How to get an Indian Business Visa in Singapore

This is a brief guide on the key steps on how to get an Indian Business Visa in Singapore, based on my current experiences getting a visa.

So,

How to get an Indian Business Visa in Singapore?

Step 1 - Complete the online visa application form 

Complete the online visa application form via the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. That is, visit https://indianvisaonline.gov.in

To get to the visa application form, look for the Regular Visa application. As you'll need to fill this in for an Indian Business visa.  You'll be able to establish that you want a Business visa in this form and in person at the visa processing center.

Things you'll need to complete the form:

• Digital version of your passport photo 
• Your basic personal information
• Details about the Indian company endorsing your visit and
• Details about your current company endorsing your visit

Step 2 - Visit the BLS International Services visa processing center

Visit the BLS visa processing center to submit your application in person. No bookings required. From what I have seen, VFS Global no longer manages Indian visas.

Please bring with you:

• A printed copy of the visa application form
• A photocopy of your passport
• A photocopy of your Singaporean work pass/ PR
• If applicable, a photocopy of your previous Indian visa
• A passport size photo - per their required measurements (size 2" x 2", white background)
• An endorsement letter from Singapore company - they term this as "a request letter from the Singapore company in original on company letter head with company stamp". Make sure it is a colour copy and details the exact visa timeframe required (for example, 1 year or 2 years, etc. it cannot be for a "long time")
• A letter of invitation from an Indian company
• Money for the visa, they take Cash only. Visa costs are detailed here by High Commission of India. Please note that BLS International Services will charge a service fee of S$ 10.80 and may also charge $3-5 handling fees for handling each visa application.

I suggest reading the visa requirements page from the High Commission of India for more context for your situation. 

BLS International Services S Pte Ltd Offices

Tanjong Pagar Office 

Unit 30-08 International Plaza, 10 Anson Rd, 079903

Submission Timing:

Monday to Friday

Submission of Documents

9:00 AM - 03:45 PM only

Delivery of documents

02:00 PM - 03:45 PM only

Sim Lim Tower Office (Rochor/ Little India)

Unit 14 - 02/04/05

Sim Lim Tower, 10 Jalan Basar, Singapore 208787

Submission Timing :

Monday to Friday

Submission of Documents

9:00 AM - 03:45 PM only

Delivery of documents

02:00 PM - 03:45 PM only

Step 3 - Wait for visa to be processed

The timeline mentioned to me is about 6-7 business days to process the visa. So far they have been very good in sharing updates on the process. I will let you know if that changes.

I have received an SMS' for:

1. Received my application for the visa

Your application SGPSXYZXYZ accepted by BLS Intl Services. For enquiries on your application status please call +6531635611 Thank You

2. When the visa has been sent to the High Commission of India

Your application No. SGPSXYZXYZ is currently under process at the High Commission of India. Track your application status on www.blsindia.sg

You can also check the status of your application online.

Step 4 - Pick up visa

What happens after you are Singaporean PR?

What happens after you are Singaporean PR?

Now you are Singaporean Permanent Resident now what?

Congratulations! You are one of the few each year that are granted Singaporean Permanent Residency.

What are the first steps to being a Singaporean Permanent Resident?

You have 60 days to complete the formalities. The date of your PR starts will be the date that you are able complete your formalities.

Step 1 - Before the day of the formalities at the ICA building

1. Send letter to CPF for Medisave - This is a core requirement, checklist and sign this as soon as possible
2. Complete your HIV and Hep B test

Step 2 - On the day of the formalities

1. Complete formalities
2. Fingerprinting via fingerprinting block 

They will also bring out a big file that they have been keeping with all your submitted documents inside.

Costs: 100 SGD for application fee (this includes: 50 card, 50 for the Entry Permit)

Step 3 - Pick up your new Singapore Identification Card

You will then need to wait and pick your new Blue SPR (Singaporean Permanent Resident) IC .

You may need to wait a day to book, as I couldn't book to pick up my blue SPR IC immediately on the day that I completed my formalities.

So I suggest trying the next day and book your appointment. I found that the new window to pick up a SPR was open about a week and a half later. I assume this factors in the time they need to make your card and then place it at your preferred pick up mode.

You can choose from one of three modes:

• ICA, iCollect, Alternate site (SingPost) for about 6 SGD

Step 4 - Update key identification documents after becoming PR

Once you are officially Singaporean Permanent Resident. You'll need to update a variety of Singaporean agencies, banks and membership bodies.

Here's a selection of the key ones to consider:

• Singpass - most important, do this first so you can update records online
• Drivers licence
• Medical - update clinics of your new IC as you see required
• Library (If you have a Passion Card this should also roll through with this)
• SGX CDP
• Banks - update banks of your new IC, this is important to align your credit records to your new IC. Be sure to bring passport to prove your identity. Here's some timelines from some banks:
• SCB Standard Chartered bank - takes them 5-7 days to update your records 
• DBS bank- takes them one working day to update your records
• CIMB bank - takes them 5 working days to update your records, process done via snail postal mail
• Other Identity Card tied memberships
• Challenger
• G2000
• Cedele
• Watsons

Useful notes post becoming a Singaporean Permanent Resident

SingPass - You'll need to update this

SingPass - I created a new SingPass. Although I believe you may be able to simply update your IC in the system, so you do not need to merge as your FIN account will be terminated soon.

