The SG Arrival Card (SGAC) is free to submit through official channels, yet Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) still warns travellers to avoid websites that charge for filing it. The body of ICA’s advisory shows an update date of 15 September 2026 (the top of the page shows 30 October 2026), and an annex lists 63 websites to avoid, noting that this is only some of them. This is a consumer warning, not a new rule: it has no effective date, its original publication date is not shown, and the SGAC did not become free on that day. This guide explains who has to file, when to file and how to complete the declaration through the official portal.
The short answer: every traveller must submit the SGAC within 3 days before arrival (including the day of arrival), except transit travellers who do not go through immigration clearance, and Singapore residents and long-term pass holders entering through the Woodlands and Tuas land checkpoints. The official website and the MyICA app are both free, so stop if you reach a payment page. The SGAC is not a visa, and a successful submission does not mean you are granted entry.
This guide answers:
- Who has to file? How do visitors from Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China and Malaysia, and Singapore residents, each work it out?
- What is the earliest you can file, and what do you need to prepare?
- How do families with children, transit at Changi Airport and land entry from Malaysia work?
- What if you made a mistake, changed dates or received no confirmation email? How do you tell fake sites and paid agents apart?
Key Points
- Who should pay attention: visitors travelling to Singapore for tourism, business or property viewing, including from Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China and Malaysia; people who enter and leave on Singapore passes; and anyone filing on behalf of family members or companions.
- Filing window: within 3 days before arrival, including the day of arrival. For example, if you arrive on 30 June, you can submit from 28 June.
- Fee: submission through ICA’s official channels is free.
- New interface: from 26 August 2026, ICA’s website opened the new SGAC, with 19 languages and passport scanning to bring in your details. This is the date it became available; the filing obligation itself did not change.
- Every trip needs a record: one individual submission can include up to 3 trips, and one group submission covers up to 10 people. The two serve different purposes.
- Land vehicles: travellers who must file and who enter in a foreign-registered vehicle must enter the vehicle number, and that vehicle must hold a valid Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP).
- How long you can stay: this is shown by the e-Pass (electronic entry pass) you receive after immigration clearance. An SGAC confirmation is not a grant of stay.
Do You Need to File? It Depends on Your Status and How You Enter
Almost every traveller must file, and whether you are exempt depends on your status and on whether the trip passes through Singapore immigration clearance. ICA lists only two exempt situations: transit or transfer travellers who do not go through immigration clearance, and residents entering through the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. The exemption list has no separate items by passport, nationality or visa-free status.
| Your status | Entry by air or sea | Entry via Woodlands or Tuas checkpoints | Portal entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign visitor (for example holding a Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China or Malaysian passport, visiting for tourism or business) | Must submit | Must submit | I am a Visitor |
| Arriving with an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter | Must submit | Must submit | I am a Visitor |
| Singapore citizen or permanent resident | Must submit a health declaration | Exempt | I am a Resident |
| Long-term pass holder (Student’s Pass, Dependant’s Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass, Work Pass) | Must submit a health declaration | Exempt | I am a Resident |
Three points in this table are easy to misread:
- Visa-free does not mean filing-free. The SGAC is not a visa. Whether your passport needs a visa and how long you may stay are separate questions, answered by ICA’s visa rules and the e-Pass issued at entry.
- The land exemption is tied to resident status. Foreign visitors entering by bus or train from Malaysia must still submit the SGAC.
- There is no resident exemption by air or sea. Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders returning by plane or ship must still submit the electronic health declaration.
When to File and What to Prepare
File within 3 days before arrival, and have your passport, contact, trip and health details ready.
How Early Can You File? Is Arrival Day Still in Time?
You can submit from two days before your arrival date, and the day of arrival is also within the window. ICA’s rule is within 3 days before arrival, including the day of arrival, so someone arriving on 30 June can submit from 28 June.
The arrival date here means the date you expect to arrive in or enter Singapore. If the date changes, see “What If You Made a Mistake or Did Not File?” below.
What Do You Need to Have Ready?
