Being a tiny island in Southeast Asia, Singapore is testament to the statement ‘great things come in small packages’. Despite its size, Singapore is among the world’s most prosperous countries. If you have to get a first-hand experience of that, all you need to do is take a walk around through the city. Singapore boasts an impressive skyline along with all the features of an ultra-modern city like high-end shopping malls, super-efficient subway systems across contemporary architecture.
In addition to its modern advancements, Singapore maintains its cultural diversity and ethnic richness. To sum it all up, Singapore earns its name as ‘the melting pot of Asia’.
Additionally, Singapore is the world’s second most densely populated country. However, experienced travellers have stated that it does not feel crowded. This can be credited to the efforts made by the local authorities to make Singapore a clean, green, and pleasant city. Moreover, despite of the entire population of Singapore being urbanized, more than half of Singapore’s area is covered by Greenery. It has more than 50 major parks and 4 nature reserves in a total area of 720 sq. km.
Many believe that if an urban utopia exists anywhere in the world, it is most likely Singapore. However, you cannot experience this marvellous destination without a valid Singapore Visa. When it comes to a visa, Singapore Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is very stringent with applications. Hence, here are certain mistakes you should avoid while applying for your Visa
- Presenting an invalid passport
An invalid passport is one of the biggest reasons you might be rejected for a Singapore Visa. If you are a frequent traveller, make it a habit to always check your passport’s validity. In the special case for a Singapore Visa, ensure that your passport is valid till at least 6 months until the last minute of your planned stay in Singapore. Moreover, ensure that your passport has at least two blank pages.
- Possession of a valid Singapore visa already
If you already possess a valid Singapore Visa and then apply for another one, your application will be denied. There are many times that people are ignorant of their time period or one where they lose the copy of their visa. Even in these situations, the visa is considered valid. Hence, your current application for a Singapore Visa will be rejected and you will have to wait until your current Visa expires to apply again.
- Not following the visa rules strictly
As mentioned above, Singaporeans authorities are extremely stringent about Visa applications. Hence, it is important to carefully read the rules and then apply accordingly. For example, if you are only being granted a Singapore Visa for 30 days, do not try to get a 45-day Visa by showing a 45-day itinerary. Following the rules is extremely important as Singapore does not provide Indians with Visa On Arrival.
- Using false documents
The Singapore consulate has a fixed checklist for documents that you have for approval. If your documents are as per instructions, your application for a visa is considered strong. On the other hand, if you do not have the proper documents, you have to provide a declaration for not having the right documents. Regardless, any case of missing or false documents leads the rejection of your Visa application.
Here is a list of documents you should have for a Singapore Visa:
- A Passport photo of size 3.5×4.5 with Matt finish
- A Personal cover letter stating your reason for traveling
- Copy of flight tickets
- Copy of hotel reservations if any
- Showing an incomplete itinerary
You are required to show your complete travel itinerary with the planned dates when you apply for a Singapore Visa. This is especially true for your onward and inward flights. Showing an incomplete itinerary is likely to lead to rejection.
Also Read : India Visa for US Citizens – Understanding Visa Types
Travel tips for Singapore
After you have walked the dangling bridge of a Singapore Visa application, you still have a whole trip ahead of you. While, Singapore is a destination that promises to amaze you, carefulness is still great habit to get into. Hence, here are a few travel tips for Singapore that will make your trip pleasant:
- Have a pocket Wi-Fi device
Internet is the fuel that drives the world today. Hence, it is like stating the obvious that traveling with a reliable internet connection is a necessity. You need to do your due research, check emails, and stay up to date on social media. Moreover, it is important to have internet access to make your way through a new country. The best way to do that is to have a pocket Wi-Fi device in case your cellular network fails you.
- Get discounted tickets
A major part of any trip’s expense is the airfare. Airfare gets even higher when you are travelling internationally. In such a case, it is better to get as much of a discount to air tickets as possible. Alternatively, if you are a frequent flyer, you can use any coupons or vouchers you might have.
- Get travel insurance
Travel insurance may seem like a frivolous expense to some but for others, it’s a necessity. For us, it depends on where we’re going and what we’ll be doing. If all we’ll be doing is eating and shopping for a couple of days, then we may not bother with it. Our credit cards give us free (but limited) travel insurance anyway. But if we plan on doing anything remotely dangerous, like skiing or competitive eating, basically anything that could land us in the hospital, then we’ll definitely get it.
- Read up on the laws
Singapore is a lovely destination to visit, but it won’t be a pleasant experience if you get in trouble with the local authorities. There is a high chance that you might be fined for doing something that is considered normal in your city/country. Singaporean law does not allow things like jaywalking, spitting, or even connecting to someone else’s Wi-Fi and can bear heavy fines. Not only do you not want to have trouble with the authorities, you wouldn’t want to be subject to fines, especially if you are traveling on a budget. If you wish to avoid that, you need to get familiar with the laws of Singapore.