Singapore entry policy and arrival card

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Depending on the country of origin, duration of stay, and the type of passport issued, travelers may require a permit/pass or a visa to enter Singapore. Citizens of visa-exempt countries do not require a visa to enter the country. However, Chinese and Indian citizens need a Singapore visa and a valid passport to enter the country.

Who needs a visa to Singapore

As of date, 36 nationalities require an entry visa to Singapore. Citizens eligible for an entry visa to Singapore will also require Form 14 A (Singapore entry visa application form) along with other supporting documents for social and business visits. A visa for social visits is for recreation purposes and to meet friends and family in another country.

The majority of other nations, such as the United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc., do not require a Singapore visa ( visa-exempt) for a certain period ( usually 90 days).

Singapore offers eVisa to a select few nations. If a visitor belongs to eVisa eligible country, they must check the required visa fees and required documents with the Singaporean Embassy. The official website of Singapore does not list the names of countries eligible for the Singapore eVisa.

Citizens of the following 36 countries require a visa to Singapore:

Citizens of the following countries require a Singapore visa:

• Afghanistan
• Algeria
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Belarus
• Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
• Egypt
• Georgia
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Document of Identity)
• India
• Iran
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kosovo
• Kyrgyzstan
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Macao Special Administrative Region (Travel Permit)
• Mali
• Moldova
• Morocco
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• People’s Republic of China (PRC)
• Russia
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Tajikistan
• Tunisia
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan
• Yemen

Travelers will also need a Singapore visa if they have the following documents:

• A passport issued by a Palestinian Authority
• Refugee Travel DocumentHolders from any of the Middle East Nations
• Temporary PassportHolders (issued by U.A.E.)

The Singapore immigration department will verify such papers. A visa for Singapore is not an immigration pass. I.C.A. ( Immigration and Checkpoints Authority) officers determine whether entry to Singapore will be granted to the visitor. Tourists should note that having a Singapore visa does not guarantee entry to the island nation.Moreover, matters relating to Singapore’s entry requirements, visas, and immigration come under the purview of the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

Travelers are advised to check with the Singaporean Embassy about what documents they will require before making any travel plans.

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Role of Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA)

ICA is the issuing authority for visas to Singapore, and each visa application is assessed on its own merits.

Citizens from visa-eligible countries ( mentioned above) require a Singapore visa. It can be applied online via ICA’s official website. However, visitors can only apply for a visa through a local contact/sponsor who is a Singapore Citizen or a Singapore Permanent Resident.

The local contact must be at least 21 years old with a valid SingPass/Corppass account.When applying for an entry visa for a business visit, the local contact/sponsor must be acting on behalf of the Singapore-registered business entity.

Travelers who do not have a local sponsor

If a visitor does not have a local sponsor, he/she may wish to approach the nearest Singapore Overseas Mission (SOM) for advice on submitting the visa application or applying for a visa directly via an Authorized Visa Agent (AVA) appointed by the SOM.

U.S. and UK citizens traveling to Singapore

American and British tourists do not require a visa to Singapore for stays under 90 days. They need to carry a valid passport with six months of validity and have two blank pages for the entry stamp. Currency restrictions for entry and exit purposes are twenty thousand Singapore dollars (15067. 56 USD).

Keep in mind an SG Arrival Card for UK and American travelers will be needed.

"You can obtain the arrival card up to three days before your arrival. To ensure you have enough time, it's recommended to get it at least two days before your travel."

-Natvisa Specialist

Mandatory S.G. arrival card (SGAC) for immigration clearance

For immigration clearance purposes, all travelers inbound to Singapore must submit a Singapore Arrival Card for embarkation and disembarkation purposes. It is compulsory for all travelers. It is regarded as a standard entry requirement for all overseas visitors. Singaporean authorities have made it a permanent feature to avoid importing contagious diseases from other countries.

As per the current entry policy of Singapore, travelers arriving via air or sea need to submit this electronic digital card within three days of their arrival. It is valid for 30 days. Visitors should also note that the S.G. arrival card is not a visa. All travelers (even Singapore nationals) must complete an online S.G. Arrival Card before entering Singapore, containing personal data, trip information, and a health statement. Singaporeans are not required to present an S.G. Arrival Card if they are traveling by land.

