# Start here: sending a child from China to study in Singapore

> For parents in China who have never been to Singapore and know nothing of the process: the five hard conditions to settle first, then admission, the Student's Pass, accompanying a child and entry in order, with the 2026 dates, costs and documents to prepare.

- verified_at: 2026-10-31
- volatile: yes (figures or rules change; re-check the official source)
- page: https://edu.ik.sg/en/kb/start-here

If you are in China, have never been to Singapore and have no idea about the process, start here. This article answers three questions: **what to do, in what order, and what has to be done in Singapore**. Each step names the official page, and the detail is in the articles linked below. It follows official information for the 2026 cycle as of 31 October 2026, which changes every year.

## Settle these five hard conditions first

| Condition | What the official pages say | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| The child’s grade and age | MOE: the AEIS is for children aged 7 to 7+ as at 1 January; Primary 1 registration has its own age range | Decides which route |
| A local sponsor | ICA: the Student’s Pass for Government, Government-Aided and Independent schools and ITE needs a sponsor who is a Singapore Citizen or PR aged 21 or above; companies cannot sponsor | Needed for the government-school pass (see “What the pages do not say”) |
| Who stays with the child | ICA: only one parent or grandparent can apply per student, and a local sponsor is also needed | The family’s stay while the child studies |
| The child sits the test in Singapore | MOE: the AEIS tests are held in Singapore | A short trip to arrange |
| English | MOE: admission tests are in English; Primary applicants submit a Cambridge English statement of results | Take the English test early |

## Find the entry route for the child

| The child | Usual route | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-school age | Apply directly to a kindergarten or childcare centre; foreign children can only take places at ECDA-licensed ones | [Student’s Pass](/en/kb/student-pass-overview) |
| Starting Primary 1 | International Primary 1 registration; citizens and PRs have priority and a place is not guaranteed | [AEIS](/en/kb/aeis-overview) |
| Primary 2 to Secondary 3 | AEIS (yearly) or S-AEIS (same academic year) | [AEIS](/en/kb/aeis-overview) |
| A private or international school | Apply directly to the school, outside MOE | [School types](/en/kb/international-vs-government-schools) |
| After lower secondary | Junior colleges and Millennia Institute take applications directly in December; polytechnics, private schools and universities apply directly | [Pathways](/en/kb/primary-secondary-pathways) |
| University | Apply directly to each university | [Universities](/en/kb/universities-in-singapore) |

## The whole process (AEIS to a government school, 2026 cycle)

| When | What | Who | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before applying | Confirm the right level; prepare the birth certificate (with English translation) and passport (valid for at least 6 months); Primary applicants first take the Cambridge English test and get the statement | Parent | For 2026 the statement had to be from a test taken from July 2025; the minimum score is in the checker on MOE’s page |
| July (each year) | Create the account in the Candidates Portal, apply online, upload documents and pay | Parent | S$340 Primary, S$630 Secondary plus GST, non-refundable; the 2026 window has closed |
| September | The child sits the tests in Singapore | The parent arranges the trip; the child sits the test | 1 to 3 September in 2026; see [Entering Singapore](/en/kb/entering-singapore) |
| December | Check the outcome in the AEIS Internet System and contact the assigned school within the reporting period | Parent | You cannot choose the school, and transfers are not considered |
| After you receive the school’s Registration Acknowledgement Letter | Apply for the Student’s Pass; MOE advises applying to ICA as soon as possible | The child applies online with a local sponsor | See [Student’s Pass](/en/kb/student-pass-overview) |
| After the child’s Student’s Pass is in place | A parent who stays applies for a Long-Term Visit Pass | The local sponsor submits online | ICA’s page says the child must hold a valid Student’s Pass; see [Accompanying parent](/en/kb/accompanying-parent) |
| The next January | School starts | | Successful applicants start school in January |

That is the AEIS. Primary 1 registration, international schools and private schools have different timetables, so use the matching article.