You need your passport, personal, contact, trip, transport and health details. At the time of checking, the foreign visitor manual form showed an estimated completion time of 5 to 7 minutes. That is the time to fill it in, not a processing deadline. Keep the following to hand:
| Category | What the screen asks for |
|---|---|
| Passport | Full name as shown in the passport, passport number, passport expiry date, sex |
| Personal | Date of birth, nationality, country or place of birth, place of residence |
| Contact | A valid email address, mobile number (with country code) |
| Trip | Arrival date, last city or port before arriving in Singapore, purpose of travel, date of leaving Singapore, next destination after leaving |
| Transport and accommodation | Flight details, Singapore address; for land entry, also the vehicle number |
| Past records | Whether you have entered Singapore on a passport under a different name |
| Health | At the time of checking, whether you currently have fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, vomiting or dizziness |
Pay particular attention to the email address. The confirmation email and, after entry, your e-Pass are both sent to this address, so use an inbox that you or the person filing for you can access. For people without an email address, ICA recommends getting one before submitting.
The accommodation and transport options change with your itinerary, so follow the screen as it appears when you file.
Web Portal or MyICA App?
Both are official channels; just pick one.
| Comparison | SGAC official web portal | MyICA app |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free to download |
| Confirmation | A PDF can be downloaded after submission | View the record and DE number in the app |
| Changing details | “Update Your Singapore Arrival Card” | Choose “Edit” on the trip record, make the change and press “Submit” |
| Best for | You do not want to install an app, or you want a PDF copy | You visit Singapore often and can use the saved personal details feature to fill in your information |
The App Store version history for MyICA lists a major update for the new SGAC, so Zagdim recommends updating to the latest version before use. The web portal’s language menu includes Simplified Chinese.
ICA’s announcement of the new version explains that you submit only once, whether you use the old or the new version.
Steps: Submit Once Through the Official Portal
Submitting once through the official portal or the MyICA app takes eight steps.
- Confirm that the trip falls within 3 days before arrival, including the day of arrival.
- Open the official SGAC portal at https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/arrivalcard/sgac , or use the MyICA app.
- Select your status: foreign visitors and IPA letter holders choose “I am a Visitor”; residents choose “I am a Resident”.
- Select how to fill in: visitors can choose “Autofill with Passport/Visa” or “Fill in Manually”. Residents can choose “Retrieve MyInfo with Singpass” or “Fill in Manually”.
- Complete “Traveller Details”, “Visit Details” and “Review” in order.
- If companions are filing together, use group submission to add the other travellers.
- After submitting, check your inbox for the confirmation email. If you used the web portal, also download the PDF.
- Complete immigration clearance on arrival, then check your email for the e-Pass.
What Is the Difference Between the Confirmation, the DE Number and the e-Pass?
They serve different purposes and you get them at different times.
| Item | When you get it | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| SGAC confirmation | After a successful submission | Proves you have completed the declaration and shows its content |
| DE number | Found in the confirmation, the PDF or MyICA | Used by foreign visitors to look up their e-Pass |
| e-Pass | After you complete arrival immigration clearance | Shows your permitted stay and the last date you may remain |
What Do You Show at the Border?
Zagdim recommends carrying your passport and keeping the confirmation on your phone. ICA’s SGAC main page says that after you submit, you only need to present your travel document at a manual counter; another ICA answer mentions showing the confirmation on your phone, or a printout, to the officer. Having both ready means you do not have to worry about which one is asked for on the spot.
Can First-Time Visitors Use the Automated Lanes?
Yes. ICA says the automated lanes in the passenger halls are open to all travellers, including first-time foreign visitors, with no prior registration. A few points to note:
- Age: the lanes process travellers aged 6 and above. If you are travelling with a child under 6, use the Special Assistance Lanes (SAL).
- Families: the SAL can be used by wheelchair users and by family groups of up to 4 people clearing together.
- Contact lenses: do not wear coloured or patterned contact lenses.
- Passport: carry your passport even when using biometric clearance, in case an ICA officer needs to inspect it.
- QR code for land checkpoints: this is a separate clearance tool generated by MyICA and can be used offline. If you use a passport that has never entered Singapore before, you must first clear with the passport, and only later trips can use the QR code. The QR code does not replace the SGAC.
