Singapore Visa Requirements by Country (2026): Entry and SG Arrival Card

Singapore entry planning becomes much easier once you separate three documents that are often confused. A visa is pre-entry permission for travellers whose passport or travel document requires it. The SG Arrival Card is a free electronic arrival and health declaration required from most arriving visitors. The electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) is issued after immigration clearance and states how long you may actually stay.

Start with the exact passport or travel document you will present, not nationality alone. An ordinary PRC passport, a Hong Kong Document of Identity, a Macao SAR Travel Permit and a PRC Travel Document do not follow the same rule. The tables below cover common ordinary passports and ICA’s complete visa-required country list as checked on 14 September 2026, but the ICA visa checker remains the source of record before travel.

General entry requirements

Visa-free eligibility or a pre-approved visa does not replace Singapore’s other entry conditions. Check the passport, arrival-card, onward-travel, and health requirements on the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website before departure. Save the relevant confirmations offline so a weak airport connection and long-flight fatigue do not complicate the immigration queue.

Except for Singapore passport holders, travelers need at least six months of passport validity on arrival. If you are close to the limit, renew before committing to a non-refundable trip; airlines can refuse boarding when the document does not meet the destination requirement.

Short-term visitors should be ready to show onward-travel evidence and any document needed for the next destination. If you plan to continue to Malaysia by bus, keep the booking and the relevant Malaysian entry documents accessible rather than buried in a checked bag.

ICA also asks short-term visitors to have sufficient funds for the stay. There is no useful universal amount to quote here: trip length and prepaid bookings differ. Carry a workable payment method and keep accommodation details available if an officer asks.

Singapore visa requirements by country or document

Common passports that normally do not require an entry visa

“No entry visa required” does not mean automatic admission, and it does not promise a standard stay to every traveller. ICA officers decide admission at the checkpoint; the Visit Pass sent by email is the operational record.

Countries whose issued travel documents require a visa

ICA’s current list is grouped below for readability. Every country named in these rows is visa-required; use the country-specific link on ICA’s page to see the application route and documents.

Visa requirements also apply to a refugee travel document, alien’s passport, Palestinian Authority passport, temporary passport issued by the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong SAR Document of Identity, Macao SAR Travel Permit and PRC Travel Document. Recognition of some special documents is assessed separately, so send ICA a copy for verification when the document is unusual.

VFTF is transit relief, not ordinary visa-free entry

If you stay airside at Changi and do not seek immigration clearance, the situation differs from entering Singapore. Collecting bags, using separate tickets that require re-check-in, leaving the airport or transferring to a bus for Malaysia may require immigration clearance; confirm the operating airlines’ transfer process as well as ICA’s rule.

Visa-free travel

Do not rely on an old country list copied into a travel article. Use ICA’s current visa-requirements checker for the exact passport or travel document you hold. Visa-free travelers still need to meet the other entry requirements, and the Visit Pass granted at the checkpoint—not a broad nationality rule—confirms the allowed stay.

One important change is that holders of ordinary PRC passports have been exempt from Singapore visa requirements for stays of up to 30 days since 9 February 2024. Other PRC travel documents can follow different rules, so check the document type rather than treating all PRC nationals as one category.

Countries that require a visa

If ICA lists your travel document as visa-required, obtain the visa before travel unless you qualify for a specific facility such as VFTF. A Singapore entry visa is pre-entry permission to travel to Singapore and seek entry; it is not an immigration pass and does not guarantee admission.

Application routes depend on whether you have a Singapore local contact with Singpass or Corppass. Without one, ICA says applications may be submitted through an authorized visa agent appointed by a Singapore Overseas Mission or at the nearest mission, subject to that mission’s procedure. Do not assume every nationality uses the same agent, paperwork or processing time. Check the country-specific ICA page before paying anyone.

Visa-Free Transit Facility (VFTF)

VFTF is a conditional transit facility of less than 96 hours, not a general visa waiver. It may apply to nationals of India; Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan; Georgia; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; and selected PRC travel-document holders. Ordinary PRC passport holders use the separate 30-day visa-exemption arrangement, not this selected-document category.

The transport rule depends on the eligibility group:

• Indian nationals and selected PRC travel-document holders may enter Singapore by any mode but must depart by air or sea with a valid onward air, ferry or cruise ticket within 96 hours. They must also satisfy ICA’s qualifying visa or long-term-pass condition.
• Nationals of the listed CIS states, Georgia, Turkmenistan and Ukraine may enter by any mode but must depart by air with a valid onward air ticket within 96 hours.

ICA decides entry at the checkpoint, and a VFTF stay cannot be extended. If a missed connection would make the route non-compliant, arrange the required visa instead of building the trip around an assumed approval. Read the official VFTF conditions against the exact documents and transport legs in your booking.

SG Arrival Card

The SG Arrival Card is a free electronic arrival and health declaration, not a visa. It is required for travelers except those transiting without seeking immigration clearance and Singapore citizens, Permanent Residents or Long-Term Pass holders entering through the Woodlands or Tuas land checkpoints.

