Every traveller entering Singapore must meet specific requirements before and during the SG Arrival Card submission. This guide explains exactly what documents, information, and conditions you need to complete the SGAC successfully.
Passport requirements
Your passport is the most important document for the SG Arrival Card:
- Validity: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of arrival in Singapore. If your passport expires within 6 months, renew it before submitting the SGAC.
- Machine-readable: Your passport should be a standard machine-readable travel document. Handwritten or temporary passports may not be accepted.
- Name matching: Enter your name on the SGAC exactly as it appears on your passport. Include middle names, hyphens, and special characters. A mismatch can cause immigration delays.
If you hold dual citizenship, use the passport you will present at the Singapore checkpoint. The SGAC must match that specific passport.
Travel information required
The SGAC asks for details about your trip. Have the following ready:
- Arrival date — The date you arrive in Singapore (not the date you depart your home country)
- Flight number — Your inbound flight to Singapore (e.g., SQ321, GA822)
- Mode of transport — Air, sea, or land
- Last country of embarkation — The country where you boarded your flight or vessel to Singapore
- Next country of disembarkation — Where you are going after Singapore (optional but recommended)
- Departure date — When you plan to leave Singapore
The system cross-checks your flight number with airline data, so make sure it is accurate.
Accommodation details
You must provide a valid Singapore address on your SGAC:
- Hotel guests: Enter the hotel name and its postal code. The system may auto-fill the full address once you enter the postal code.
- Serviced apartments: Enter the property name and address as shown on your booking confirmation.
- Staying with friends or family: Enter their residential address, including block number, street name, and postal code.
- Transit visitors: If you are leaving Singapore within 24 hours and have no accommodation, enter “Transit” with the airport address.
You cannot leave the accommodation field blank. The system requires a valid Singapore address for all submissions.
Contact information
Provide a working email address and phone number:
- Email: This is where you receive your confirmation and e-Pass. Use an email you can access on your phone while travelling.
- Phone number: Include your country code (e.g., +1 for US, +44 for UK). The number is used for urgent contact if needed.
The email address is particularly important. If you enter an incorrect email, you will not receive your confirmation, even though the SGAC may still be processed.
Health declaration requirements
The SGAC includes a mandatory health declaration. You must answer two questions:
- Have you visited Africa or Latin America in the past 6 days before your arrival in Singapore?
- Do you currently have fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, or vomiting?
Answer truthfully. If you have visited the listed regions or have symptoms, you may face additional health screening at arrival. This does not mean you will be denied entry — it simply triggers a secondary check.
Timing requirements
The SGAC submission window is strict:
- Earliest submission: 3 days (72 hours) before your arrival date, including the arrival day itself
- Recommended submission: At least 24 hours before your flight
- Latest submission: Technically before you clear immigration, but submitting at the airport causes delays
If your flight arrives on Saturday, you can submit from Thursday onwards. The system will not accept submissions made on Wednesday or earlier.
Who is exempt from the SGAC
Not everyone needs to submit the SG Arrival Card:
| Traveller type | Air/sea entry | Land entry |
|—|—|—|
| Foreign visitors | Required | Required |
| Singapore Citizens | Required | Exempt |
| Permanent Residents | Required | Exempt |
| Long-term pass holders | Required | Exempt |
| Transit passengers (no immigration clearance) | Exempt | Exempt |
If you are a Singapore Citizen or PR entering through Woodlands or Tuas checkpoint by land, you do not need to submit the SGAC.
Visa requirements (separate from SGAC)
The SGAC is not a visa. Depending on your nationality, you may also need:
- A valid entry visa for Singapore
- A visa exemption agreement (many countries have visa-free access for 30 or 90 days)
- Additional documents for specific visa types (business, work, student)
Check the ICA visa requirements page to see if your passport requires a visa. Even if you are visa-exempt, you still need the SGAC.
Common visa-free nationalities include:
- United States — 90 days
- United Kingdom — 90 days
- Australia — 90 days
- Japan — 90 days
- Germany — 90 days
- India — visa required
- China — visa required
- Philippines — visa required (30-day exemption for select cases)
Documents you do NOT need for SGAC
Unlike a visa application, the SGAC does not require:
- Passport-sized photographs
- Proof of accommodation booking
- Return flight ticket
- Bank statements
- Travel insurance documents
- Invitation letters
The SGAC is a declaration form, not an application. You declare your information, and the system records it. No supporting documents are uploaded or verified at the time of submission.
Special cases
Cruise passengers
If you arrive in Singapore by cruise ship, you still need to submit the SGAC. Enter “Sea” as your mode of transport and provide your vessel name or cruise line details.
Business travellers
Business travellers follow the same SGAC process as tourists. The purpose of visit field on the SGAC lets you select “Business” but this does not change the form requirements.
Diplomatic passport holders
Diplomatic passport holders must still submit the SGAC unless they are Singapore Citizens or PRs entering by land. The diplomatic status does not exempt you from the arrival card requirement.
Children and infants
Every traveller, including newborns, needs their own SGAC submission. Parents or guardians can submit on behalf of children. You need the child’s passport details and the same accommodation information as adults.
Penalties for non-compliance
The penalties for failing to submit the SGAC or providing false information are significant:
- First offence: Fine up to S$10,000 and/or imprisonment up to 6 months
- Subsequent offences: Fine up to S$20,000 and/or imprisonment up to 12 months
These penalties apply to both the failure to submit and the submission of false or misleading information. ICA officers verify your declaration at the checkpoint.