Fees and Validity
Submission through ICA’s official channels is free. If you reach a page that asks for payment, first check whether you are still on the official portal.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Fee | The SGAC e-Service and MyICA are both free |
| Filing window | Within 3 days before arrival, including the day of arrival |
| One individual submission | Up to 3 trips, for multiple trips within the 3-day window |
| One group submission | Up to 10 people, for the same trip |
| Validity of the record | Expires after the arrival date, or after the trip is completed, whichever is earlier |
| Next visit | Travellers who need to file must have an SGAC for every trip |
The validity of the SGAC record and how long you may stay in Singapore are two different things. Your permitted stay and the last date you may remain are shown on the e-Pass.
Families, Children, Transit and Other Common Situations
Every traveller who must file needs a submission, and the situations below cover the cases people ask about most.
Can You Submit for Family Members or Children?
You can submit for other people, but the information must be true and correct. For a family travelling together there are two approaches: submit separately for each person, or have one person handle everyone with a group submission, up to 10 people per submission.
A group submission copies the first traveller’s trip details to the other members. If a member’s trip is different, untick “Same as Lead Traveller” and edit it. Group submission is only for one trip taken together; it cannot be used to declare multiple trips for the same group.
ICA’s rule says “all travellers”, the exempt situations it lists have no age item, and ICA’s documents make no separate provision for infants and young children, so families should not decide on their own that a child is exempt. For how to fill in for a child, confirm with ICA before you leave.
When filing for someone else, mind the inbox. The e-Pass is sent to the email address declared, so if someone files on another person’s behalf, they must make sure that person can receive it.
Do You Need to File When Transiting Changi Airport?
It depends on whether you pass through immigration clearance, not on whether you leave the plane.
| Transit situation | Must you file? |
|---|---|
| Stay in the transit area, no immigration clearance, go straight to the next destination | No |
| Enter first to collect baggage, then check in again | Yes |
| Enter first to collect a boarding pass, then check in again | Yes |
| Want to enter the city | Yes |
If you are not sure whether your ticket will require you to clear immigration, Zagdim recommends checking with the airline before you leave. ICA notes that several low-cost carriers require passengers to enter Singapore before collecting the next boarding pass in the departure hall.
Entering from Malaysia by Bus, Train, Car or on Foot
Travellers who must submit the SGAC fill in the vehicle number field according to how they enter:
| How you enter | What to put in the vehicle number field |
|---|---|
| Bus, vehicle number known | The actual vehicle number |
| Bus, no vehicle number yet | Enter “BUS”, or wait until the day of arrival when you have the number before submitting |
| Train, no train number yet | Enter “TRAIN”, or wait until the day of arrival when you have the number before submitting |
| On foot | Select “BUS” as the mode of travel and enter “NA” in the vehicle number field |
| Foreign-registered vehicle (driver or passenger) | The correct vehicle number; the vehicle must hold a valid VEP |
If you entered BUS or TRAIN first, you can update the declaration once you have the number.
The requirement for foreign-registered vehicles applies to passengers too, so if you ride in a friend’s car, make sure the vehicle number is correct. If you switch vehicles at short notice, ICA asks you to resubmit with the correct vehicle number before travelling to Singapore. For VEP matters, see the Land Transport Authority (LTA) OneMotoring website.
The SGAC vehicle number requirement does not apply to Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders entering by land.
What If You Cannot Find Your Airline?
Under “Mode of travel (Details)”, choose “PRIVATE/CARGO AIRLINE/OTHERS”, then enter the flight details under “Carrier Name/Flight number”.
Several Trips in a Short Period
One individual submission can include up to 3 trips, but they must fall within the 3-day filing window. A group submission cannot be used this way. For trips outside that range, submit when the filing window for that trip opens.
What If You Made a Mistake or Did Not File?
What to do depends on which situation you are in, as the table shows.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Record has not expired, details have changed | On the web, use “Update Your Singapore Arrival Card” and have the reference number from your confirmation message and your passport details ready; in MyICA, choose “Edit” on the trip record, then press “Submit” after changing |
| You want to submit a new one | You can: the new submission replaces the earlier one, and you do not need to cancel the old one |
| Your health status changes | You must declare the change using the update function |
| You switch to a different vehicle | Submit a new declaration with the correct vehicle number before travelling to Singapore |
| Trip cancelled | You do not need to withdraw or void it |
| A new trip is planned after cancelling | Submit a new SGAC |
| Deleting a record in MyICA | This does not withdraw a declaration already submitted to ICA |
If you entered something like your passport number or name incorrectly, Zagdim recommends first opening the update page to see whether the field can be edited. If the screen does not allow changes, check with ICA whether you should resubmit, and do so before you travel.
