Reviewed by Yasir Khan, Founder, LAMTANS Group of Companies, and British Council registered consultant
To study in Singapore from Pakistan you apply online to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for a Student’s Pass two to three months before your course starts, then collect it in Singapore. Pakistani citizens need an entry visa, which comes with the approval letter. This guide covers the steps, fees and work rules.
Singapore Student’s Pass process from Pakistan
- Get accepted on a full-time course. Your school gives you a Registration Acknowledgement Letter.
- Apply online through the ICA e-Service, at least two and not more than three months before the course begins. You do not need to be in Singapore while it is processed.
- Receive the In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter. ICA says within one week, or two weeks if a visa is required, though some cases take longer. Pakistan is on ICA’s list of countries whose travel-document holders need a visa, and the visa is included in the IPA letter.
- Enter Singapore and complete formalities at the ICA Services Centre, 2 Crawford Street, by appointment. The pass is digital only and appears in the Singpass app about three working days after formalities.
Part-time, evening and weekend courses are not eligible. The IPA letter does not guarantee entry. ICA asks for a medical examination report “if applicable”: a chest X-ray and an HIV test by a registered doctor at a licensed clinic in your home country, submitted within three months of issue.
Fees, documents and proof of funds
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Processing fee per application (non-refundable) | S$45 |
| Issuance fee if approved | S$60 |
| Multiple-journey visa for visa-required nationals | S$30 |
- Registration Acknowledgement Letter from your school.
- Passport biodata page, and a birth certificate if applicable.
- Personal details: countries lived in, education, employment and financial support, plus family details where applicable.
- A Singapore address, an email address and a recent digital colour passport photo taken within three months.
- Originals and copies, with official translations of any non-English documents.
ICA asks you to declare your financial support but states no minimum bank balance, so we confirm the position for your school at your consultation.
Tuition costs
| NTU undergraduate fees, AY2026/27, per year, including 9% GST | Amount |
|---|---|
| Most programmes, with MOE Tuition Grant (other international / ASEAN) | S$21,400 / S$18,050 |
| Business-related programmes, with grant | S$21,800 |
| Medicine / Renaissance Engineering, with grant | S$91,250 / S$32,000 |
| Without grant: non-lab / lab-based / business | S$36,350 / S$40,600 / S$45,600 |
The MOE Tuition Grant is a fee subsidy, not a scholarship. NTU says grant holders must work for a Singapore entity for three years after graduation. We found no official living-cost estimate.
Working in Singapore as a student
Full-time students at listed institutions, such as universities and polytechnics, may work up to 16 hours a week in term, or do a school-run internship that counts towards graduation, with no notification to the Ministry of Manpower. Vacation work is allowed at listed institutions, and exchange students may not work. Check that your institution is on the Ministry’s list.
Graduates of an Institute of Higher Learning seeking employment can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass for S$45, plus S$60 if approved. Processing takes about six weeks, and we could not find its length on the pages we read. The 2026 Employment Pass qualifying salary runs from S$5,600 (age 23 and below) to S$10,700 (age 45 and over), and from 1 January 2027 from S$6,000 to S$11,500. The Ministry of Manpower’s Dependant’s Pass page does not list Student’s Pass holders as sponsors, so we confirm family options at your consultation.
English requirements and entry with the HSSC
NTU’s undergraduate page asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 with 6.5 in writing and speaking, or TOEFL iBT 90 with 25 in writing and speaking. Another NTU page that covers the Pakistani HSSC lists IELTS 6, TOEFL iBT 90 and PTE Academic 55. The pages differ, so we confirm the score with NTU. NUS asks graduate coursework applicants in its Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences for TOEFL iBT 85 or IELTS 6.0, and some programmes need more.
NTU does not accept the HSSC on its own. It asks for an average of at least 85% in HSSC Part I and II plus Advanced Placement results (4s and 5s in at least three tests) or GCE A-Levels (at least three subjects within 12 months). Results must be available by 31 July. NUS asks for 12 years of general education, and the pages we read do not mention Pakistan.
Dates, scholarships and how we help
NTU has one intake a year, starting in late July. It lists 15 October 2026 to 20 January 2027 for other international qualifications and 15 October 2026 to 19 March 2027 for A-Level, AP and IB, so we confirm which window applies to you. NUS takes international-qualification applications for 2027/28 from 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027. The A*STAR SINGA award funds PhD study without a bond, and we could not find its stipend or deadline.
We help with course choice, applications and your Student’s Pass file. We cannot promise a visa. Compare other countries on our student visa from Pakistan guide or see all study abroad destinations, including Malaysia, Japan and the UK.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Singapore Student’s Pass take?
ICA says within one week, or two weeks if a visa is required, though some cases take longer. Apply two to three months before your course starts.
How much does a Singapore Student’s Pass cost?
There is a non-refundable S$45 processing fee and a S$60 issuance fee if approved. Visa-required nationals also pay S$30 for a multiple-journey visa.
Do Pakistani students need a visa for Singapore?
Yes. Pakistan is on ICA’s visa-required list, and the visa is included in your In-Principle Approval letter.
Can I work while studying in Singapore?
Yes, up to 16 hours a week in term at listed institutions, or a school-run internship that counts towards graduation.
Can I apply to NTU with the HSSC?
Not on its own. NTU asks for at least 85% in HSSC plus Advanced Placement results or A-Levels.
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Official sources: ICA: apply for a Student’s Pass · ICA: collect your pass · ICA: FAQ · ICA: visa requirements · MOM: work for foreign students · NTU: entry for other qualifications · NTU: tuition grants. Figures checked on 11 October 2026. Reviewed by Yasir Khan, British Council registered consultant, LAMTANS Consultants. Last updated 11 October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the latest position at your consultation.