Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on the Number of Visit or Employment Passes of Myanmar Nationals in Singapore that have Expired or Will Be Expiring by December 2021, by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Question:

Ms Rachel Ong: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many visit or employment passes of Myanmar nationals in Singapore have expired or will be expiring by December 2021; and (b) whether the Ministry provides options for these Myanmar nationals to extend their stay in Singapore on compassionate grounds given the ongoing political situation in Myanmar.

Answer:

1.    All requests by foreigners for extension of stay will be assessed based on the prevailing guidelines, which take into account COVID-related border restrictions.

2.    Singapore has an established and long-standing policy on refugees. As a small, densely populated country with limited land, Singapore is not in a position to accept any persons seeking political asylum or refugee status.