You Realize You Did Not File After Landing
You must complete the submission after arrival before you can continue with immigration clearance, which lengthens your clearance time. Zagdim recommends asking the airline before you leave whether it checks the SGAC before boarding.
Is the Paper Arrival Card Still Used?
No. ICA stopped accepting paper DE cards from 27 March 2020.
No Confirmation Email or e-Pass
For the confirmation email, check your spam folder first. If you submitted on the web, look at the PDF you downloaded; if you used the app, you can see the DE number inside MyICA.
If you have not received your e-Pass after entry, go to the e-Pass lookup page and enter your DE number, or the email address you used for the declaration. If you submitted several times, use the email address from the latest declaration.
Can You Fill in the Declaration Carelessly?
No. A traveller who makes a false health declaration may be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases Act. Before submitting, check that your health status and all your details are filled in truthfully.
How to Tell Fake Websites and Paid Agents Apart
If you are asked to pay, you are not on the official portal. ICA says some people thought they were using the official service but were charged a processing fee after submitting, for a declaration that is free through official channels.
ICA mentions two kinds of risk, which call for different handling:
| Type | Features | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Paid agent or misleading site | Name or appearance suggests a government link; submits the SGAC for you and charges a fee | You overpay; ICA does not support or endorse them and has no affiliation with them |
| Spoof site | Looks similar to the ICA website or e-services | May aim to steal personal data |
To tell them apart, follow these steps:
- Enter through an official link. Use the ICA website or the official SGAC portal in this guide, not the first link in a search result.
- Check the address. ICA says that the addresses of its official websites and e-services contain “.ica.gov.sg”. ICA does not describe other ways to tell; Zagdim recommends looking at the full domain and not trusting a page just because it shows an ICA logo or HTTPS.
- Look at the payment page. Official submission is free; if a page shows a processing fee or any other charge, close it.
- Compare with the annex. ICA’s paid-agent advisory lists websites to avoid, and many of the names contain words such as singapore or arrival card. The annex is not a complete list, and not appearing on it does not mean a site can be trusted.
If you have already entered details on a non-official site and are not sure the official declaration is complete, Zagdim recommends submitting again at the official portal. ICA’s FAQ explains that when the same person resubmits through official channels, the new declaration replaces the earlier one. ICA’s documents do not say whether data entered on an unofficial site reaches ICA, so this step is Zagdim’s recommendation, not an ICA rule. If you find a spoof site, you can report it to the Singapore Police through the channels in ICA’s fake website advisory.
FAQ
Does the Singapore arrival card cost money?
Submission through the official SGAC web portal or the MyICA app is free. Those who charge you are unofficial commercial sites; ICA does not support or endorse such services.
How early can I file the SG Arrival Card?
Within 3 days before arrival, including the day of arrival. For example, if you arrive on 30 June, you can submit from 28 June.
Do I still need to file the SGAC if I enter visa-free?
Yes. The SGAC is not a visa, and visa-free entry is not among the exempt situations ICA lists.
Do I need to file if I only transit at Changi Airport?
Not if you do not go through immigration clearance. If you enter to collect baggage or a boarding pass and then check in again, or want to enter the city, you must file.
Do I need to file if I enter from Malaysia by land?
Foreign visitors do. Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders entering via the Woodlands or Tuas checkpoints are exempt.
Do children need to file too?
Yes, on the face of ICA’s rule: it says “all travellers”, the exempt situations have no age item, and ICA has not separately addressed infants and young children. ICA allows submission on behalf of others and also offers group submission, so parents can use either. For how to fill in for a child, confirm with ICA before you leave.
Does a successful submission mean I can enter?
No. Entry is decided at immigration clearance, and your permitted stay is shown by the e-Pass you receive after clearance.