## Documents to prepare in China

- The child: passport; birth certificate with an accurate English translation; for Primary applicants, the Cambridge English statement of results; for foreign-born children aged 12 or below, vaccination information to be submitted to the Communicable Diseases Agency.
- Student’s Pass (government school): the school’s Registration Acknowledgement Letter, the travel document bio-data page, personal details (places lived, education, financial support), a Singapore address and contact details, and a passport-sized colour digital photo taken in the last 3 months. Documents not in English need official English translations, and originals are required.
- Long-Term Visit Pass for the accompanying parent: a recent colour digital photo (400 × 514 pixels), travel document, the child’s birth certificate, the parent’s birth certificate or household register, the child’s parents’ marriage certificate, divorce or custody papers if applicable, and a letter from the child’s school.

## What it costs (official figures at a glance)

| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| AEIS application (Primary / Secondary) | S$340 / S$630 plus GST, non-refundable |
| Student’s Pass processing fee, issuance fee | S$45 (non-refundable), S$60 |
| Long-Term Visit Pass for the parent: processing, issuance | S$45, S$60; S$30 more for a Multiple Journey Visa if applicable |
| Government school monthly fee (international students, 2026) | Primary S$595 or S$1,035, Secondary S$1,090 or S$2,190 (ASEAN or other international students) |

The full picture is in [Cost components](/en/kb/cost-components).

## What the pages do not say, so you must ask

- **What to do with no local sponsor**: ICA’s page says who can sponsor, not what to do instead. Ask ICA or the schools you are considering.
- **Whether the accompanying parent will be approved**: ICA’s page gives no approval criteria or validity period, so do not assume approval.
- **Housing and guardianship**: we have no official source; confirm with the school.
- **What residential area to declare when applying**: MOE’s application page does not say. MOE only says placement depends on vacancies and the residential area you declare, where possible.

## Common mistakes

- Assuming everything can be done from China: the AEIS tests are held in Singapore.
- Assuming a pass means you can choose the school: schools are assigned.
- Assuming the accompanying parent is approved automatically with the child: it is a separate application, for one person only.
- Treating the 30-day visa exemption as a study status: it is a short visit; studying needs a Student’s Pass.

## Next steps

- Use the [age and grade chart](/en/tools/age-grade) to see roughly which grade the child fits.
- Work through your case in the [planner](/en/planner/primary).
- Read [Accompanying parent](/en/kb/accompanying-parent) and [Entering Singapore](/en/kb/entering-singapore).

## Sources
- MOE: Admissions process for international students (updated 14 Jan 2026): https://www.moe.gov.sg/international-students/admission
- MOE: AEIS overview (updated 17 Jul 2026): https://www.moe.gov.sg/international-students/aeis
- MOE: AEIS how to apply (updated 17 Jul 2026): https://www.moe.gov.sg/international-students/aeis/apply
- MOE: AEIS test details (updated 17 Jul 2026): https://www.moe.gov.sg/international-students/aeis/test-details
- MOE: AEIS release of outcome (updated 1 Jul 2026): https://www.moe.gov.sg/international-students/aeis/outcome
- MOE: P1 registration for international students (updated 29 Apr 2026): https://www.moe.gov.sg/primary/p1-registration/international-students
- ICA: Student’s Pass overview (updated 29 Oct 2026): https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/STP
- ICA: Student’s Pass sponsorship (updated 30 Oct 2026): https://www.ica.gov.sg/information-and-e-services/long-term-visit-and-study/student-s-pass/student%27s-pass-sponsorship
- ICA: Student’s Pass for Government, Government-Aided and Independent Schools (updated 29 Oct 2026): https://www.ica.gov.sg/information-and-e-services/long-term-visit-and-study/student-s-pass/student%27s-pass-application-renewal/government--government-aided--independent-schools
- ICA: Completion of formalities and issuance of Student’s Pass (updated 27 Oct 2026): https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/STP/collect
- ICA: Long-Term Visit Pass for a parent or grandparent of a child on a Student’s Pass (updated 29 Oct 2026): https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/LTVP/apply/parent-or-grandparent-of-a-child-or-grandchild-studying-in-singapore-on-a-students-pass
- ICA: Mutual 30-day visa exemption between Singapore and the PRC (media release, 25 Jan 2024): https://www.ica.gov.sg/news-and-publications/newsroom/media-release/mutual-30-day-visa-exemption-arrangement-between-singapore-and-the-people-s-republic-of-china