Question:
MP Gan Thiam Poh: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the number of Long Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+) granted after 30 September 2014; and (b) what is the annual number and percentage of unsuccessful LTVP+ applications since LTVP+ was introduced.
Answer:
1. The Long-Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+) was introduced on 1 April 2012 as an enhancement to the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) scheme. The LTVP+ grants long term stay to foreign spouses of Singaporeans whose marriages have been stable over time.
2. During the period 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2015, a total of 12,743 foreign spouses were granted the LTVP and another 5,879 foreign spouses were granted the LTVP+.
3. There is no separate application process for LTVP+. Singaporeans can apply for LTVP or LTVP+ for their foreign spouses through the same process. Foreign spouses who meet the criteria will be granted the LTVP+. Those who do not meet the LTVP+ criteria but meet the LTVP criteria would be granted LTVP.
4. Since the introduction of the LTVP+ on 1 April 2012, an average of 16,738 LTVP/LTVP+ applications have been received annually, of which about 88% were successful.
5. There may be a number of reasons why an application is unsuccessful. These include the ability of the Singaporean spouse to support the family financially, or the length of marriage.
