Singapore Visa and Entry Guide: Entry Visa, Visit Pass, and SG Arrival Card

Whether you need a Singapore entry visa depends on the passport or other travel document you hold. An entry visa only gives a traveler permission to travel to Singapore and seek entry; it does not guarantee admission or determine how long the traveler may stay. ICA officers decide entry at the checkpoint, and the electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) states the period granted.

TL;DR: Check your exact travel document on ICA's visa-requirements page. Holders of ordinary passports issued by China are exempt from an entry visa for stays of up to 30 days under the bilateral arrangement effective since 9 February 2024. Travelers whose documents require a visa must apply before travel and pay the non-refundable SGD 30 processing fee. Almost all travelers must also submit the free SG Arrival Card within three days before arrival, including the day of arrival. The exceptions are travelers who transit without clearing immigration and Singapore citizens, Permanent Residents, or Long-Term Pass holders entering through land checkpoints.

Direct Answer: Visa, Visit Pass, and SGAC

1. Check Whether Your Travel Document Needs a Visa

ICA publishes a list of countries, places, and specific travel documents whose holders need an entry visa. Check the document you will actually use for the trip rather than relying only on nationality or an informal “visa-free country” list.

• If your document is not visa-required: You may travel to Singapore and seek entry without obtaining an entry visa first. This does not guarantee admission or a fixed stay.
• China ordinary passports: Holders of ordinary passports issued by the People's Republic of China are exempt from visa requirements for a stay of up to 30 days under the reciprocal arrangement effective since 9 February 2024. Holders of other PRC travel documents must follow the rules for that document.
• If your document is visa-required: Obtain a valid entry visa before travel unless you qualify for a separate facility such as the Visa-Free Transit Facility and meet all of its conditions.

General entry requirements still apply whether or not a visa is required. Except for Singapore passport holders, travelers must have a passport with at least six months' validity. Short-term visitors should also have sufficient funds and proof of onward travel, including any ticket or visa needed for the next destination.

2. Understand the Difference Between a Visa and a Visit Pass

A Singapore entry visa is pre-entry permission to travel to Singapore and seek admission. It is not an immigration pass, and its validity period is not the number of days you may stay.

At the checkpoint, ICA determines whether to admit the traveler. Foreign visitors receive an electronic Visit Pass by email; it states the period of stay granted and the last day allowed. A visitor who wishes to remain beyond that date must apply online for a Short-Term Visit Pass extension. Approval is not automatic.

Do not apply for an entry visa merely because you hope to stay longer than a visa-exemption example. First determine whether your travel document requires a visa. The Visit Pass issued at entry—and any approved extension—controls the lawful period of stay.

3. Apply Through an Official Visa Channel When Required

ICA does not accept visa applications at immigration counters. Depending on the travel document and place of application, an application may be submitted:

1. Online through ICA's e-Service by an eligible local contact or strategic partner in Singapore.
2. Through an authorised visa agent appointed by a Singapore Overseas Mission.
3. At the nearest Singapore Overseas Mission, according to that mission's procedure.

The official processing fee is SGD 30 and is non-refundable. ICA's country-specific visa pages state that applications are generally processed within three working days, excluding the day of submission, but some applications take longer. An approved e-Visa should be checked for its own validity and journey conditions; do not convert that validity into an assumed stay length.

4. Submit the SG Arrival Card Separately

The SG Arrival Card is not a visa. Almost all travelers must submit it within three days before arrival, including the day of arrival. ICA lists two exceptions:

• Travelers transiting or transferring through Singapore without seeking immigration clearance.
• Singapore citizens, Permanent Residents, and Long-Term Pass holders entering through land checkpoints.

Submission through ICA's SGAC e-Service or MyICA Mobile app is free. ICA does not support or endorse commercial entities that charge travelers to assist with the submission, and those services are not affiliated with ICA.

Since 30 January 2026, ICA has been able to issue No-Boarding Directives to airlines for prohibited or undesirable travelers and travelers who do not meet entry requirements. In some cases, airlines may be asked to verify a visa or SGAC submission before boarding. A submitted SGAC does not itself guarantee boarding or entry. See SG Arrival Card and No-Boarding Directive Rules for the separate boarding-control process.

For the SGAC step, use the official ICA website or MyICA Mobile app. If you use the eVisaFlow Southeast Asia extension to reuse saved passport, trip, accommodation, and contact details on the official form, compare every field with your passport and current itinerary before submitting.

5. Entry Checklist

Before traveling to Singapore:

1. Check whether your exact passport or travel document appears on ICA's visa-required list.
2. If a visa is required, apply through an official channel and verify the approved visa's details.
3. Confirm that your passport has at least six months' validity, unless you are entering on a Singapore passport.
4. Keep proof of onward travel and sufficient funds available if you are a short-term visitor.
5. Submit the free SG Arrival Card through ICA within three days before arrival, including the day of arrival, unless an official exception applies.
6. After entry, check the e-Pass email for the last day of stay granted. Apply for an extension before that date if necessary; do not rely on the visa's validity period.

References

• ICA — Check if You Need an Entry Visa
• ICA — Entering Singapore
• ICA — Mutual 30-Day Visa Exemption with China
• ICA — Visa-Free Transit Facility
• ICA — SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration
• ICA — No-Boarding Directives from 30 January 2026