Student Pass After Graduation in Singapore: The LTVP for Job Seekers and the Move to an EP or S Pass

Short answer: A student pass after graduation in Singapore does not let you stay on and job hunt. You cancel the Student’s Pass online, then a graduate of an approved Institute of Higher Learning can apply, without a sponsor, for a Long-Term Visit Pass to seek work, and later move to an EP or S Pass.

This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. For matters needing legal advice, we work with a panel of experienced Singapore law firms.

A Student’s Pass is tied to being a full-time student, so when the course ends the pass has to be cancelled and your stay needs a new legal basis. This guide sets out what ICA and MOM publish for graduates, step by step, and flags the points you should confirm directly. If you want the longer route to permanent residence after you start work, read our existing guide on the Student Pass to PR bridge through an EP or S Pass; this article stays on the window between study and the first job.

What happens to a student pass after graduation in Singapore?

The Student’s Pass has to be cancelled once you complete or end your studies. ICA’s cancellation service says the pass is cancelled “when you complete or terminate your studies”, and it is filed online by the holder or by the school.

The ICA page for Student’s Pass cancellation (last updated 29 October 2026) gives these rules:

• You can file if you are an STP holder with a valid Singpass account, or a school representative acting for the student.
• There is no fee for cancelling.
• Submit the cancellation application online at least 3 working days before your Student’s Pass expires.
• If you were issued a physical card, you must surrender it within 7 days of completing or terminating your studies. ICA says you can return it to an ICA officer at the checkpoint when you leave Singapore.
• ICA processes the cancellation within 3 working days.

The 7-day card rule runs from the day your studies end, not the expiry date, so do not wait. A school can cancel on your behalf, so ask your registry for written confirmation rather than assuming it has been done.

Is there a pass that lets me stay and look for a job after I graduate?

Yes, for graduates of an approved Institute of Higher Learning. ICA lists “Graduate from an Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) seeking employment in Singapore” as one of the categories eligible for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP), and says no local sponsor is required.

The ICA page describes the scheme as one that “supports foreign graduates who wish to remain in Singapore to explore job opportunities”. Two conditions are stated: you must have graduated from an approved IHL in Singapore, and you must be seeking employment in Singapore. ICA publishes a list of approved IHLs, so check that your school appears on it before you plan around this route. ICA has a FAQ on whether a Student’s Pass holder is issued a Long-Term Pass automatically on course completion, but we could not read its answer, so do not assume it happens automatically.

What we could not confirm from the ICA pages we opened is how long a graduate LTVP is valid for, whether it can be renewed, and the work conditions attached to it. The validity period is set by ICA on approval, so read it from your approval documents and confirm on ICA’s site or through ICA’s enquiry channels before you plan around a specific number of months, and do not assume it can be extended. On work, MOM is the authority. A visit pass is generally not a work pass, so do not start paid work until MOM or ICA has confirmed in writing that you may.

How do I apply for the graduate LTVP, and what does it cost?

You apply online to ICA and pay S$45 at submission. ICA says applications are processed within 6 weeks provided all documents are submitted and in order, though some may take longer.

Item	What ICA publishes
Who can apply	Graduate of an approved IHL in Singapore, seeking employment in Singapore
Local sponsor	Not required
Fee at submission	S$45 per application
Fee at completion of formalities	S$60 for issuance of the LTVP; S$30 for a Multiple Journey Visa, if applicable
Processing time	Within 6 weeks if documents are complete; some cases take longer
Photo	Recent coloured digital photograph, 400 x 514 pixels
Documents	Original documents, with official translations for any not in English

Source: ICA, Graduate from an IHL Seeking Employment in Singapore (page last updated 29 October 2026), as at 10 November 2026. Fees and processing times can change, so confirm on the ICA page before you pay.

ICA warns that insufficient documentation may result in non-acceptance, and that you may be asked for extra documents. Official translations can come from the issuing country’s embassy or a notary public, and ICA does not endorse any private translation company.

What is the timeline from final exam to LTVP?

The order that ICA’s published pages support is: finish studies, cancel the Student’s Pass, apply for the LTVP, receive the In-Principle Approval, then complete formalities. The one thing the pages do not settle is whether to apply before or after you cancel, so confirm that point with ICA for your own dates.

1. Confirm your last day of studies with your school and check the expiry date printed on your Student’s Pass.
2. Check that your school is on ICA’s list of approved IHLs.
3. File the Student’s Pass cancellation online at least 3 working days before the pass expires, or ask your school to do it, and keep the confirmation.
4. Surrender your physical card within 7 days of your studies ending. ICA allows return at the checkpoint when you leave Singapore.
5. Submit the LTVP application and pay S$45. Allow up to 6 weeks for processing.
6. If approved, you receive an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter and must complete the formalities for issuance, paying S$60 (and S$30 for a Multiple Journey Visa if you want one).

