SGAC fundamentals
What is the Singapore Arrival Card?
A mandatory electronic submission for everyone entering Singapore. It replaced the paper disembarkation card that used to be handed out on planes.
Last updated: 2026-04-26
Run by
Singapore ICA
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
Required for
Almost everyone
Window
72 hours pre-arrival
Cost via ICA
Free
USD 30 with us
If you're flying, driving, or sailing into Singapore, you need to submit one. There are very few exceptions.
What the SGAC covers
ICA uses the SGAC to pre-process your arrival, speed up immigration clearance, and (during health emergencies) track public-health information. It collects:
Passport details
Your passport number, country of issue, expiry date, and full name as it appears in the passport.
Travel details
Your arrival and departure dates, mode of travel (air, land, sea), and flight or vehicle details.
Where you'll stay
Hotel name and address, or the residential address where you're staying in Singapore.
Contact info
Email address (where ICA's approval lands) and a phone number in international format.
Health declaration
A short set of public-health questions, included in the SGAC form itself.
Group support
With us, you can submit for up to 10 travellers in one go. ICA's site is one-at-a-time.
What the SGAC replaced
Before the pandemic, every traveller arriving in Singapore filled out a paper Disembarkation/Embarkation card on the plane. The SGAC moved that process online. Same information, no paperwork at the border.
ICA made the SGAC permanent in March 2022, even after pandemic-era requirements eased. Today it's part of the standard arrival process for everyone.
Who has to submit one?
Almost everyone:
- Foreign tourists, visa-exempt or visa holders
- Singapore citizens returning home
- Permanent residents
- Transit passengers in most cases
- Long-term pass holders
The handful of exceptions covers some specific border-crossing scenarios. We cover the full list on the who needs to submit page.
When do you submit it?
Inside a 72-hour window before your arrival. Submit too early and ICA's system rejects it. Submit after you arrive and you're stuck at immigration. The submission timing guide walks through the window in detail.
Free vs paid options
Two ways to get your SGAC done:
- Apply directly with ICA at eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard. Free. You handle the form, the timing, and any errors yourself.
- Use a service like SGAC Online. USD 30 per traveller. We file inside the 72-hour window for you, watch the timing, review your form for obvious errors, and email you the approval. Group discounts apply for 2 or more travellers.
People pay us for the time saved and the safety net. The choice is yours.
What the SGAC is NOT
- Not a visa. If your nationality requires a Singapore visa, you still need that separately. See SGAC vs visa.
- Not a guarantee of entry. Singapore's immigration officers make the final call at the border.
- Not transferable. One SGAC per traveller. Group submissions still create one entry per person.
- Not the same as a Long-Term Pass. If you're moving to Singapore long-term, that's a separate process.
Common questions
File your SGAC in five minutes
USD 30 per traveller. We file inside ICA's 72-hour window for you.