Using an official link or the "S.G. Arrival Card" mobile application, travelers can input their personal information and trip information. There is no cost for the electronic arrival card. No, a visa is not a substitute for an electronic arrival card. Since 2020, the paper-based Disembarkation Card, also called the "White Card," has been discontinued.

Natvisa.com is a leading online visa processing company and provides the SG card for arrival. Our travel experts are also ready to answer any questions related to Singapore’s entry policy.

Overview of Singapore’s visa types

To seek entry into Singapore, travelers from visa-eligible nations will need a visa to Singapore. The country offers the following visa types:

1. Singapore Business Visa is issued to people attending business meetings, conferences, negotiations, seminars, etc.
2. Those individuals traveling to Singapore for a private visit (meeting friends and family) or holiday reasons (recreation) will require a social visa.
3. Long-Term Visit Passes are issued to a spouse, a differently abled child of an S Pass Holder, or someone having an Employment Pass. Individuals earning more than twelve thousand Singapore Dollars (8970 USD) can also get a long-term visit pass for parents.

Visitors on a social or business visit will need to fill out form 14A (Application for Singapore Entry Visa) and V39A (Letter of Introduction for Singapore Visa Application, if required). Otherwise, travelers can also submit approval letters issued by the Ministry of Manpower or from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.

Work passes and permits

Singapore offers various types of work passes for the following:

1. Work Passes for Professionals
2. Singapore Work Permit for Skilled and semi-skilled workers
3. Short-term visit passes
4. Work permits for Students and Trainees

Travelers should contact the embassy of Singapore to learn about the requirements and application procedure for the above work passes.

Singapore eVisa (e-pass)

Applicants can obtain an electronic visa to Singapore if they opt for an online visa application or SAVE (Submission of Application Visa for Electronically). According to the official website, the visa application can be submitted online by a local contact at the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoint Authority. If the Singapore visa application is accepted, tourists can get in touch with their local contact person to print a copy of the Singapore electronic visa.

Automated clearance initiative

Under the Automated Clearance Initiative (A.C.I.) of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (I.C.A.), qualified international visitors, including those traveling to Singapore for the first time, can use automated lanes for arrival and exit immigration clearance without having to enroll in advance. By April 2023, the A.C.I. had been installed in 40 automated lanes at land checkpoints and 130 automated lanes at Changi Airport.

When using the automated lanes, travelers must enter a valid email address in order to receive their Singapore Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass); otherwise, they will not receive an arrival immigration endorsement in their passports. The A.C.I. directs qualified foreign visitors to the automated immigration clearance lanes for clearance.

1. If they haven’t been enrolled in their biometrics (iris, face, and fingerprint scans) during a prior visit to Singapore, they will be automatically enrolled during the arrival clearance process.
2. The electronic visit pass (Singapore e-Pass), emailed to the visitors after immigration clearance, contains information about their enrollment.
3. After enrolling, overseas visitors may utilize any automated lane when leaving Singapore and on subsequent trips.

The New Clearance Concept (N.C.C.), developed by the I.C.A., seeks to standardize automated immigration clearance at checkpoints, and A.C.I. is a key part of it. In order to give travelers a more secure, effective, and seamless immigration clearance experience, automated immigration lanes make use of multi-modal biometric scanning technologies.

By the first quarter of 2024, it is anticipated that the automated lanes at Singapore’s Changi Airport will handle 95% of all arrivals. Automated lanes would allow I.C.A. to boost clearing and keep up with the increased traveler volume. This has been anticipated to reach 300 million travelers annually by 2025. Automated lanes demand less physical space and labor than manual counters. A.C.I. eligibility was expanded to include passport holders from 51 jurisdictions as of April 2023. The automated lanes under A.C.I. are also accessible to holders of the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC).

Overstaying penalties and immigration offences

The visa policy of Singapore considers overstaying a serious offense. Travelers may be fined up to six thousand Singapore dollars (4483 USD), caned up to 3 strokes, and imprisoned for six months.

Travelers should know that carrying drugs into Singapore is a legal offense. Tourists are prohibited from carrying the following items:

1. Tobacco products
2. e-cigarettes and vaporizers
3. Ammunition (including air guns and cases of empty cartridges)
4. Radio Communicator
5. Replica Guns (pistols and revolver-shaped lighters)

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