My Filipino passport has multiple given names and a middle name. How do I fill in the SGAC?

Enter your name exactly as it appears in the passport's machine-readable zone, which usually shows surname first followed by all given names (including the middle name, which in Filipino passports is the mother's maiden surname). If the SGAC form has separate first/middle/last name fields, follow what your passport shows.

What's the time zone difference between the Philippines and Singapore?

There is no difference. The Philippines and Singapore are both GMT+8 (Philippine Standard Time and Singapore Time). Your phone clock will not change when you arrive in Singapore.

I'm visiting my OFW family in Singapore. Do I need any special documents?

Visiting friends and family is covered by the standard 30-day visa-free entry. Bring your passport, a confirmed return ticket, and the address where you'll be staying (your family member's address counts). The SGAC is required like any other visit. Your OFW family member's work pass does not transfer to you.

Are Philippine credit and debit cards accepted in Singapore?

Yes. All major Philippine Visa, Mastercard, and JCB cards are accepted across Singapore. BPI, BDO, Metrobank, and other Philippine bank cards work at ATMs and merchants. Notify your bank of international travel before you go to avoid card blocks.

Do I need any vaccinations to enter Singapore from the Philippines?

For travel directly from the Philippines, no specific vaccinations are required. Yellow fever vaccination is required only if you've recently been in a yellow-fever-risk country. Verify with the Singapore Ministry of Health website close to your travel date.

Can I extend my stay beyond 30 days?

Stays beyond 30 days require a Long-Term Visit Pass or similar. You cannot extend a visa-free entry simply by leaving and re-entering (this practice may be flagged by immigration). For extended stays, apply for the appropriate pass before travel.

Can my whole family file one SGAC application together?

Through ICA's portal, no, each traveller needs their own SGAC submission. Through SGAC Online, yes, one application can cover up to 10 travellers in the same transaction, with group discounts applied automatically.

What if my passport is renewed after I file the SGAC?

If your passport is renewed (and the passport number changes) after the SGAC is approved, you'll need a fresh SGAC with the new passport details. Singapore immigration matches the SGAC to the passport you present at the border.

Are there direct flights from the Philippines to Singapore?

Yes. Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Scoot, AirAsia Philippines, and others operate frequent flights from Manila (Ninoy Aquino MNL), Cebu (Mactan-Cebu CEB), Clark (CRK), and Davao (DVO). Flight time is approximately 3.5 hours from Manila.

From the Philippines

Singapore Arrival Card for Filipino travellers

Filipino passport holders enter Singapore visa-free for up to 30 days. No visa application needed. The Singapore Arrival Card, however, is still mandatory.

Last updated: 2026-04-26

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Visa needed

Visa-free up to 30 days

SGAC needed

Yes

Mandatory for all entries

SGAC submit window

72 hours pre-arrival

Earlier is rejected

SGAC fee

USD 30

Group discounts apply

Visa-free travellers still need the SGAC. File yours in five minutes inside the 72-hour window.

Start application

What you need to enter Singapore from the Philippines

As a Filipino passport holder, you don't need to apply for a Singapore visa for tourism, business, family visits, or transit. Singapore admits Filipino passport holders visa-free for up to 30 days per visit. You will, however, need to file the Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) for every entry into Singapore.

Singapore is one of the top destinations for Filipino travellers, both for leisure and for visiting family members working in Singapore. The visa-free arrangement makes short visits easy, but the SGAC is the one piece of paperwork you can't skip.

