Foreign nationals may generally enter Singapore on a visit pass for short‑term business discussions or meetings, subject to nationality‑based visa requirements. Visit passes are typically issued on arrival and are granted for a limited duration. Extensions are considered on a case-by-case basis.

With the limited exception in some cases of diplomatic and official passport holders, the following foreign nationals will require a valid entry visa prior to arriving in Singapore:

• Foreign nationals holding travel documents issued by the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Moldova, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Yemen
• Holders of refugee travel documents
• Holders of an alien's passport (stateless persons)
• Holders of a Palestinian Authority passport
• Holders of a temporary passport issued by the United Arab Emirates
• Holders of a document of identity issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
• Holders of a Travel Permit issued by Macau Special Administrative Region
• Holders of a People's Republic of China (PRC) Travel Document

The Miscellaneous Work Pass is for eligible foreign nationals on short-term work assignments, such as the following:

• A foreign national who is involved in activities directly related to organizing or conducting any seminar, conference, workshop, gathering or talk concerning any religion, race or community, cause, or political end
• A foreign religious worker giving talks relating directly or indirectly to any religion
• A foreign journalist or reporter or accompanying crew member, not supported/sponsored by any Singapore government agency to cover an event or write a story in Singapore

As a general rule, foreign nationals must hold a valid work pass to carry out any form of work in Singapore. Notwithstanding this, the government recognizes a limited range of activities for which a work pass is not required. These exemptions apply only to specified categories of activities and are subject to defined conditions.

A work pass is not required if the individual is providing arbitration or mediation services (e.g., as an arbitrator or a mediator) in relation to any case or matter that meets the following criteria:

• Does not relate directly or indirectly to any religious belief or to religion generally
• Does not relate directly or indirectly to any race or community generally
• Is not cause-related or directed toward a political end

A work pass is not required for participating in any exhibition as an exhibitor. The individual must be registered with the organizer of the exhibition to do the following:

• Provide information on, put on a performance or give a demonstration of anything related to the subject of the exhibition
• Display or sell goods or services that are the subject of the exhibition

These activities can only take place during the exhibition's official opening hours.

A work pass is not required for an international judge of the Supreme Court who is:

• Sitting in the SICC to hear cases, as specified by the chief justice
• Sitting in the Court of Appeal in an appeal from any judgment or order of the SICC
• Carrying out any other work or activity (such as consultancy, advisory or promotional work) related to their appointment with the Supreme Court and the SICC

This also applies to registered foreign lawyers with the SICC who have been granted the following:

• Full registration under Section 36P of the Legal Profession Act to represent, plead or provide any form of assistance in any relevant proceedings or subsequent appeals
• Restricted registration under Section 36P of the Legal Profession Act to give advice and prepare documents to make submissions in any relevant proceedings or appeals that are permitted by the relevant Courts

A work pass is not required for activities relating directly to organizing, promoting or conducting a junket in a casino and performed by individuals who are required to hold a valid junket representative license issued by the Casino Regulatory Authority:

• Junket representatives employed by a junket promoter who is based overseas.
• Self-employed junket promoters who are based overseas.

A work pass is not required for activities relating to any location filming leading to a television or movie production or fashion show (including involvement as an actor, model, director, member of the film or technical crew, or photographer), but excludes business-to-individual services such as videography or photography for weddings.

A work pass is not required for the following:

• Performing as an actor, singer, dancer or musician, or involvement as key support staff in an event supported by the government or any statutory board
• Performing as an actor, singer, dancer or musician, or involvement as key support staff in an event, in a venue to which the public or any class of the public has access (gratuitously or otherwise), including any theater or concert hall

Foreign artists performing at a venue with a Public Entertainment License (e.g. bars, discotheques, lounges, night clubs) are only exempted from a work pass if the event is supported by the Government or any statutory board.

A work pass is not required for providing expertise or specialized skills, including in the following:

• Commissioning or auditing any new plant and equipment.
• Installing, dismantling, transferring, repairing or maintaining any equipment or machine.
• Transferring knowledge on processes of operations in Singapore.

The exemption does not apply to the following, for which a work pass is needed:

• Conducting activities that involve the sale of products or services to the public.
• Manufacturing any products to be sold.
• Providing renovation or carpentry services.

A work pass is not required for activities relating directly to organizing or conducting any seminar, conference, workshop, gathering or talk (e.g. speaker, moderator, facilitator or trainer) that meets the following criteria:

• Does not have the sale or promotion of goods and services as its main purpose.
• Does not relate directly or indirectly to any religious belief or to religion generally
• Does not relate directly or indirectly to any race or community generally
• Is not cause-related or directed toward a political end

The exemption does not apply to the following, for which a work pass is needed:

• Providing peripheral services for the event (e.g. cleaning and catering services)
• Setting up, maintaining, repairing and dismantling the exhibition sites or booths
• Doing administration work, such as invigilation, marking and setting exam papers

A work pass is not required for persons involved in any sports competition, event or training (e.g., an athlete, coach, umpire, referee or key support staff) supported by the government or any statutory board constituted by or under any written law for a public purpose.

This exemption does not apply where the individual is engaged as an athlete of a Singapore sports organization under a contract of service.

Tour facilitation refers to the provision of logistical support for the visiting tour groups (such as handling hotel arrangements and border crossings). It is usually carried out by tour leaders or tour facilitators employed by a foreign company. “Foreign company” whose main business is located and operates outside Singapore.

Tour facilitation does not include tour-guide activities, which are not work pass-exempt. To provide tour-guiding services in Singapore, the following are required:

• A work pass issued by MOM.
• A tourist guide license issued by the Singapore Tourism Board.

Foreign nationals performing work pass exempt activities are required to submit an e-notification to the MOM before engaging in these activities. They can perform these activities for the duration of their short-term visit pass, subject to a maximum of 90 days in a calendar year. Beyond that, they will need to obtain a work pass. Those carrying out work pass exempt activities without notifying the MOM can be prosecuted under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

In addition, the waiver of the work pass requirement does not exempt foreign nationals from having to comply with other specific legal requirements in Singapore.