Singapore visa process

Social Off-topic & Debates
1

I am travelling on a tour with my family to Singapore in the second half of May. Now that my passport renewal is done, I need to start working on the visa. I have been reading through resources available online. However, there are some queries that I hope someone here can help out with.

  1. How early should I apply for the visa? Some sites mention that we cannot apply more than 30 days ahead of the travel date. However, other sites, especially travel agency sites, instruct that the visa application should be submitted at the earliest.
  2. My brother’s family is in Bangalore. I am in Tamil Nadu. Can we apply for the visa together through an agent in Bangalore? Our travel tickets and accommodations have been booked together. In case I need to submit proof of stay if I apply for visa alone, I will not have the booking under my name.
  3. Is bank statement mandatory for everyone in the group?
  4. Any recommended and trusted travel agent to get the visa process done?
  5. Anything else that I should bear in mind?

Thank you.

2

Following…

3

I have some experience with this but can’t aswer all the questions. I had applied for visa within 30 days of travel date and had to give bank statement for everyone. Interesting thing is you can’t apply for visa directly (atleast it was at that time) and has to be done through approved list of agents. That agent helped us with the documentation. The visa was processed within 5 days. Some time ago MakeMyTrip also used to help with Singapore visa, not sure of the status now.

1 Like
4

Yeah. This is still true. Visa application has to be made through their authorised list of agents only.

5

I have some experience and can chip in.

  1. You need confirmed flight tickets and hotel bookings(hotel bookings can be pay later ones)
  2. the validity of visa is 3 months from start date(approval date)
  3. You need to show funds, bank details, ITR in some case and self signed letter of sponsorship(that you will be taking care of all expenses)
  4. You need to send all passports to the agent

I had done this via Atlys and they have detailed steps and requirements listed here

2 Likes
6
  1. Singapore embassy in Mumbai has a pdf of authorized agents. Go via those and only those. Rest like mentioned earlier take double the fees for no value addition. You can group all applicants together and hand over all passports at the same time. Usually u get it back in 2 days, visa comes on your email.
1 Like
7

All information has already been provided here:

SG has clearly mentioned that only authorized agents will handle the processing! So, talk to a travel agent—if you know someone, they’ll take care of the rest.
:grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Authorised Visa Agents (AVAs) in Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, please [click here (191.73KB)](’

https://www.mfa.gov.sg/-/media/Images/MFA/OverseasMission/Chennai/List-of-AVAs/List-of-Authorised-Visa-Agents-on-24-September-2024.ashx’

)

1 Like
8

Singapore and Schengen Visa are pretty intrusive when it comes to your financials. i had got visa done for me and family last year.

  1. There are autorised agents who charge between 3 to 5K per visa as their charges on top of the visa fee

  2. You will have to provide salary slips, ITR, Bank statements to show availability of funds,

  3. if you are working in a company, you will have to provide a leave approval letter , same for your spouse/family if they are working

  4. Hotel Boooking, Medical Insurance and FLight Tickets have to be submitted, the agent may be able to help you with temo tickets

  5. The time period is limited around your travel dates so be clear on when you want to travel and apply accordingly

Also note that hotels collect deposts upto $100 SGD when you check in so good to plan additional cash / card balance

1 Like
9

Our flight tickets and accommodation is already booked and paid for in full. Right now we are checking with atlys, as suggested above.

1 Like
10

Cool. also try to get your klook account sorted and if you are doing sentosa, book a stay at nearby hotel to save money on cabs, most hotels nearby have a shuttle. best is the hotel in the resort.

also do all you shopping in one place mostly to get your VAT refunds, would defintely recommend Mustafa in Little india for electronics, sneakers and games. The refund process is quick in the airport but you will need atleast 30 mins to complete it

3 Likes
11

Again Atlys is not a authorised agent. They charge double the visa fee. Check the list of approved agents on the website and contact them. Its a simple process.

1 Like
12

In my case, it was a 6 month multi-entry. Maybe they have reduced the validity recently.

I went with the first agent I found on the Google Maps and it worked.

If you are submitting bank statements as income proof, they have to be attested by the bank. Non attested (meaning simple printouts) aren’t accepted. Otherwise, info provided by others is correct.

1 Like
13

Yeah.. Realized that on going through the pdf of authorized agents provided by Singapore Embassy. And, there seem to be too many negative reviews about Atlys for Singapore visa, so I am looking to get it processed through Akbar Travels or Thomas Cook. Will keep this thread updated once I do it.

14

@@logistopath I applied for my SG Tourist Visa two working days before the travel date and got it in around 24 hours. I had applied through Akbar travels in BLR. Cost was 1900 inr visa fees, 650 inr charged by akbar travels and some 50rs for photocopies of some documents I had missed.

I was applying in BLR and they needed my 2 month salary slips + rental agreement. Since your brother is in BLR he may be able to get you a visa even when you are in TN but I’ll go on a call with akbar travels and double check.

For SG visa, you don’t need flight tickets or hotel bookings to get the visa. I had nothing booked. Upto 3 days before the travel date, you have to get the SG pass for everyone travelling. This is done through the app/website and at this stage you’ll need flight pnr and name/address of hotel you will be staying at.

Happy to answer any other questions you have

1 Like
15

Thank you @@ishanjain28
I am in fact trying to get it clarified from Akbar Travels. Will be on call with them tomorrow. I assume that even if I submit my passport to the BLR guys, they will send it to the Chennai consulate to get the visa. Will find it out from them.

16

The passport has to be with the agent during application. It doesn’t need to be submitted to consulate.

2 Likes
17

After a lot of back and forth with Akbar Travels and Riya Travels, in Coimbatore, I finally submitted my visa application with Riya. Both these agencies had suggested me to apply separately in TN, while my brother’s family applies in Bangalore.
Akbar was less pricey (~Rs.2700 per visa), while Riya was charging more (Rs.3500 per visa). However, in all my interactions with both the agencies, conversations with Akbar was mostly one-way, and they were not willing to listen completely to all my queries and answer them. Riya was completely opposite and each one of their agents was willing to spend some time and answer everything patiently. So, went with Riya and submitted the application today.
I had to submit the following:

  1. Original passports
  2. 6 mths bank statement
  3. 3 mths pay slips
  4. Photos
  5. Completed application forms (form 14a)
  6. My son’s school id card and birth certificate
  7. Covering letter

In addition, I was suggested to submit the air tickets if I had already booked, although it was not mandatory. I submitted these too.

Now, waiting with fingers crossed. It should take 4 to 5 working days to process, so hopefully by next weekend I’ll have an update.

1 Like