STARTING Monday, international students with all government, government-aided and independent schools (GOV schools) can apply for their student passes online.

The move to include these schools is an initiative of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to enhance the SOLAR+ or Student's Pass Online Application and Registration plus system, which has been in place since 2003.

Previously, SOLAR+ was limited to international students studying at non-GOV institutions, such as tertiary institutes and kindergartens, registered with the Ministry of Education.

With the online system, international students no longer need to submit hardcopy application forms at the ICA Building in Kallang Road.

Instead, school administrators will be able to use the SOLAR+ portal to register incoming international students who have secured a place in their schools.

They will also be able to amend the student's information when needed.

Instead of handing out a Letter of Acceptance to international students to submit to the ICA, a registration letter can now be printed through SOLAR+.

Using a registration reference number on the registration letter, the student will then log in to the portal to complete the application form.

To finalise the registration, a local sponsor - a Singapore citizen or permanent resident - will need to access the portal to sponsor the applicant and submit the application to the ICA electronically.

SOLAR+ is also integrated with the ICA's e-Appointment system that enables the student to book an appointment for collection of the student pass.

Madam Vivian Tan, an admin manager at Ping Yi Secondary School in Chai Chee, said about 20 of the school's international students have acquired their student passes through a SOLAR+ pilot run that began in late April this year.

'It's actually very simple to use and user-friendly. We can also check the student's application status through the portal,' she said.