to renew late. ICA asks for renewal at least 3 months before expiry.
- Treating the LTVP as a route to start a business. It is a family or study pass.
- Forgetting the Work Permit's 4 month minimum. If your LTVP is close to expiry, an employer cannot apply.
What if you want PR instead?
A spouse of a citizen or PR can apply for permanent residence under a different ICA category, which needs the same sponsor. The PR page for business owners covers ICA fees and timing.
What happens when the pass ends?
An LTVP holder who works on a Work Permit may need that permit cancelled. See how to cancel a work pass.
How is an LTVP different from a Dependant's Pass?
A Dependant's Pass is tied to a work pass holder, such as an Employment Pass holder, and ends when that main pass is cancelled. An LTVP is issued by ICA to relatives of citizens and PRs and to the other groups above. The sponsor is a Singapore citizen or PR, not a foreign worker. If your family member holds a work pass, read the Dependant's Pass page instead. When a main pass ends, MOM says the family passes end too, as the cancel a work pass page explains.
Independent guide
SingaporeCompanySetupGuide.com is an independent guide. We are not ICA or MOM and we cannot apply for you. If your plan involves starting a company, the quote form on the next page passes your request to suitable providers.
Sources
- ICA, Becoming a Long-Term Visit Pass holder, https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/ltvp (categories, sponsor, fees, time, renewal)
- MOM, Work passes for holders of long-term visit passes issued by ICA, https://www.mom.gov.sg/en/passes-and-permits/work-passes-for-holders-of-long-term-visit-passes-issued-by-ica (Letter of Consent, Work Permit, conditions)