Visa-free entry rules

Visa application
Not required
Maximum stay
30 days per entry
Passport validity
6+ months from arrival date
Return ticket
Required at the border, may be checked
Filing window
Not applicable
Government fee
No fee

SGAC requirements

Visa application
Not applicable
Maximum stay
Tied to your arrival date
Passport validity
Same passport must match
Return ticket
Optional in the form
Filing window
Up to 72 hours before arrival
Government fee
No government fee

Step-by-step: from booking to boarding

Book your trip
Confirm your flight to Singapore and your accommodation. Make sure your Philippine passport has at least 6 months validity from your arrival date.
File your SGAC
Within 72 hours of your arrival date, file the Singapore Arrival Card. You'll need your passport details, flight number, and Singapore accommodation address.
Receive your SGAC approval by email
Usually within hours. Save it on your phone. No printing needed.
Travel to Singapore
At Changi immigration, present your passport. Your SGAC is already on file with ICA, they look you up by passport number. The visa-free stamp is added at the border.

Visa-free entry from the Philippines

The visa-free arrangement covers most short-term travel from the Philippines.

What's covered

Tourism for leisure travel of any kind
Business meetings, conferences, and short-term business trips
Family visits including visiting OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) family members based in Singapore
Transit through Singapore en route to another destination

What's NOT covered

Paid work in Singapore which requires an Employment Pass, S Pass, Work Permit, or other work pass (the standard route for Filipinos working in Singapore)
Long-term study which requires a Student's Pass for courses longer than 30 days
Stays beyond 30 days which require a Long-Term Visit Pass or similar
Permanent residency which requires the appropriate ICA application

Passport requirements

Philippine passport with at least 6 months validity from your date of arrival in Singapore
At least one blank page for the entry stamp
Confirmed return air ticket (immigration may ask to see this)
Confirmed Singapore accommodation address (immigration may ask)
Sufficient funds for the duration of your stay (rarely checked but technically required)

Common entry refusal reasons

Passport validity less than 6 months from arrival date
No return or onward ticket booked
Frequent short visits flagged as 'visa run' patterns by immigration
Previous overstay or visa violation in Singapore
Outstanding ICA records or alerts on your name

Filing the Singapore Arrival Card

The SGAC is a pre-arrival declaration that tells Singapore ICA who you are, when you're arriving, and where you're staying. Mandatory for visa-free travellers, has its own 72 hour window, takes about three minutes to file.

What you need

Your Philippine passport details (passport number, expiry, full name as on passport)
Confirmed flight number and arrival date
Confirmed Singapore accommodation address (hotel name and address, or host's address)
Email address where the SGAC approval should be sent

See required documents for the full list before you apply.

When to file

File the SGAC up to 72 hours before your arrival date in Singapore, not earlier. Earlier submissions are rejected by ICA. The 72 hour window starts from your arrival date. If you arrive on the 15th, you can file from the 12th onward.

If you're applying through SGAC Online, submit your details anytime. We hold the application and file it inside the 72 hour window automatically. Read when to submit for the full window rules.

What we do for you

Our team checks every form for the common mistakes that delay or reject SGAC submissions: Filipino name structure (multiple given names plus middle name plus surname can be tricky to enter correctly), accommodation address that's incomplete, dates that don't match the flight booking. We file the corrected form with ICA and email you the official approval. See how it works if you'd rather we handle the form for you.

What if your flight changes

If the new flight is on the same arrival date, the SGAC stays valid. If the arrival date changes, you'll need a fresh SGAC for the new date.

Why choose SGAC Online

Catches the Filipino name format issues

Filipino passports often list given names plus middle name (mother's maiden name) plus surname. The SGAC fields don't always match this exactly. We make sure your name on the SGAC matches the passport's machine-readable zone before submission.

Group submissions for families

Travelling to visit OFW family in Singapore? One submission can cover up to 10 travellers, with group discount applied automatically (15% off for 2-5 travellers, 20% off for 6-10).

Real human review before submission

Every application is checked by a human before it goes to ICA. Catches the typos and mismatches an automated form would let through.

Email support in your time zone

Singapore is the same time zone as the Philippines (GMT+8, no difference). Replies usually within a few hours during business hours.

Three minutes per traveller. USD 30 per application. Group discounts apply.

Start your application

Frequently asked questions from Filipino travellers

Ready to file your SGAC?

Three minutes per traveller. No visa needed. We file inside ICA's 72 hour window.