As I am writing this post, I am headed on a flight to the land of enchantment and wonder. Singapore has always marvelled me and a trip to the Lion City is a dream come true! Just like any traveller, the first thing that you need to plan a journey is VISA. Take it from me, applying for a visa is not rocket science. Once you get your requirements straightened out, getting a visa to Singapore will happen in a nick of time. Through this blog, I shall explain my process of getting a Singapore visa from Bangalore with 100% cashback!
Worried about your travel cost to Singapore? Check out BLINKVISA. They not only give you 100% cashback on the visa fee but also a platform to use the cashback on your travel expenses.
Blinkvisa is not only for your Singapore visa, you can get a whole custom travel plan done for you to make sure you have an amazing trip while also using your cashback that you just got to provide you even more savings when you book your flight and hotel from Blinkvisa and also gain huge discounts on your activities.
Understanding Singapore Visa
One of the first things that came up when I was doing research is that unlike other country visas, Singapore tourist visa is an offline visa and the Consulate does not encourage applying for visa on your own. One has to go through authorised agents even if the visa supports online processing.
For a second, I thought maybe my much-awaited trip might end because Bangalore is a hub of agencies and finding a credible one is like looking for a needle in a haystack! Nevertheless, Blinkvisa caught my attention for their unique processing style and crazy cashback offers!
Features of Singapore Tourist Visa
As I wished to visit Singapore to unravel its culture and places, I applied for Singapore tourist visa. Now, India is listed among the set of countries that requires a visa to enter Singapore. Since Singapore Visa On Arrival is not an option, I decided to go ahead with my visa application. An expert in Blinkvisa explained the features of my visiting visa and the step by step procedure.
- Multiple entry visa with 30 days time period
- The validity of the visa is 2 years
- You can enter any number of times within these two years without the need for applying for a visa again.
- The visa is a pdf format which you need to download and carry during your travel
- This type of visa is applicable only for tourism purposes.
How I Applied For Singapore Visa From Bangalore?
One of the biggest advantages of opting for Blinkvisa was gifted to me through their @home service. I am sure all Bangaloreans will understand the difficulty of travelling within the city and I was delighted when they came all the way home for collecting the documents and giving me the visa in hand! And in case you are doubtful of what information to fill in the application form, the agent will fill it on behalf of you making your job easier!
Requirements I submitted for Singapore eVisa:
- Original Current Passport with a minimum of 2 blank pages and 6-month validity at the time of departure. I also attached my old passport to let the Consulate know about my travel biography.
- Duly filled and signed Form 14A. Sample.
- Two most recent (taken not more than 3 months before) colour photographs of mine with size of 3.5 * 5.5.
- Personal covering letter explaining your travel.
- Bank statement for last 3 months attested by the bank. I was asked to have a minimum balance of at least INR 75000 in my account to get the visa.
- Flight Tickets
- Hotel Reservations if any
Flight tickets and stay reservations are always important because only with these documents will the Consulate know your preferred stay period and if you will return back to your home country before the visa expiry.
How much I paid for Singapore visa?
Update: 2020: The fees for singapore has been increased to INR 2850 from Oct 2022.
I paid INR 2850 for my Singapore visa cost. And got the entire amount as cashback. So, in reality, I paid nothing for getting my visa. Sounds cool right? This is how my cashback process worked:
Firstly, I had to pay INR 500 as my initial charges to get my application process started. I booked my travel on September 15th and the agent requested me to apply for the visa only 15 days before because my visa gets valid the day it gets approved. And thankfully, they did not get any additional charges from me. I paid the remaining fee INR 2190 after I was notified that my visa was approved. (INR 2390 – INR 500)
The break-up of the fee for reference:
How I utilised my cashback?
As soon as I paid the INR 500 as registration charges, I got the complete visa fee as cashback to my BlinkWallet account. I was told that I can use this amount for booking my flights and hotels in Singapore. I did not think twice, I checked for the list of hotels and booked a stay that fulfilled my requirements. Surprisingly, I also got a 10% discount on the price! Also, this cashback does not have validity and I can use it later for any international trips in future!
Some of the hotel deals:
Note:
A custom travel plan for FREE!
Apart from the attractive discounts and cashback offers, Blinkvisa gave me a customised wholesome travel plan for free! Hence, I would recommend Blinkvisa to Bengaluru people who are stuck trying to plan for their holiday. They provide a detailed plan as per your needs and requirements.
Blinkvisa gives you two major things to save – Time and Money. With easy steps and processes, they save your time of travelling all the way to an Embassy in Bangalore to apply and at the same time, they save your money by giving an impeccable cashback.
Steps to apply with Blinkvisa
Within four working days, I got a call stating that my visa is approved. I downloaded the visa and packed my bags for the wonderful trip! I was so happy to have got through Blinkvisa as they have made my international travel a whole lot hassle-free and easy.
Singapore Visa FAQs
1. Can Indians work with the help of a Singapore business visa?
The Singapore Consulate does not issue any kind of work visas i.e employment passes or work permits for purposes of employment. Hence, Indians citizens cannot work using a Singapore business visa. A business visa is issued only for business meetings, conferences etc.
Read more: Singapore Business Visa
3. Is Singapore eVisa a paper or sticker visa?
Singapore eVisa is a paper visa. The visa will be in a pdf format and you must download it and carry it when you enter the country.
4. Can Indian citizens apply for a Singapore visa online?
Singapore visa is now also called as Singapore eVisa or electronic visa. This is an authorisation that links the applicant’s passport electronically to an approval number.