Graduates run into trouble in the gap between steps 5 and 7. ICA states (formalities page, updated 6 November 2026) that an IPA is not an immigration pass, that it does not grant you a legal stay in Singapore, and that overstaying is an offence. You must hold a valid immigration pass for as long as you remain in Singapore while completing the formalities. If your Student’s Pass is cancelled and your LTVP is not yet issued, ask ICA what status covers you, and do so before the cancellation date, not after.

Can I work while I hold the graduate LTVP?

Do not assume you can. The graduate LTVP is described by ICA as a pass for staying “while seeking employment”, and we have not seen ICA or MOM text that allows paid work on it. Confirm the position in writing before you accept any paid role, including part-time or freelance work.

An employer who wants you to start immediately still has to obtain the right work pass first. Our guide on how DP and LTVP holders can work in Singapore covers dependants, whose rules do not automatically apply to a graduate job-seeker.

What salary do I need to move from the LTVP to an EP or S Pass?

For an Employment Pass the qualifying salary is S$5,600 a month now (S$6,200 in financial services). From 1 January 2027 it is S$6,000 (S$6,600) for new applications. For an S Pass it is S$3,300 now (S$3,800 in financial services), rising to S$3,600 (S$4,000).

Pass	Sector	Current minimum (as at 10 November 2026)	New applications from 1 January 2027
Employment Pass	All except financial services	S$5,600	S$6,000
Employment Pass	Financial services	S$6,200	S$6,600
S Pass	All except financial services	S$3,300	S$3,600
S Pass	Financial services	S$3,800	S$4,000

Sources: MOM, Eligibility for Employment Pass (published 3 November 2026) and MOM, Eligibility for S Pass (last updated 1 September 2026). These are the starting figures. MOM says both floors rise progressively with age from age 23, so older candidates need more.

The 2027 figures apply to new applications submitted from 1 January 2027, and to the renewal of passes expiring from 1 January 2028, per MOM. If your employer files in December 2026, the current figures apply; if it files in January 2027, the higher ones do. See also our January 2027 salary floors guide.

Which is easier for a new graduate, an EP or an S Pass?

An S Pass has a lower salary floor, so many first jobs fit it more naturally. An EP needs the higher salary and also has to pass COMPASS, a points test that needs 40 points, so your offer and your employer both matter.

MOM states that an EP application needs to earn 40 points to pass COMPASS, in addition to meeting the EP qualifying salary. MOM also notes that some qualifications earn no points, so check its list before you submit.

For the S Pass, MOM says declaring qualifications is optional, but any qualification declared must be authentic and awarded by an accredited institution in the application form’s drop-down list. MOM also says that if its Self-Assessment Tool shows a candidate as eligible, there is around a 90% chance of getting a pass. That is a guide to the odds, not a guarantee.

Employers and graduates who want to see how the points work in practice can read our explainers on the COMPASS points system and on how a Master’s degree affects COMPASS scores. The full pass guides are the Employment Pass guide and the S Pass guide.

What happens to my bond or tuition grant obligations?

We could not verify the rules on bonds or tuition grant obligations on ICA or MOM pages this time, so we do not state them here. Check your own agreement, since any obligation sits in the contract you signed with the school or grant provider, not in the visa rules.

If you signed a tuition grant agreement, read it for the service period and ask the grant provider in writing how a job search period will be treated. Keep that reply with your visa papers.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to cancel my Student’s Pass after I graduate?

Yes. ICA says to cancel it online when you complete or terminate your studies. There is no fee, and you should file at least 3 working days before the pass expires. Return the physical card within 7 days of your studies ending.

Do I need a local sponsor for the graduate LTVP?

No. ICA says no local sponsor is required for a graduate of an approved IHL seeking employment in Singapore. The graduate applies directly.

How much does the graduate LTVP cost?

ICA lists S$45 at submission and S$60 for issuance, plus S$30 for a Multiple Journey Visa if applicable. Successful applicants may be told of other fees afterwards. Check the ICA page before paying, as fees can change.

Is the In-Principle Approval enough to stay in Singapore?

No. ICA states that an IPA is not an immigration pass and does not grant a legal stay. You need a valid pass while you complete the formalities, and overstaying is an offence.

What salary do I need for an EP or S Pass in 2027?

For new applications from 1 January 2027, MOM sets the starting EP floor at S$6,000 (S$6,600 in financial services) and the S Pass floor at S$3,600 (S$4,000 in financial services), rising with age. Check MOM on the day you apply.

Little Big Employment Agency helps graduates and employers plan the step from study to a work pass, including EP and S Pass applications, PR and citizenship applications. Visit singaporeemploymentagency.com, Email [email protected], or Call/SMS/WhatsApp +65 8501 7133 to talk through your dates before your Student’s Pass is cancelled. Official sources used: ICA, Student’s Pass Cancellation and ICA, Graduate from an IHL Seeking Employment.

Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency.