Applications for Long-Term Visit Passes

Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs what are the reasons for rejections of applications for Long-Term Visit Pass Plus by foreign spouses of Singaporeans who have children of Singapore citizenship.

Mr R Dhinakaran asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs as of 31 December 2012, how many foreign spouses of Singapore citizens on Long Term Visit Passes have stayed in Singapore for (i) less than one year; (ii) one to two years; (iii) two to three years; and (iv) more than three years.

The Second Minister for Home Affairs (Mr S Iswaran) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs): Mdm Speaker, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 2 and 3 together, please.

Mdm Speaker: Yes, please.

Mr S Iswaran: Madam, as of 31 December 2012, there were 11,736 foreign spouses of Singapore Citizens who were on Long-Term Visit Passes (LTVPs), including the Long-Term Visit Pass-Plus (LTVP+). Thirty percent had stayed in Singapore for less than one year, 19% had stayed for one to two years, 14% had stayed for two to three years and 37% had stayed for more than three years.

Madam, there are increasingly more marriages between Singaporeans and foreigners. Our aim is to help these couples remain together in Singapore. The foreign spouse of a Singapore Citizen is typically granted a LTVP in the first instance. ICA will then require some time to assess that the marriage is stable before it considers the foreign spouse for longer term immigration facilities.

The factors considered include the length of the marriage, whether the couple have children from the marriage, and the ability of the Singaporean sponsor to support the family. Where the foreign spouse does not yet qualify for Permanent Residence, we have introduced the LTVP+, an enhancement over the LTVP. The LTVP+ holder is eligible for a range of benefits, including hospitalisation benefits at a level similar to Permanent Residents, and LTVP+ holder is also facilitated in his or her job search as he or she only requires a Letter of Consent from MOM without the need to apply for a Work Pass.

Applications for LTVP+ are considered holistically and there may be a number of reasons, such as the employment status of the Singaporean spouse, as to why the application may be unsuccessful. In such cases, the foreign spouse would be on an LTVP in the interim period, until he or she is eligible for an LTVP+.

12.10 pm

Mdm Speaker: Order. End of Question Time.