Visa & immigration
Entering Singapore, step by step
Passport rules, who needs a visa, the free SG Arrival Card and where to find every official source.
The short version
What every visitor needs
Four things decide whether your arrival goes smoothly.
- 1
Valid passport
An individually-issued travel document for every traveller, including children. Collective passports are not accepted. Your passport must have at least 6 months of validity (Singapore passport holders are exempt).
- 2
Entry visa, if required
Only travellers holding documents from certain countries and places need a visa. Check the official ICA list before you book flights.
- 3
SG Arrival Card
A free online declaration submitted within 3 days before arrival (including the day you arrive). It is not a visa.
- 4
Funds and onward travel
Short-term visitors should carry sufficient cash and proof of onward travel such as tickets or visas, and must not stay beyond their Visit Pass.
How it works
From planning to the immigration counter
- 1
Check your passport
Confirm it is valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry and that every traveller, including infants, has their own document.
- 2
Find out if you need a visa
Look up your travel document on the ICA "Check if You Need an Entry Visa" page. If your document is not listed, you do not need a visa for a short visit.
ICA: Check if you need an entry visa(opens in a new tab) - 3
Apply for a visa (if required)
Applications are not accepted at immigration counters. Apply online through a Local Contact with a Singpass or Corppass account, through an authorised visa agent appointed by a Singapore Overseas Mission, or at your nearest Singapore Overseas Mission.
ICA: Visa application options(opens in a new tab) - 4
Submit the SG Arrival Card
Complete it online within 3 days before you arrive. It is free, includes an electronic health declaration, and you will receive an acknowledgement email.
SG Arrival Card e-Service (ICA)(opens in a new tab) - 5
Clear immigration on arrival
Present your travel document to the ICA officer. You will be asked to provide biometrics such as fingerprints, facial and iris scans. Travellers who do not comply may be denied entry.
- 6
Receive your e-Pass
Foreign visitors are notified of their Visit Pass (e-Pass) by email, and nothing is stamped in your passport. It shows the period of stay granted and your last day of stay.
Visas
Do you need an entry visa?
Whether you need a visa depends on the travel document you hold. If it is issued by one of the countries or places on the official ICA list, you must hold a valid Singapore entry visa to seek entry. If it is not listed, you do not need one for a short visit.
A visa is pre-entry permission only. It is not an immigration pass, and the final decision and your period of stay are made by ICA officers at the checkpoint.
The list also covers some special documents, such as refugee travel documents, alien's passports and certain Hong Kong, Macao and PRC documents. Not sure which applies to you? ICA accepts enquiries with a copy of your passport biodata page and front cover.
Official visa list(opens in a new tab)Contact ICA(opens in a new tab)
Arrival card
The SG Arrival Card
- Free to submit, online, before you arrive.
- Submit within 3 days before arrival, including the day you land.
- Includes the electronic health declaration.
- Required for all travellers clearing immigration, except those transiting without seeking clearance.
- Travellers who fail to submit may be denied entry.
- You can also submit using the MyICA Mobile app.
ICA does not support or endorse commercial services that charge a fee to submit the arrival card, and they are not affiliated with ICA. Use only the official e-Service.
Submit the arrival card(opens in a new tab)Read the FAQs(opens in a new tab)
Transit
96-hour Visa-Free Transit Facility
Selected nationalities who would normally need a visa may qualify when passing through Singapore to or from a third country. Entry is still assessed by ICA officers, and extensions are not allowed.
Nationals of India and selected PRC travel documents
- A valid onward air, ferry or cruise ticket departing Singapore within 96 hours.
- A valid visa or long-term pass (valid at least one month from your date of entry) issued by, or good for entry into, Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the United States.
- You may enter by any mode of transport but must depart by air or sea.
Nationals of CIS countries, Georgia, Turkmenistan and Ukraine
- A valid onward air ticket departing Singapore within 96 hours.
- You may enter by any mode of transport but must depart by air.
- CIS refers to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Your stay
Visit Pass rules
What happens after you clear immigration.
- Your stay is set at the border
- The period of stay is decided by the Visit Pass issued at the checkpoint, not by the validity of your visa. Possession of a visa does not guarantee entry.
