2025 Singapore Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) Application Complete Guide

Singapore's Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) system is like a sophisticated classification network, integrating family reunification, talent attraction, and population control objectives into a dual-track management framework.

The Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) is a crucial pass issued by the Singapore government to foreign nationals who need long-term residence but do not qualify for permanent residency. Its approval and supervision are executed separately by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The 2025 policy further strengthens the differentiated characteristics of the dual-track system: ICA focuses on family reunification and social integration, while MOM concentrates on economic contribution and talent ecosystem supplementation.

This division of labor is not a simple partition, but a manifestation of Singapore's sophisticated immigration policy design—LTVP issued by ICA is based on blood relations and marriage ties, while LTVP issued by MOM is based on the economic value of foreign work pass holders.

I. Policy Positioning and Dual-Track Framework: Jurisdictional Boundaries of ICA and MOM

ICA Jurisdiction: Family Ties and Social Integration Orientation

LTVP issued by ICA centers on family reunification as its core logic, covering three key groups:

• Direct relatives of Citizens/PR: Spouse, children under 21, parents over 21 (Singapore citizens applying for LTVP for parents have nearly 100% approval rate)
• International student families: Parents/grandparents of children/grandchildren holding student passes can apply for accompanying visas (gender restrictions removed in 2025, both men and women can apply)
• Special needs groups: University graduates in job-seeking transition period, approved maternity cases

MOM Jurisdiction: Economic Contribution and Talent Ecosystem Binding

LTVP issued by MOM is strictly tied to the main applicant's economic value and employer qualifications:

• EP/SP holder dependents: Monthly salary ≥S$6,000 can apply for spouse/stepchildren/disabled children; ≥S$12,000 can apply for parents
• EntrePass holders: Must meet "local contribution" conditions (such as employing 6 local employees or annual operating expenditure ≥S$200,000) to apply for parents
• ONE Pass holders: Can directly apply for parents and de facto partners without additional employment requirements

Table: Core Differences Between ICA and MOM Issued LTVP in 2025

II. 2025 Application Conditions Explained: From Salary Thresholds to Contribution Quantification

Core Eligibility Conditions

• Salary Hard Thresholds
  • EP/SP holders applying for spouse: Monthly salary ≥S$6,000 (2025 standard)
  • Applying for parents: Monthly salary ≥S$12,000 (18% cumulative increase over three years)
• Local Contribution Requirements
  • EntrePass holders: Must employ ≥6 local regular employees or ≥2 PME professionals (monthly salary ≥S$3,900)
• Health and Background Checks
  • All applicants must submit criminal record clearance and tuberculosis screening reports (mandatory T-SPOT technology from 2025)

Special Group Channels

• University Graduate Transition Visa
  Limited to graduates from designated institutions (e.g., NUS, NTU, SMU), must apply within 90 days after student pass cancellation, no sponsor required but limited to once in a lifetime.
• Accompanying Parent Visa
  For children studying in government primary/secondary schools, parents can apply for LTVP, 2025 removes mother-exclusive restriction, fathers and grandparents are eligible.

LTVP+ Privilege Upgrade

Eligible Singapore citizen spouses can obtain LTVP+, enjoying three core privileges:

• Extended validity: Initial 3 years, renewal up to 5 years (regular LTVP max 5 years)
• Medical benefits: Same public hospital subsidies as PR
• Work convenience: No need for separate work pass application, can work directly with LOC letter

III. Application Materials and Process: Blockchain Verification and Digital Transformation

Core Document Checklist

The document system shows strong verification and high standardization characteristics:

• Relationship Proof Documents
  • Marriage/birth certificates need Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication + Apostille (non-English documents need SMC certified translator)
  • De facto marriages need ≥2 years of cohabitation proof (joint accounts, rental agreements, etc.)
• Financial Capability Proof
  • Sponsor's 3-year tax returns + 12-month CPF contribution records (self-employed need ACRA registration and balance sheet)
  • 2025 new requirement: Bank statements must be API-generated, screenshot submissions prohibited
• Health Documents
  • HIV test report (specifying testing methodology)
  • Vaccination records (12+ years old need WHO-approved vaccines)

Digital Application Process

1. Channel Selection
   • ICA category: Submit through MyICA APP or official website
   • MOM category: Employer applies through EPOL system
2. Approval Timeline
   • Standard processing 6 weeks (extended to 8 weeks during peak periods), 30% of applicants require interview
3. Electronic Pass Issuance
   Physical cards discontinued since February 2023, approved applicants obtain electronic LTVP through Singpass APP.

IV. 2025 Policy Trends and Strategic Recommendations

Structural Tightening Areas

• Economic Security Deposit: EP holders applying for parents need to prepay S$5,000 deposit
• Document Verification Upgrade: Academic documents need CSSD certification + blockchain verification (Opencerts system)
• Work Restriction Limits: Non-LTVP+ holders prohibited from sensitive industries (massage parlors, bars, etc.)

Benefit Release Directions

• Hawker Center Employment Opening: From 2025, LTVP+ holders can work as stall assistants in hawker centers
• Tax Relief Benefits: Parents living with sponsor for 8+ months qualify for S$9,000 taxable income relief
• Family PR Bundled Application: After holding LTVP for 2+ years, can submit PR application together with main applicant, success rate increases by 22%

Pitfall Avoidance Guide

• Salary Structure Design: Basic salary must absolutely meet threshold (overtime/bonuses not counted)
• Renewal Time Window: Submit renewal application 12 weeks before expiry, S$50 daily fine for late submission
• Document Authenticity Minefield: AI system automatically detects document generation rate >25% will trigger review

National University of Singapore's 2025 Immigration Policy Report notes: The core contradiction of the LTVP system lies in balancing the humanitarian demands of family reunification with the practical pressures of population control.

With the popularization of electronic verification and refinement of contribution quantification standards, LTVP is transforming from a "visit pass" to a ladder for family rooting—the nearly 100% approval rate for citizens applying for parents reflects support for core families; while the yearly increase in salary thresholds for foreign worker dependent visas sends a clear screening signal: the right to reunite is granted only when the main applicant's economic value is sufficient to support the family's overall contribution.

Successful applicants often construct a triple evidence chain in their materials: legal closure of blood/marriage ties, visualized presentation of economic contribution, and proactive commitment to social integration. After all, when policies favor accepting "complete family units" rather than individuals, systematic planning is the key to opening the door to long-term residence.