Almost every traveller entering Singapore must submit the SG Arrival Card, including Indian visitors. It is free and is filed online with ICA within three days before arrival, counting the day you land. Only people transiting without clearing immigration are exempt. Indian passport holders also need a Singapore entry visa, which is a separate process.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Two Singapore requirements often get mixed up: the arrival card and the visa. They are different steps with different rules, so here is how they fit together for an Indian traveller.
Who needs to submit the SG Arrival Card?
According to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) of Singapore, all travellers entering Singapore must submit the SG Arrival Card (SGAC), and the health declaration is submitted together with it. The card is not limited to long stays or particular nationalities, so a short holiday or a business trip both count.
ICA lists two exceptions: travellers who transit or transfer through Singapore without seeking immigration clearance, and Singapore residents (citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass holders) travelling through the Woodlands or Tuas land checkpoints. An Indian tourist flying into Changi does not fall under either exception.
How many days before arrival can you submit it?
ICA says to submit within three days before arrival, counting the day of arrival. In practice that means a window opening two days before the day you land and running up to arrival. Fill it in after your flight is confirmed and your accommodation details are fixed, because the form asks for travel and stay information.
If your health status changes after you have submitted, ICA says to use the “Update SGAC” feature on its e-service rather than starting over.
Does the SG Arrival Card cost anything?
No. ICA states that submission is free of charge, and that it does not endorse commercial services that charge a fee to submit it. If a website asks you to pay to file your arrival card, treat that as a warning sign and go to the official ICA page instead.
ICA also notes that making a false declaration can lead to prosecution under Singapore’s Infectious Diseases Act, so answer the health questions honestly.
Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Singapore?
Yes. ICA’s visa requirements page lists India among the nationalities whose travel documents need a valid Singapore entry visa. For applicants who do not have a Local Contact with a Singpass or Corppass account in Singapore, it says applications are made through an authorised visa agent appointed by a Singapore Overseas Mission, or at the nearest Singapore Overseas Mission, and that ICA does not accept visa applications over the immigration counters.
The arrival card does not replace the visa, and the visa does not replace the arrival card. You need both if you are entering Singapore as a visitor. Check processing times and documents with the Mission or the agent well before you book non-refundable plans.
- Visa: applied for before travel, through an authorised agent or a Singapore Overseas Mission.
- SG Arrival Card: submitted online on ICA’s e-service, free, within three days before arrival.
- Transit only: if you stay airside and do not seek immigration clearance, the card is not required.
What if you are only transiting through Changi?
If you are transiting without seeking immigration clearance, ICA exempts you from the arrival card. ICA also says Indian nationals may be eligible for its Visa-Free Transit Facility, but the conditions are set out on a separate ICA page, so read those before relying on it. If your layover is long enough that you want to leave the airport, you would be seeking entry, and then the visa and the arrival card rules apply.
A small aviation note: a connection that looks generous on paper can still be tight if you change terminals or airlines, so check whether your bags are checked through to the final city.
How should you plan the sequence of steps?
A sensible order for an Indian visitor is: confirm the visa requirement and apply through an authorised agent or Overseas Mission first, then book flights and stay once the visa is in hand, and finally submit the arrival card in the three-day window before you land. Leave the arrival card for last, because the official window is short.
Keep a screenshot or printout of your submission handy, along with your passport and flight details. If you change your flight to a different day, check ICA’s guidance on whether your existing submission still applies, since the window is counted from your arrival date.
Finally, use only the official ICA e-service. Since ICA itself says the card is free, there is no reason to pay a third party for what is a simple government form.
Common Questions
Is the SG Arrival Card mandatory for short visits?
Yes. ICA’s rule covers all travellers entering Singapore, apart from the transit and resident-land-checkpoint exceptions. Length of stay does not matter.
Can I submit it a week before my trip?
No. ICA’s window is within three days before arrival, counting the day you arrive. Submitting earlier is not what the official guidance describes.
Is there a fee for the arrival card?
No, ICA says it is free of charge. Be cautious about any service that charges to file it for you.
Does the arrival card replace a visa for Indians?
No. ICA lists India among the nationalities needing an entry visa. The arrival card is an additional declaration, not a permission to enter.
Where do I apply for the visa?
As per ICA, if you have no Local Contact with a Singpass or Corppass account in Singapore, through an authorised visa agent appointed by a Singapore Overseas Mission, or at the nearest Overseas Mission. You cannot apply at the immigration counters in Singapore.
What if my health details change after submitting?
ICA says to use the “Update SGAC” feature on its e-service to update the declaration.
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Entry rules and fees change. Please verify current specifics with ICA Singapore, the Singapore Overseas Mission or your airline before you travel.
