Over 14,600 foreign spouses here

This article is more than 12 months old

Jan 30, 2015 06:00 am

A total of 14,694 foreigners married to Singapore citizens are here on the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) and Long-Term Visit Pass-Plus (LTVP+) schemes as of the end of last year, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said yesterday.

In a written reply to Non-Constituency MP Gerald Giam, who asked about the number of foreign spouses here on social visit passes and long-term visit passes, Mr Teo said that the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority does not track the number of those here on social visit passes, reported The Straits Times online.

The LTVP+ scheme was introduced in April 2012 for foreign spouses who have been married and living here for more than five years.

Such pass holders can remain in Singapore for longer periods than those who are here under the LTVP scheme. They also qualify for healthcare and employment benefits.

There were 7,300 foreign spouses here on the LTVP+ scheme at the end of September, up from 3,900 under the same scheme at end-December 2012.