When to submit your Singapore Arrival Card

ICA opens the submission window exactly 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in Singapore.

• Earlier than 72 hours before arrival: ICA's system won't accept your submission. You'll see a "submission window not open" error.
• Inside the 72-hour window: ICA accepts and processes your application. Approval usually arrives within hours.
• After arrival: You'll be flagged at immigration. You'll need to file an SGAC on the spot before being allowed through.

The window is based on your arrival date and time, not when you depart from your origin country.

If you arrive at Singapore immigration without an SGAC on file, you'll be delayed. Smart-gates won't let you through. You'll need to step aside, file the SGAC on your phone, wait for processing, then proceed.

The hassle ranges from 15 minutes (if your phone has data and you can fill the form quickly) to over an hour (if there's a queue or your phone won't cooperate). Either way, it's a slow welcome to Singapore.

If your arrival is delayed but the date stays the same, your SGAC remains valid. ICA cares about the date you cross the border, not the exact hour.

If your arrival date changes (rebooking to a different day, missed connection that pushes you to tomorrow), you'll need to update your SGAC to match the new date. Email us if this happens with an SGAC we filed for you, and we'll update it before your new arrival.

For most travellers:

• Best: Apply with us 7 to 14 days before your trip. We handle the window.
• Good: Apply directly with ICA exactly 72 hours before arrival. Free, but requires you to remember.
• Risky: Apply at the last minute, like during your flight's boarding. Wi-Fi may be flaky, and ICA's system occasionally has slowdowns.
• Don't: Wait until you land in Singapore.

ICA uses Singapore Standard Time (SGT, UTC+8). The 72-hour window opens 72 hours before your arrival in SGT.

If you're flying from a country far behind SGT (the Americas, for example), the window may open during what feels like the middle of the night for you. We handle this automatically. If you're applying yourself, set a reminder.

SGAC Online watches the window for you. Apply any time, even months in advance. We hold your application and file it the moment ICA opens your 72-hour window. You get the approval in your inbox without having to think about timing. USD 30 per traveller. See pricing.