Country topic
Visas in Singapore
US citizens do not need a visa for tourist or business visits of up to 90 days, according to the State Department (Internet Archive copy), and the Singapore embassy in Washington says US passport holders need no visa for business or social visits. ICA sets the stay at the checkpoint and notifies you of an electronic visit pass by email, so 90 days is not guaranteed. [V1] [V2] [V3] Passports from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are not on ICA's list of those needing a visa. Canada's travel advice says tourist and business visits of up to 30 days need no visa, and Smartraveller says Australian passport holders need no visa. Stay lengths for Australian and New Zealand passports are not known here. [V3] [V4] [V5]
What we found
The research, with its sources.
Research information, not advice. Rules change, so check the source before you act on one.
- US citizens do not need a visa for tourist or business visits of up to 90 days, according to the State Department (Internet Archive copy), and the Singapore embassy in Washington says US passport holders need no visa for business or social visits. ICA sets the stay at the checkpoint and notifies you of an electronic visit pass by email, so 90 days is not guaranteed. [V1] [V2] [V3]
- Passports from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are not on ICA's list of those needing a visa. Canada's travel advice says tourist and business visits of up to 30 days need no visa, and Smartraveller says Australian passport holders need no visa. Stay lengths for Australian and New Zealand passports are not known here. [V3] [V4] [V5]
- Before arriving you complete the free SG Arrival Card within three days; your passport must be valid for six months, and you may be asked for cash and proof of onward travel. A visit pass extension is applied for online when 14 days or fewer remain, ICA decides the length, and a S$40 fee applies once the stay reaches 90 days. [V6] [V7]
- ICA says visit pass holders may not do paid or unpaid employment, business, profession or occupation unless they hold a work pass or do a work pass exempt activity. Attending company meetings, conferences and training as a participant needs no notification; listed exempt activities are capped at 90 days a calendar year. MOM's FAQ for Dependant's Pass holders says working for an overseas client needs no work pass, but it does not cover visitors, so remote work on a visit pass is unconfirmed. [V7] [V8] [V9]
- The ONE Pass can be applied for from outside Singapore without a Singapore job offer. It asks for a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 (or the foreign-currency equivalent; to be safe, more than S$31,000) for the 12 consecutive months before applying, at a company with market capitalisation of at least US$500 million or revenue of at least US$200 million. It lasts up to 5 years, is renewable, and needs no levy or quota. MOM may consider other income case by case, but we found no rule for freelance income. [V10] [V11] [V12]
- An Employment Pass is applied for by a Singapore employer (an overseas company without a Singapore office goes through a local sponsor). The qualifying salary is about S$5,600 a month, rising with age to about S$10,700 at 45 and over (to be safe, more than S$11,000 if you are 45 or over). For new applications from 1 January 2027 it is about S$6,000 rising to about S$11,500 (to be safe, more than S$12,000). Financial services have higher figures. [V13] [V14]
- The Employment Pass has a second stage, COMPASS, which needs 40 points from criteria including salary against local benchmarks, qualifications, diversity of nationality and support for local employment. Candidates below the qualifying salary are not eligible whatever their points. Exempt from COMPASS: a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 (to be safe, more than S$23,000), overseas intra-corporate transferees, and roles of 1 month or less. [V13]
- We found no retirement visa. ICA's permanent residence page lists family of citizens or residents, Employment Pass and S Pass holders, students and investors, and the Long-Term Visit Pass lists spouses, children and parents of citizens or residents, graduates seeking work and a few other groups, mostly with a local sponsor. The Global Investor Programme is for business owners, founders and family offices. [V15] [V16] [V17]
The Fernshore Index
How the Index grades visas, by passport.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Visa, United States passport
Unknown
Research for United States passports is being checked
Visa, Canada passport
Unknown
Research for Canada passports is being checked
Visa, Australia passport
Unknown
Research for Australia passports is being checked
Visa, New Zealand passport
Unknown
Research for New Zealand passports is being checked
The country
More on Singapore.
Topics
More about Singapore.
Questions about Visas in Singapore.
How long can I stay in Singapore without a visa?
None of the four passports is on ICA's list of those needing a visa, and ICA sets the stay at the checkpoint. The State Department says up to 90 days for US citizens; Canada's advice says 30. Submit the free SG Arrival Card within 3 days before arriving. Stays for Australians and New Zealanders are unknown here.
Can I work remotely from Singapore on a visit pass?
That is unconfirmed. ICA says visit pass holders may not do paid or unpaid employment, business, profession or occupation unless they hold a work pass or do an exempt activity. MOM's relaxed answer for Dependant's Pass holders does not cover visitors. Ask MOM before you plan around it.
Is there a remote-worker or digital nomad visa for Singapore?
We found none. The ONE Pass can be applied for from abroad with no Singapore job: a fixed monthly salary for 12 months (to be safe, more than S$31,000) at an established company, up to 5 years. We found no rule for freelance income, so a freelancer may have no pass designed for them.
What does the Employment Pass need, and what is COMPASS?
An employer applies. The salary test is about S$5,600 a month, rising with age to about S$10,700 (to be safe, more than S$11,000 at 45 or over); from 2027, about S$6,000 to S$11,500 (more than S$12,000). COMPASS needs 40 points unless a high fixed salary (to be safe, more than S$23,000) exempts you.
Is there a retirement visa for Singapore, or a pass for family?
We found no retirement visa. The Long-Term Visit Pass is for spouses, children and parents of citizens or permanent residents, graduates seeking work and a few other groups. Employment Pass and S Pass holders can bring family on a Dependant's Pass if they meet the salary test.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [V1] Singapore international travel information, US Department of State (Internet Archive copy). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V2] Visa and entry requirements, Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Washington DC. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V3] Visa requirements, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V4] Singapore travel advice and advisories, Government of Canada (travel.gc.ca). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V5] Singapore travel advice, Internet Archive copy of 13 October 2026, Smartraveller (Australian Government, DFAT). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V6] Entering Singapore: general entry requirements, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V7] Seeking extension of a visit pass, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V8] Eligible activities for a work pass exemption, Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V9] Do I need a work pass if I am self-employed or working for an overseas-based employer? (Dependant's Pass holders), Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V10] Eligibility for the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass), Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V11] Key facts on the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass, Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V12] Can I apply for the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass from outside Singapore?, Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V13] Eligibility for the Employment Pass, Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V14] Key facts on the Employment Pass, Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V15] Becoming a Permanent Resident, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V16] Becoming a Long-Term Visit Pass Holder, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V17] Global Investor Programme (GIP) factsheet, Economic Development Board (Contact Singapore), Singapore. Checked 15 October 2026.