Eligibility
Who needs to submit a Singapore Arrival Card?
Nearly everyone entering Singapore. Citizens returning home, permanent residents, foreign visitors, transit passengers, and long-term pass holders. The exemption list is short.
Last updated: 2026-04-26
Required for
Almost all arrivals
Including transit and citizens
Submit window
72 hours pre-arrival
Earlier is rejected
Fee to ICA
Free
USD 30 with us, optional
The SGAC is mandatory regardless of your nationality, your visa status, or how you're entering. The handful of exceptions are narrow and listed at the bottom of this page.
The traveller groups who must submit
Foreign tourists
Visiting Singapore for tourism, business, or family. Visa-exempt or visa holders. Being visa-exempt does NOT mean you skip the SGAC, see SGAC vs visa.
Singapore citizens returning home
Yes, even Singapore citizens need an SGAC when they return from overseas. ICA uses it to confirm your arrival and pre-process your immigration record. No fee for citizens, the requirement is administrative.
Permanent residents
Singapore PRs follow the same rule as citizens. You file an SGAC for every entry, even from a short trip across the Causeway to Malaysia.
Long-term pass holders
Employment Pass, S Pass, Dependant's Pass, Student's Pass, or any other long-term pass: SGAC needed for every re-entry. The SGAC does not replace your pass, it's the arrival declaration.
Transit passengers
Transit travellers need an SGAC if they will pass through Singapore's immigration (rather than staying airside in transit). The rules:
- Airside transit only (you stay in the international transit area, never enter Singapore): no SGAC needed. You're not formally entering the country.
- Landside transit (you go through immigration to a hotel, even briefly): SGAC required.
- Most cruise transit (cruise ships docking at Marina Bay or Tanah Merah): SGAC required because you're disembarking onto Singapore soil.
When in doubt, file one. It costs nothing to file (with ICA directly) and prevents delays.
Crew members
Aircraft crew, ship crew, and bus drivers entering Singapore on duty have separate procedures handled by their employers and ICA's commercial channels. As an individual crew member, you typically don't file your own SGAC.
If you're flying as a passenger on your day off, even on a deadhead leg, you file as a regular traveller.
Children and infants
Yes, children need their own SGAC. Even infants. A parent or guardian fills it in on the child's behalf using the child's passport details.
For group applications through SGAC Online, you can include children and adults in the same submission. Up to 10 travellers per submission, with group pricing that gives discounts for 2 or more.
The narrow exceptions
A short list of people who don't need an SGAC:
- Pure airside transit passengers (never clear immigration)
- Diplomatic and consular officers travelling on official duty (handled through diplomatic channels)
- Members of visiting military forces under specific Status of Forces agreements
If none of these describe you, file an SGAC.
What we do for you
SGAC Online handles the SGAC submission for you. USD 30 per traveller, with group discounts. We file inside Singapore's 72-hour pre-arrival window, review your form, and email you the approval. See how it works for the full process.
Common questions
Ready to submit your card?
Takes about three minutes per traveller. Group submissions supported.