I’m Stuck In Singapore – Dont Let Your Passport Expire

February 10th, 2009 - In Singapore Relocation, Singapore Tourism, Singapore Work

Sorry Sir, you cannot exit the immigration area.

Did (not yet) happen to me, but once again my laid back day-to-day living caught up with me and in this case my near future travel plans.

And till today it gave me a headache full of worries and work that I more then preferably would have avoided.

Writing this I hope that I can at least spare you the hours of sitting and waiting in your embassy’s not so fancy waiting room. Click. Only 34 people left in front of me. Click. How interesting. Click. Indeed.

Full Passport Photo by hjl

If a quick glance at your passports expiry date (now doing the maths… shouldnt be smaller then August’09) just confirmed your deepest fears.. its below six month. Its Time for action.

The Magical 6-Month Rule

Every traveler, expat or visitor to Singapore needs a Passport, that is valid for at least 6 more months.

You are 3 days short. Nice, then you wont need a new passport for another 5 month and 27 days, but you still wont get into Singapore. (Happened to a friend in HongKong)

Dont make the mistake, and check your Passport only for its current possible expiration, always check if your expiry date is far enough in the future (Today, should be after 10th August 2009).

Otherwise you will have a problem. Just Like me.

Once In Singapore You Stop Worrying – DONT

Since I am already in Singapore, having cleared the immigration successfully, shiny Green Card in my wallet allowing me to work here, theres nothing to worry about for me and for now. WRONG.

Dont make the same mistake. Today is Tuesday and on Friday morning 6AM my flight to Malaysia is leaving. Gathering together my travel documents yesterday, I stumbled over a somehow strange date. My passports expiration date, Mid July. Hold on. Oh noo…

Yes, you might hang loose here in Singapore, relaxing at your Condos pool even if your Travel Passports expiration is below 6 month since you are “in” already anyway, but what will happen if you have planned to leave, travel, a dinner at JB, Weekend at Bintan… Two problems:

1. The country you are traveling to most likely requires the same 6 month validation of your Passport like Singapore
2. You will most likely not stay in that country, so whats gonna happen when you need to get back into Singapore again?

In the end it all comes back to one thing:

Keep an eye on your passport and renew it ON TIME

Otherwise you will pay (with real money) for your laziness, just like me, wanna know how much, keep on reading.

Help In The Last Second – Literally

Of course do every countries institutions, namely the travelers embassy and the involved local authorities, have their “special arrangements” and ways of how you will still be able to catch your flight. But if it would be so easy, then there wouldn’t be any need for anyone to bring a valid passport anymore, right?

So you will pay for it. You will spend hours of waiting. You will make a fat red cross in your organizer for the next 50 years of passport expiration dates.

The Short Term Passport

In my case, being German, I get the possibility of requesting a short term passport that will be issued within 1-2 days and will be valid for 1 year, enough time to request the normal passport.

However, that also means:

- The need for new travel passport conform pictures (21$)
- The time to spend hours at your embassy waiting for all forms to be filled out, confirmed, copied and reconfirmed (1/2 day precious holiday)
- Waking up your parents in the middle of the night (European Time Zone) to reconfirm you are still registered in the mother country, information the embassy needs (priceless)
- 150 SD for your short term passport (with oversea fee, fax fees etc, tripling the price you would pay in Germany, 50SD)
- 250 SD for your new regular passport that you HAVE to apply for when getting your short term passport(again, being in Singapore, easily tripling the regular German fare of 70SD)
TOTAL: More then 420SD for a passport and the admission to have your seafood dinner next door, in Malaysia or Indonesia.

My Passport Is More Expensive Then The Whole Trip

… doesn’t need any more explanation. Just remember the 6 months, check your expiry date now. And ask your embassy for any available passport promotions or discount tomorrow. Happy traveling!

Or Check Out Previous Posts In Our Huge ARCHIVE! (click here) About The Author:
AngryAngMo is a Blog / Guide about Singapore and its unique character, written by an Asia experienced 26 year young expat living and surviving in Singapore since years!
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