Myanmar Nationals with Visit or Employment Passes Expiring Soon and Options to Extend Their Stay on Compassionate Grounds Given Situation in Myanmar

8 Miss Rachel Ong asked 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.

Mr K Shanmugam: All requests by foreigners for extension of stay will be assessed based on the prevailing guidelines, which take into account COVID-19-related border restrictions.

Singapore has an established and longstanding 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.