Of course I had clashes with adding in a new mobile or email address.

Either way, you should receive an email once this has been updated.

Here's a sample SingPass OneKey registration details:
Dear Customer,

You are receiving this email because you registered your mobile number (SMS OTP) as part of your 2-Step Verification setup for SingPass.

We are pleased to inform you that your registration is successful!  You will receive the PIN mailer password within 5 working days via mail.

Please activate your SMS OTP within 30 days from the date of receipt of the PIN mailer password. Upon successful activation, your mobile number will be automatically linked to your SingPass account.

You can email us at [email protected] or call us at +65 6566 3539, if you do not receive these items within the stated timeframe.

Yours sincerely,
OneKey Customer Care Centre

This is a computer generated email.  Please do not reply.

If not, you should do this:
SMS: Resend pin mailer<space>NRIC<space>Postal Code to 78111 using your SingPass registered mobile#. E.g. Resend pin mailer S1234567A 098765

Males - You'll need to register for National Service (NS)

• Register for NS with MinDef. This is very important for males who has successfully received their Permanent Residency under the Spouse scheme. MinDef is the Ministry of Defence. You'll need your new SingPass for this step.
• Either way, you'll need to wait 4-6 months for Mindef (Ministry of Defence) to send you a letter to ask you to register for National Service (NS). or not
  
  "National Service (NS) registration is a requirement for all male Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents under the Enlistment Act.
  
  As you have been granted Permanent Residence status in Singapore, please log in to NS Portal (www.ns.sg) with your SingPass ID between xxx date and xxx date for your NS registration. You will be informed of your NS liability after the completion of your registration."

Medishield Life policy will be available

Medishield Life annual premium is due. This is an optional scheme.

Other suggested considerations to take note of

Long term visa passes (LTVP)

Was there any LTVP attached to your former EP? 

For some people, they may have LTVPs for their parents attached to their work pass visas. Since the LTVPs will be still active/valid in the system. So you may need to login to EPOL and issue the cancellation (if applicable). This is to ensure there is no overstay fine. Best to check with Singapore ICA to be certain.

Maid work permits

Do you have a maid work permit attached to you? 

Even though foreign domestic worker (FDW)'s work permit is tied to an employer and not your Employment Pass (EP). You would still need to notify MOM of the change in your status via an iSubmit request.

Vehicles

If you have a vehicle you need to inform LTA of your status change

Updating records via Neighbourhood Police Stations

You may be able to go to a neighbourhood police station to update any change of address. Address changes can be a one stop affair by stopping by any NPP (neighbourhood police post). This will propagate to all ministries and agencies of the government automatically.

However, please note that without key necessary documentation, you may probably need to visit each ministry individually, e.g., ICA, IRAS, MOM, CPF, etc.

More details on this one stop updating service here:
http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=141#OSCARS

Discontinuation of the OneInbox service by GovTech

OneInbox previously offered by the Singapore Government is going to be decommissioned.

About OneInbox 

Details from the GovTech OneInbox team

• You may continue to access digital letters / information through the available digital channels of the individual government agencies. Please refer to table below.

• From 8 April 2017, you will automatically receive hard copy letters from the Government based on your registered address with the agencies. You will no longer receive digital letters in your OneInbox.

• You may wish to download your past digital letters from OneInbox by 7 June 2017 for future reference.

#	Ministry/Statutory Board	Letter Name	Digital Channels
1.	Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB)	Welcome Letter for New Members	Log in to my CPF Online Services using Singpass Click on "my cpf > My Messages"
		Nomination Acknowledgement Letter
2.	Housing Development Board (HDB)	Yearly Statement of Account for Mortgage Loan and/or Upgrading Cost	Log in to My HDBPage using Singpass Click on "My Flat > Purchased Flat > Financial Info > Statement of Account"
3.	Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)	Individual Income Tax	Log in to myTax Portal using Singpass or IRAS PIN Click "Notices > Individual"
		Property Tax	Log in to myTax Portal using Singpass or IRAS PIN Click "Notices > Property"
4.	Ministry of Finance (MOF)	GST Voucher	Log in to GST Voucher website using Singpass to view your benefits.
5.	Ministry of Manpower (MOM)	6-Monthly Medical Examination	Log in to MOM eService for work permit transactions for domestic helpers and confinement nannies using Singpass Click on "Important Documents"
6.	Singapore Police Force (SPF)	Police Report	Upon filing a police report, you will receive a copy of the report via email

OneInbox is a secured platform for you to receive Government letters electronically (e-letters), in place of hardcopy letters. Besides being an eco-friendly initiative which enables you to do away with hardcopy letters, OneInbox also offers you: Anywhere, Anytime Access You can access e-letters from the Government anytime and anywhere, even when you are overseas. All you need is your Singpass and an internet connection.

Thank you for supporting the OneInbox service. We regret to inform you that this service will end on 8 June 2017, because of low demand and relatively high maintenance costs. Nonetheless, we will continue to enhance service delivery by channelling resources to other digital services that are useful and relevant to the needs of citizens.

Please take note of the following:

If you have further queries about your OneInbox account, please call 6887 7111 or email oneinbox-helpdesk(at)crimsonlogic.com.

Digital channels available to retrieve or view Government correspondence electronically,

Thank you for your support,GovTech OneInbox Team