Guide to temporary entry for Canadian business persons into Singapore under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
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This guide provides Canadian business persons with important information regarding the eligibility requirements and authorizations necessary for entering Singapore temporarily for business purposes under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Singapore’s acts and regulations governing entry and stay.
Please familiarize yourself with all relevant travel requirements before seeking entry into Singapore.
Before you travel to Singapore:
This guide is for information only. It is not the official text of the CPTPP or Singapore’s law. Always verify information using the text of the Agreement and official government sources of Singapore. You may also seek advice from a licensed or authorised individual like an immigration lawyer or immigration consultant.
To be eligible for temporary entry into Singapore under any of the categories of the CPTPP, you must be a Canadian citizen.
More information:
- Consolidated TPP Text – Singapore’s Schedule of Commitments for Temporary Entry for Business Persons
- Consolidated TPP Text – Chapter 12 – Temporary Entry for Business Persons
- For any questions related to temporary entry commitments under the CPTPP, please contact: enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca
Business visitor
Do I qualify as a business visitor?
For Singapore’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian business visitor cannot seek employment or residence in Singapore and must be a Canadian citizen. Rather, a Canadian business visitor is a Canadian business person who is seeking temporary entry into Singapore for one of the following business activities:
- conducting or attending business related conferences, seminars or workshops;
- negotiating the sale of services or goods where such negotiations do not involve direct sales to the general public.
The primary source of remuneration, place of business, and place of accrual of profits of a Canadian business visitor must all remain outside Singapore.
For Singapore’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian business visitor can stay in Singapore for up to 30 days.
Do I need a visa as a business visitor?
No. To temporarily enter Singapore as a Canadian business visitor, you need obtain a visit pass at the point of entry.
How do I obtain a visit pass?
In order to obtain a visit pass, you must present yourself for immigration clearance at your point of entry into Singapore with the required documentation, including a SG arrival card. You can apply for a SG arrival card before your trip, free of charge, using the online form, or by downloading the MyICA Mobile app.
If you are eligible for entry, you will receive a visit pass which will indicate the period of stay granted.
To learn more about obtaining a visit pass at the port of entry, and to verify the information provided in this guide, consult Singapore’s official page on entry requirements.
Do I need a work permit as a business visitor?
No. A Canadian business visitor will not require a work permit, as they cannot be engaged in any income-earning activities while in Singapore.
Investors
Do I qualify as an investor?
For Singapore’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian investor is a Canadian business person who is:
- responsible for setting up, developing or administering an establishment for which a substantial amount of capital has been or will be committed by the business person;
- acting in a supervisory or executive capacity, or one that involves essential skills.
Entry of investors is also subject to the fulfilment of eligibility requirements at the time of their application, which can be found under documents required to obtain a visit pass.
For Singapore’s CPTPP commitments, Canadian investors can stay in Singapore for up to 30 days.
Do I need a visa as an investor?
No. Canadian business persons can visit Singapore 30 days visa-free. However, there are other options for investors seeking a longer stay in Singapore.
Are there other options for investors seeking longer stays in Singapore?
Yes. Singapore has a number of different options for investors seeking longer stays, each with their own criteria and rules. These include:
EntrePass: This work visa is intended for serial entrepreneurs, high-calibre innovators or experienced investors that want to operate a business in Singapore that is venture-backed or owns innovative technologies. For more information, visit the EntrePass website from the Singapore Ministry of Manpower website.
Tech.Pass: is a visa that allows established tech entrepreneurs, leaders or technical experts from around the world to come to Singapore to perform frontier and disruptive innovations. For more information, visit the Tech.Pass webpage from the Singapore Economic Development Board website.
The Global Investor Programme: accords Singapore Permanent Resident status (PR) to eligible global investors who intend to drive their businesses and investment growth from Singapore. For more information, visit the Global Investor Programme webpage from the Singapore Economic Development Board website.
I qualify for temporary entry into Singapore under the CPTPP; can my spouse or dependant accompany me?
Temporary entry of the spouses or dependants of Canadian business persons into Singapore is not covered under the CPTPP. Any such entry to Singapore is subject to Singapore’s acts and regulations governing entry and stay.
For more information, see the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s website.
What if I don’t qualify for temporary entry into Singapore under the CPTPP?
Entry into Singapore for Canadian business persons not belonging to any of the categories covered under the CPTPP is subject to Singapore’s acts and regulations governing entry and stay.
To explore other paths for entry into Singapore, refer to the official website for the Ministry of Manpower.
Disclaimer:
The information contained herein is current as of May 2023 (national immigration legislations may change, sometimes at short notice). It is offered for informational purposes only and does not constitute general legal advice. The information: (i) must be regarded as a practical guide for general information and not a process guide for determining the specific immigration requirements of the countries covered, (ii) should not be a substitute for a more in-depth analysis of applicable facts and circumstances (including, without limitation, criminal or health-related circumstances) conducted by competent professionals, (iii) indicated processing times and fees herein are approximate, are subject to the specific case circumstances, and change. The information herein does not guarantee the outcome or approval of any particular immigration application.
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