- Extending your stay
- Visitors who need longer can apply online for a Short-Term Visit Pass extension. Applications are subject to approval, so apply before your pass expires.
- No work on a visit pass
- Short-Term Visit Pass holders may not engage in any business, professional or paid employment activity in Singapore.
- Overstaying is an offence
- Staying beyond the validity of your Visit Pass is punishable. You can check your pass validity and retrieve your e-Pass on ICA online tools.
At the border
Customs, cash and health
Customs declarations
If you carry goods above your GST import relief or duty-free concession, make a declaration and payment through the Customs@SG web application before arrival. Declare dutiable, controlled or prohibited goods at the Red Channel, and do not bring prohibited items.
Cash over S$20,000
Carrying physical currency and bearer negotiable instruments with a total value above S$20,000 (or the foreign equivalent) requires a CBNI declaration.
Yellow fever certificate
Anyone who has been in a yellow fever risk country in the past 6 days, or spent more than 12 hours in airport transit there, must show a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival.
Health declaration
The electronic health declaration is part of the SG Arrival Card. Making a false declaration can lead to prosecution under the Infectious Diseases Act.
More detail on Singapore Customs (opens in a new tab) and the ICA entry requirements page (opens in a new tab).
Official sources
Go straight to the government
Every link below leads to an official Singapore government website. Always use these, not third-party services, to apply or submit.
- ICA: Entering Singapore (opens in a new tab)General entry requirements, biometrics, customs and health rules.www.ica.gov.sg
- ICA: Check if you need an entry visa (opens in a new tab)The official list of travel documents that need a visa, and how to apply.www.ica.gov.sg
- ICA: SG Arrival Card information (opens in a new tab)Who must submit, when to submit, and answers to common questions.www.ica.gov.sg
- SG Arrival Card e-Service (opens in a new tab)The official, free online form for your arrival card and health declaration.eservices.ica.gov.sg
- ICA: Visa-Free Transit Facility (opens in a new tab)96-hour transit eligibility for selected nationalities.www.ica.gov.sg
- Singapore Customs (opens in a new tab)Duty-free allowances, GST relief and prohibited or controlled goods.www.customs.gov.sg
- ICA: Contact and enquiries (opens in a new tab)Submit an enquiry with a copy of your travel document for verification.www.ica.gov.sg
- Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) (opens in a new tab)The Singapore government agency responsible for immigration and checkpoints.www.ica.gov.sg
- Singpass (opens in a new tab)The national digital identity used by Local Contacts submitting online visa applications.www.singpass.gov.sg
- Ministry of Health (opens in a new tab)Official public health information for Singapore.www.moh.gov.sg
FAQ
Visa and arrival questions
Is the SG Arrival Card the same as a visa?
No. The SG Arrival Card is a free arrival and health declaration. A visa is a separate pre-entry permission required only for travellers holding documents from certain countries and places.
How early can I submit the SG Arrival Card?
Within 3 days before arrival, including the day you arrive. For example, if you arrive on 30 June you can submit from 28 June onwards.
Does the SG Arrival Card cost anything?
No. Submission is free. ICA states that it does not support or endorse commercial services that charge a fee to submit the card on your behalf, and that they are not affiliated with ICA.
Do I need an arrival card if I am only transiting?
Not if you are transiting or transferring through Singapore without seeking immigration clearance. Anyone who clears immigration, including for a short leisure visit, must submit it.
Can I apply for a visa at the airport?
No. ICA does not accept visa applications at the immigration counters. Apply in advance online through a Local Contact, through an authorised visa agent, or at a Singapore Overseas Mission.
Will my passport be stamped?
No. Since 11 March 2022 foreign visitors receive their Visit Pass (e-Pass) by email, and there is no endorsement in the passport. Give a valid email address when you submit the SG Arrival Card.
Which documents does my visa question depend on?
Visa rules depend on the travel document you hold, not only your nationality. If you are unsure, use the ICA enquiry form with a copy of your passport biodata page and front cover.
Information summarised from ICA pages and last reviewed in October 2026. Requirements can change without notice, so confirm with the official sources above.
Documents sorted? Start planning.
Turn your arrival into a day-by-day Singapore itinerary.