Complete Guide to Singapore Student Pass (STP) Application Process 2025

Data from Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority shows that STP rejection rates rose to 18% in Q1 2025, with 72% of cases stemming from material defects or process misunderstandings

The Singapore Student's Pass (STP) is the core legal document for international students to legally reside and study in Singapore, with its application process exhibiting highly structured characteristics. With the systematic upgrades to Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) policies in 2025, the STP application has formed a precise chain from pre-approval to electronic conversion, where any oversight in any link may lead to entry failure. Understanding the mechanisms and changes of this process has become a necessary prerequisite for international students to successfully land in Singapore.

I. Policy Positioning and Entry Framework: Core Attributes and Application Boundaries of STP

The essence of STP is the legal identity credential for full-time international students, with its issuance and supervision uniformly executed by Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Its legal effect is reflected in three aspects:

• Residence rights: Covers the entire course duration (minimum 1 month, maximum until completion of studies), allows multiple entries and exits
• Identity binding: Cannot be used as a work visa, part-time work requires additional permit application (public institution students ≤16 hours/week during term)
• Applicable subjects: Limited to full-time courses at Edutrust-certified institutions, excludes non-degree programs such as short-term language training

The dual structure of IPA and STP forms the pillars of Singapore's student visa system:

• IPA (In-Principle Approval): Single-entry permit, valid for 90 days (reduced from 6 months in 2025), used for first entry
• STP (Student's Pass): Long-term document that must be obtained within 30 days of entry, fully digitalized from 2025, verified through Singpass App

Table: Comparison of Core Functions of IPA and STP in 2025

II. Phased Application Process: Four-Step Precision Operation Chain

Phase 1: Prerequisites and Document Preparation (3-6 months before course start)

• Institution qualification verification: Confirm school holds valid Edutrust certification (verifiable on Singapore's Council for Private Education CPE website)
• New financial proof rules: 2025 frozen deposit requirements increased to RMB 300,000 for undergraduate, RMB 400,000 for postgraduate, must cover first year tuition + living expenses, with notarized source of funds
• Health document upgrade: TB testing must use T-SPOT technology (replacing traditional PPD skin test), HIV report must indicate testing methodology

Phase 2: IPA Application Operation (5-10 working days)

1. Login to SOLAR system: Access Foreign Student channel through ICA website
2. Complete eForm 16: Accurately input application code provided by school (format: NU-YYYY-000000000012345)
3. Document upload: Including notarized academic documents, financial proof, full passport scan (must show historical entry/exit records)
4. Pay application fee: SGD 45 (only accepts Visa/Mastercard credit cards)

Phase 3: Entry and Pass Conversion Preparation (within 30 days of entry)

• Pass conversion countdown begins: Calculated from day after entry, STP conversion must be completed within 30 days
• Two mandatory operations:
  • Medical examination: Using designated forms in IPA attachment, completed at ICA-recognized clinics (focusing on TB, HIV, malaria screening)
  • Online appointment: Select "Completion of Student's Pass Formalities" through ICA appointment system, input FIN number and appointment ID

Phase 4: Official STP Issuance (offline/on-campus processing)

• Document checklist:
  • IPA original with institution stamp
  • Singapore-specified white background photo (35mm×45mm)
  • Original medical report
  • STP issuance fee payment receipt (SGD 90)
• Processing location:
  • ICA Building (10 Kallang Road) 4th floor counter
  • Some schools provide on-campus group registration services (e.g., NTU, NUS)
• Biometric data collection: On-site fingerprint and iris recording, electronic STP pushed to Singpass account after 3 working days

III. Key Policy Changes in 2025 and Response Strategies

Document Verification Technology Upgrade

• Blockchain attestation: Academic documents require CSSD certification + Opencerts blockchain attestation, non-certified translations rejected
• Direct API connection for financial records: Deposit certificates must be generated via bank API direct connection, screenshots or PDF scans considered invalid

Enhanced Health and Compliance Requirements

• Mandatory vaccination: Applicants aged 12+ must complete WHO-certified vaccination (Sinovac/Sinopharm recognized), otherwise entry prohibited
• Financial security deposit: First-time introduction of SGD 5,000 security deposit to ensure applicant's departure capability

Full Electronic Process Coverage

• Physical card cancellation: Full implementation of electronic STP from February 2025, verified through FileSG or Singpass App
• Online appeal mechanism: Supplementary materials can be submitted through SOLAR system after rejection, but application fee must be repaid

IV. High-Frequency Rejection Areas and Compliance Paths

Document Authenticity Defects (61% of rejections)

• Academic fraud: Private institution diplomas require certification by Ministry of Education's Service Center for Scholarly Exchange
• Financial defects: Large temporary deposits require 6-month statements to verify source, support from relatives/friends requires notarized legal relationship

Process Node Errors

• Overdue pass conversion: Failure to process STP within 30 days of entry incurs SGD 50 daily fine, severe cases face deportation
• Wrong medical institution: Reports from non-designated clinics rejected (e.g., NTU students must undergo on-campus medical examination)

Immigration Intent Concerns

• Course gap: Undergraduate graduates applying for language schools face 73% rejection rate, require career planning statement
• Dependent pass: Only postgraduate students can apply DP for spouse, requiring main applicant's monthly salary ≥SGD 6,000

Conclusion: Mastering Initiative in Evolving Regulations

The 2025 STP policy upgrades send clear signals: Singapore is constructing a more sophisticated student visa management system through technology verification to strengthen document authenticity (blockchain attestation/API direct connection), health screening to improve public safety (T-SPOT testing/mandatory vaccination), and financial guarantees to control residence risks (SGD 5,000 security deposit).

For applicants, the key to success lies in converting policy provisions into operational checklists—arranging financial records 6 months in advance, precisely matching medical institutions, and initiating the pass conversion countdown immediately upon entry. The moment the electronic STP is activated in the Singpass App, the value of this "academic pass" truly manifests: it is not only a certificate of legal residence but also the first digital identity contract for integration into Singapore's educational ecosystem.