singaporecity360° Visa & the SG Arrival Card
Most visitors can enter Singapore visa-free for a short stay. Here's the one free form everyone fills in before landing — and how customs works.
Most short-stay visitors don't need a visa for Singapore. But whatever passport you hold, everyone must submit one free online form before arriving — the SG Arrival Card. Check your nationality's visa rules, fill the card within 3 days of your trip, and you're set.
Hold an ordinary Chinese passport? You get 30 days visa-free — a mutual exemption in place since February 2024. You still fill in the free SG Arrival Card like everyone else; there's nothing extra to pay or apply for.
Three steps to get in
That's genuinely all there is. No embassy visit, no paperwork queue.
Check your passport
It must be valid for at least 6 months from the day you arrive. Have an onward or return ticket too.
Fill the SG Arrival Card
Free, online, takes minutes. It includes a short health declaration. Do it in the last 3 days before you land.
Walk through
Show your passport once at arrival. Departure can be passport-free at the automated gates. No visa needed for a short Chinese-passport stay.
The Arrival Card is free
This is the trap. Search "Singapore Arrival Card" and you'll find slick websites that charge you a "processing fee" of S$20, S$30 or more. They are not the government. The real form costs nothing. Fill it in only on the official ICA website or the MyICA app, and don't hand your passport details or money to anyone else.
eservices.ica.gov.sg — or the MyICA app. Free. If a site asks for payment, close it.
Fill it within the last 3 days before you land. Once it's done, save a screenshot of the confirmation on your phone — that's all you need at the gate.
What you can bring in
Singapore is relaxed about most things and strict about two: tobacco and anything on the banned list.
| Item | The rule |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | Up to 2 litres duty-free — but only if you’re 18+, have been away 48h+, and are not arriving from Malaysia |
| Cigarettes & tobacco | No duty-free at all — every stick is taxed. Declare it or leave it. |
| Chewing gum | Can’t be brought in to sell (import ban). A few pieces for yourself isn’t the target. |
| Cash & valuables | Declare if you’re carrying more than S$20,000 (or the same in any currency) |
| Other shopping | GST relief up to S$500 of goods if away 48h+ (S$100 if less) |
From Singapore Customs and ICA. When unsure, use the red channel and declare — it’s free to declare, expensive to be caught.
Five things worth doing
- Use only the official ICA site or MyICA app for the Arrival Card — never a site that charges a fee.
- Screenshot the confirmation after you submit, so you have it offline at the gate.
- Check your passport has 6+ months left before you book — renewing later is a headache.
- Don’t pack a vape or bring cigarettes duty-free — both cause trouble at customs (see our laws guide).
- Carrying more than S$20,000 in cash? Declare it — it’s a simple electronic form, and not declaring is an offence.
Frequently asked
Do I need a visa to visit Singapore?
It depends on your passport. Many nationalities can enter visa-free for short stays (for example, ordinary Chinese passport holders get 30 days); others must apply before travelling. Check the official ICA list for your country. Either way, everyone must submit the free SG Arrival Card before arriving.
Do Chinese passport holders need a visa for Singapore?
No. Since 9 February 2024, holders of an ordinary Chinese passport can enter Singapore visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, and this is still in force. (Other kinds of Chinese travel document may still need a visa.)
What is the SG Arrival Card, and is it really free?
It’s a short online form every visitor must submit before arriving — with a quick health declaration built in. It is completely free on the official ICA website. Ignore any site that charges a "processing fee"; those are third parties, not the government.
When do I fill in the Arrival Card?
Within 3 days before you arrive (counting the arrival day). Do it too early and it won’t be accepted; leave it to the last few days of your trip planning. You can use the ICA website or the MyICA app.
How long is my passport good for?
It must have at least 6 months’ validity from the date you enter Singapore. If it’s close to expiry, renew before you travel.
Is immigration fast?
Very. Singapore uses automated lanes that read your face and fingerprints — first-time visitors don’t need to pre-register. You’ll show your passport on arrival; departure can be passport-free at the gates.
Can I bring in duty-free cigarettes?
No. Singapore gives no duty-free allowance on tobacco — every cigarette is taxed. You can bring up to 2 litres of alcohol duty-free if you meet the conditions, but tobacco must be declared.
Always check the official source
Entry rules can change, and only one site is the authority.
- Visa rules can change
The 30-day China exemption is current, but always confirm on ICA before you travel.
- We’re not the government
This is a plain-English guide; ica.gov.sg is the official, final word on entry.
- Only ordinary passports
The visa-free rule is for ordinary Chinese passports; other travel documents may differ.
Grounded in ICA, Singapore Customs and MFA sources on 2026-08-07. Confirm current rules at ica.gov.sg before you fly.