Around 450 overstayers arrested annually, 500-600 remain at large: MHA

On 11 November 2024, Workers’ Party MP for Aljunied GRC Sylvia Lim posed questions in Parliament regarding overstaying in Singapore.

She asked the Minister for Home Affairs for data on the average number of foreigners who overstayed after their visit passes expired and the total number of overstayers not yet apprehended.

In a written response, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam stated that an average of 450 overstayers had been arrested annually over the past two years.

Among them, approximately 270 were holders of Short-Term or Long-Term Visit Passes.

He further estimated that 500 to 600 overstayers remain at large, representing less than 0.001% of Singapore’s annual visitor arrivals.

Minister Shanmugam attributed the inability to immediately arrest overstayers to challenges such as changes in contact details or residential addresses.

However, he emphasised that the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) continues stringent enforcement and collaborates with other law enforcement agencies to address the issue effectively.

Recent high-profile case of overstaying

In a separate matter, a 54-year-old woman from China, Chen Yueying, was sentenced to six months’ jail and fined S$4,000 on 27 September 2024 for overstaying in Singapore for over 18 years.

Chen’s offence began on 23 November 2005 when she failed to report to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority for repatriation after her special pass expired. This marked her second immigration offence.

Initially issued a special pass on 2 November 2005 to remain in Singapore as a potential prosecution witness, Chen’s pass was extended multiple times.

However, she chose to overstay and remain in the country until voluntarily surrendering to the Bukit Merah East Neighbourhood Police Centre on 24 September 2024.

The court heard that Chen’s first offence occurred in 2005, leading to an 18-week jail term and a fine of S$3,000.

Her subsequent special pass, issued after her release, stipulated her departure by November 2005, but she failed to comply, citing a desire to work and earn money. The court did not disclose details of her employment during the overstaying period.

Legal framework and penalties

Under Singapore law, overstaying is punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment. Male offenders are additionally subjected to at least three strokes of the cane.

In Chen’s case, as caning is not applicable to women, she faced a fine of up to S$6,000 instead.

The government also imposes strict penalties on those who harbour or employ immigration offenders, with offenders facing up to two years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to S$6,000.