Validity
How long the Singapore Arrival Card is valid
Each card covers one entry. Validity is tied to your declared arrival date, not a fixed number of days. There's no expiry clock the way a visa has.
Last updated: 2026-04-26
Trips per card
One entry
New card per arrival
Tied to
Your arrival date
No fixed expiry window
Re-entry
New card needed
Every time you enter Singapore
The SGAC is consumed by your arrival, then it's done. For your next visit, you file a new one.
How the validity works
When you file an SGAC, you declare:
- The date you'll arrive in Singapore
- The date you'll depart from Singapore
- Where you'll stay during the visit
ICA approves the SGAC for that specific arrival on that specific date. When you cross the border, the SGAC is matched to your passport and used up.
The SGAC has no time limit beyond the arrival itself. If you arrive on the date you declared, you're good. There's no "valid for 30 days from issue" clock to worry about.
What if I change my arrival date?
If your trip is delayed and your new arrival is more than a few days off, the SGAC needs to be updated.
For SGACs we filed:
- Email inq@sgaconline.com with your reference code and your new arrival date
- We update the SGAC with ICA before your new arrival
- No extra charge
For SGACs you filed yourself:
- Log back into ICA's portal and update the dates, or
- File a fresh SGAC for the new arrival date
A small change (delayed by a few hours, same date) doesn't need an update. ICA cares about the date you cross the border.
Common situations
Side-trips out and back
Singapore on Day 1, day trip to Johor Bahru on Day 3, back to Singapore Day 3 evening: one SGAC for the original arrival, then a new SGAC for the re-entry from Malaysia. Crossing the Causeway and back counts as two arrivals.
Multi-stop trips through Singapore
Bangkok to Singapore to Bali, then Bali to Singapore for a return flight: two SGACs needed. The first arrival, then the second arrival from Bali.
Long trips with weekend hops
A four-month trip with weekend trips to Malaysia or Indonesia: one SGAC per re-entry. Each entry into Singapore needs its own card.
Travelling with family
Each traveller needs their own SGAC. Through SGAC Online you can submit up to 10 in a single group, with group pricing for 2 or more.
What if I leave and re-enter on the same passport?
Yes, you need a new SGAC for the re-entry. Your passport is the same, your visa (if any) is still valid, but the SGAC is consumed.
The good news: the re-entry SGAC is a quick form because most of your details are the same. With our service, group submissions for known travellers can be re-used as a starting point. Just email us.
What if I forgot my SGAC and arrived?
If you arrived without an SGAC on file, ICA's smart-gates won't let you through automatically. You'll be asked to file the SGAC on your phone before being released into Singapore. The validity for that on-the-spot submission is the same: it covers that one arrival.
What "expired" means in practice
Three scenarios people mean when they say their SGAC is "expired":
- Filed too early, ICA rejected it. Not technically expired; it never opened. File again inside the 72-hour window.
- Filed for a date that already passed without arrival. The SGAC was never used. ICA will mark it as unused. File a new one for your actual arrival date.
- Used on arrival, then you want to come back later. That SGAC is consumed. File a new one for the next trip.
In all three cases, the fix is the same: file a fresh SGAC for the upcoming arrival date.
What we do for you
For groups travelling multiple times into Singapore, we keep your details on file (with your permission) so re-applications for new trips are faster. Email us at inq@sgaconline.com with your previous reference code, and we can pre-fill a new application for your next arrival.