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I am EP, my passport is expiring

singswan

I am an Indian and I have EP that is valid for two more years. However, my Indian passport is expiring in less than 3 months. There is a possibility that I may not be able to renew the passport before expiry. What happens in that situation? Will my EP become invalid? Will I lose my job? Please advise what should I do?

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beppi

As far as I know, the EP is only valid as long as the passport it is tied to remains valid. Furthermore, staying in a foreign country without valid passport makes you an illegal immigrant (which in Singapore removes your chances of ever getting an EP or other visa again).

You better get yours extended (or a new one issued) BEFORE expiry - six months before that is recommended!

singswan

Thanks Beppi. What you say makes perfect sense ("EP is only valid as long as the passport it is tied to remains valid"). However, I am not able to find any authentic source for this. I have searched extensively on ICA and MOM websites. I am just hoping that MOM can use their discretion and allow me some extra time.


(In another post I have written that the delay is because the Indian passport renewal process has become so complicated - they now need two other photo IDs for renewal of passport which itself is a photo ID. I have applied for Aadhar card (an Indian ID) but it takes a very long time to process these days).

beppi

@singswan You don't need a source to know that you cannot stay in a foreign counry without a valid passport.

If you are hoping for their "discretion", you must arrange this beforehand - just waiting it out and asking for mercy afterwards does NOT work in Singapore. So, contact MoM (and/or ICA) now to find a solution!

ajosshi

@singswan

This is not an issue. You can stay in Singapore as long as your EP is valid. You just cannot travel out of Singapore and re-enter without a valid passport. Just make sure that you have valid passport when it is time to renew EP.


Once you have new passport, you need to update your new passport details here:

beppi

@ajosshi Sorry, but the information you gave is wrong!

Any foreigner in Singapore (and much elsewhere in the world) needs a valid government ID, usually a passport. An EP alone, tied to an expired (and thus invalid) passport is NOT enough - unless you get a writen statement by the Singapore authorities IN ADVANCE, that you are granted an exemption and your invalid papers will be accepted temporarily. You then should carry that statement with you (and your expired passport) as identification then.

Rajesh Sharma1

Pls go to Indian embassy and renew your passport before your passport expired. If you don’t you will be getting reminder from MOM. May me you can travel to your home country but you will not be allowed to travel to Singapore with expiry passport. Better not to explore those things , go and get it renewed , it will take 5-7 days.

singswan

Thanks Rajesh. I went to BLS and the Indian Embassy (or High Commission) in Singapore but they asked for two photo IDs which I didn't have. So I came to India and applied for Aadhar. I am also applying for PAN as NRI. I can also try to get passbook with photo from ICICI Bank although I don't think they provide physical passbooks anymore. The renewal process was very simple until recently but they are asking for two photo IDs since mid-January 2025.