Important Notice
This article is a general information summary and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. It draws on the website of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the SGAC e-Service and ICA’s official FAQs, checked on 31 October 2026. Filing rules, form fields, the scope of exemptions and the official portal can change, so rely on ICA’s latest announcements and the screen at the time you submit. Whether you need a visa and how long you may stay are decided by ICA case by case.
Have a question about this guide? Leave a comment below, or ask Zagdim directly.
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Sources
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- ICA: Public Advisory on the Submission of SG Arrival Card (SGAC), last updated 15 September 2026 – https://www.ica.gov.sg/about-ica/news-and-publications/public-advisories/public-advisory-on-the-submission-of-sg-arrival-card-%28sgac%29
- ICA: Advisory on Fake or Misleading Websites – https://www.ica.gov.sg/about-ica/news-and-publications/public-advisories/advisory-on-fake-or-misleading-websites
- ICA: Enhancements to the Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) (official Facebook announcement) – https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1395596612761454&set=a.223816643272796
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- ICA: Transit through Singapore – https://www.ica.gov.sg/information-and-e-services/entry-and-departure/entering-singapore/transit-through-singapore
- ICA: Automated Lanes at the Passenger Halls – https://www.ica.gov.sg/information-and-e-services/entry-and-departure/immigration-and-clearance/automated-lanes-at-the-passenger-halls
- ICA: QR Code for Immigration Clearance at Land Checkpoints – https://www.ica.gov.sg/information-and-e-services/entry-and-departure/travel-by-road/qr-code-for-immigration-clearance-at-land-checkpoints
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- Apple App Store: MyICA Mobile version history – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/myica-mobile/id1584952674
- ICA AskGov: How do I submit the SG Arrival Card (SGAC)? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/clos83fv8019d5k0wm307cble
- ICA AskGov: Does the date of arrival to Singapore in the SG Arrival Card (SGAC) or entry date refers to date of embarkation from last city/port? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/cluuhsp9l001afxu700snp0f0
- ICA AskGov: What is the validity of the SG Arrival Card (SGAC)? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/clos83fv8019h5k0wufh7i2b8
- ICA AskGov: Are there issues if I did not submit the SG Arrival Card (SGAC) before arriving to Singapore? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/clos83fv6018p5k0wm8lb89d2
- ICA AskGov: Can I submit the SG Arrival Card if I do not have an email address? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/clos83fv701915k0wdwza306z
- ICA AskGov: Can I submit SG Arrival Card on behalf of someone? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/clos83fv7018x5k0woa9md83y
- ICA AskGov: What features does the SG Arrival Card have? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/clos83fv8019f5k0wj9top13o
- ICA AskGov: How can I update my information if there are changes to the submitted details on SG Arrival Card (SGAC)? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/clos83fv701975k0we6tx179x
- ICA AskGov: How do I cancel or delete my earlier SG Arrival Card (SGAC) if I submit a new SGAC? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/clos83fv801995k0wmiszar0x
- ICA AskGov: How do I cancel or withdraw the submitted SG Arrival Card (SGAC) if I have cancelled or rescheduled my trip due to change in plans? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/clqety23x007f3k36gk6udz6a
- ICA AskGov: How can I retrieve my submitted SGAC with health declaration if I did not print the acknowledgement? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/clqety23x007h3k360ho25s3a
- ICA AskGov: What should I input for “Vehicle Number” if I do not have the transport details before arrival or at arrival? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/clos83fv8019j5k0wz0kommkm
- ICA AskGov: Who needs to provide a foreign vehicle number in SG Arrival Card (SGAC)? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/cmufbfli800te4a01aiduirmy
- ICA AskGov: I am a passenger in a foreign vehicle. Do I still need to enter the vehicle number? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/cmug8n46s00tu4a01itkfm5k5
- ICA AskGov: I do not have a valid Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP). Can I still submit SG Arrival Card (SGAC)? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/cmufbgibj00iw5o011b8zf1m2
- ICA AskGov: Why am I required to enter my foreign vehicle number in SG Arrival Card (SGAC)? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/cmufbejdb00io5o01s6h3vqja
- ICA AskGov: What should I do if I am travelling in a different vehicle from the one declared? – https://ask.gov.sg/ica/questions/cmug8nkl100w35o019r4l53ra