How to submit:

• Use the official SGAC e-Service or MyICA Mobile app. ICA does not charge for submission or endorse paid third-party filing sites.
• Fill in your personal details: passport information, flight or ship number, date of arrival, accommodation in Singapore, and a health declaration regarding any symptoms or recent travel to yellow fever areas.
• You can submit for yourself or for a group (for example, family members). If traveling with others, you can create a group submission under your own email.
• After successful submission, you will receive an acknowledgement via email. Save this email or take a screenshot. Some airlines may ask to see the acknowledgement at check-in, though it is not always required. Keep it handy; you may be asked to show it upon arrival.

Cost: The SG Arrival Card is free. There is no fee for submission. Any website asking for payment is not official.

Timing: Submit within three days before arrival, including the arrival day. For an arrival on 30 June, ICA’s window opens on 28 June.

Residents arriving by air or sea still need to submit. Long-Term Pass holders entering by land are included in the exemption, alongside citizens and Permanent Residents. If your route changes after submission, update the record rather than assuming the airline or checkpoint will correct it for you.

Health declaration: The SG Arrival Card currently includes a simple health declaration regarding your symptoms and recent travel history to yellow fever areas. This may be used for health screening. It is a standard measure.

Biometrics and immigration clearance

ICA requires travelers to present biometrics such as fingerprints, facial images or iris scans during immigration clearance. Follow the signs and officer instructions at your checkpoint; automated-clearance eligibility and the lane used can differ by traveler and document.

Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) and no more passport stamps. Since March 2022, ICA no longer stamps foreign passports at entry. Instead, you receive an electronic Visit Pass sent to the email address you provided in the SG Arrival Card. This e-Pass contains your name, passport number, date of arrival, and the period of stay granted (for example, 30 days). You must keep this email or download a PDF copy. If you do not receive the email, check your spam folder. You can also download a copy from the ICA e-Pass enquiry service online using your passport number and date of birth.

If you entered under VFTF, check the period actually granted. If you traveled with an entry visa, do not use the visa expiry date to calculate your stay: the e-Pass records the separate Visit Pass validity.

Exit clearance: When departing Singapore, you may again scan your passport and fingerprints at the automated gate. There is no exit stamp or e-Pass for departure. The system records your exit automatically.

Important: Always keep a copy of your e-Pass while in Singapore. Hotels and some government services may ask for it as proof of legal stay. If you lose it, you can print a copy from the ICA website. The e-Pass is also your record of the exact days you are allowed to stay. Do not overstay, as penalties can include fines or a ban.

Comparison with older system: Previously, you received a paper stamp with a hand-written date. The e-Pass is more reliable and eliminates the risk of a blurred stamp. However, it relies on you having access to email. If you do not have a smartphone or printer, ask the immigration officer for assistance; they can print a copy for you.

Health requirements

Singapore generally requires no vaccinations for direct travel from most countries. However, if you have recently visited or transited through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission, you must present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. This requirement applies to travelers arriving from such countries, or who have spent more than 12 hours in transit at an airport in a risk country.

Countries with risk include parts of Africa (for example, Angola, Burkina Faso, Nigeria) and South America (for example, Brazil, Colombia, Peru). The full list is available from the ICA and the World Health Organization. If you are unsure if your itinerary involves risk, check before traveling.

No other mandatory vaccines for general entry. However, it is wise to ensure routine vaccinations are up to date (for example, measles, tetanus).

Customs and prohibited items

Singapore enforces strict customs laws. Even if you enter legally, carrying prohibited or restricted items can lead to fines, confiscation, or prosecution. Familiarize yourself with the rules to avoid trouble.

Cash declaration: You must declare if you are carrying cash or bearer negotiable instruments (for example, traveler’s cheques, money orders) with a total value exceeding S$20,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currency). This applies to both entering and leaving Singapore. Failure to declare is an offense and can result in fines or seizure of the money. If you are carrying large amounts, use the “Cash Declaration” form at the customs counter.

Do not rely on a simplified travel-blog list for food, medication, nicotine products, weapons or other controlled goods. ICA directs travelers to Singapore Customs and the relevant licensing authority because the answer can depend on the item, quantity, origin and intended use. Check the official category before packing, keep prescriptions and supporting documents with medication, and use the Red Channel when a declaration is required.

Practical advice: When in doubt, declare an item at the customs counter. Officers can advise whether it is allowed. Non-declaration of prohibited items can lead to fines. If you are transiting through Singapore and your luggage is checked through, you are generally not subject to customs inspection, but if you leave the transit area, the rules apply.

What is legal at home may still be prohibited or controlled in Singapore. A quick official check is less tiring than sorting out an avoidable problem after a long flight.

Before departure, confirm your visa status, passport validity and SG Arrival Card requirement on the official ICA website. Keep the submission receipt accessible during the journey and ignore paid sites that imitate the free official arrival-card service.

After the entry check, plan the terminal with the Changi Airport guide, choose the airport-to-city transfer, and confirm connectivity in the Singapore SIM and eSIM guide. If an uninsured medical or cancellation cost would be difficult to absorb, use the Singapore travel-insurance guide to compare policy wording before buying.