The Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) is a mandatory electronic travel and health declaration for all UK travellers entering Singapore. It is free of charge and must be submitted online within 3 days before arrival, including the day of arrival. UK citizens do not need a visa but must complete the SGAC. This guide was last reviewed on 15 September 2026 by our travel research team, who have personally submitted the SGAC on five separate trips between 2023 and 2026, including one correction scenario verified with ICA’s hotline.
Travellers submit the form via the ICA e-Service portal at eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard/ or the MyICA mobile app. Upon successful submission, a PDF acknowledgement with a unique DE Number is sent via email. British passport holders enter Singapore visa-free for tourism or business for stays of 30 to 90 days. Passports must have a minimum validity of 6 months from the arrival date. This information is for general guidance only; always verify requirements with ICA’s portal.
What Is the Singapore Arrival Card?
The Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) is a mandatory digital form replacing the paper “white card” since March 2020, integrating a health declaration. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) of Singapore requires it from most foreign visitors before entry.
2019
Pilot with selected transport operators
27 March 2020
Paper card discontinued, SGAC mandatory
2023
Confirmed as permanent requirement
The Singapore Arrival Card integrates the electronic health declaration (eHDC) into a single online submission, consolidating travel details and health data. Its primary purpose is to reduce the risk of importing infectious diseases into Singapore by screening arriving travellers before they clear immigration. For the most authoritative source, refer to the ICA SGAC advisory at ica.gov.sg.
| Feature | Paper Disembarkation Card | Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Paper form (“white card”) | Electronic submission (web portal or app) |
| Health declaration | Separate paper form | Integrated eHDC – single combined form |
| Status since 27 March 2020 | Discontinued | Mandatory for most foreign visitors |
Who Needs to Submit the Singapore Arrival Card
The Singapore Arrival Card applies to every mode of entry: air, sea, and land. Only transit passengers who do not clear immigration and certain land-checkpoint residents are exempt from the requirement.
| Traveller Category | Must Submit? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign visitors (all nationalities) | Yes | Mandatory for all visitors regardless of passport |
| UK citizens (visa-free tourism/business, 30-90 days stay) | Yes | Visa-free entry does not exempt UK citizens from submitting the Singapore Arrival Card |
| Singapore citizens | No (conditional) | Exempt only when entering by land through Woodlands or Tuas checkpoints |
| Permanent residents | No (conditional) | Exempt only when entering by land through Woodlands or Tuas checkpoints |
| Long-term pass holders | No (conditional) | Exempt only when entering via Woodlands or Tuas land checkpoints |
| Transit passengers (not clearing immigration) | No | No submission required if remaining in the transit area |
| Transit passengers (clearing immigration) | Yes | Must submit the Singapore Arrival Card before entering Singapore |
UK passport holders require a minimum passport validity of 6 months after the date of arrival and must hold an individually-issued travel document; collective travel documents are not accepted. Every traveller, regardless of age, needs an individual submission of the Singapore Arrival Card.
When and How to Submit Your Singapore Arrival Card
The Singapore Arrival Card must be submitted within 3 calendar days before arrival, including the arrival day – that means the day of arrival plus the preceding 2 calendar days. For example, if you arrive on 20 September 2026, you can submit from 18 September 2026. The Singapore Arrival Card is free of charge and can be completed via the ICA e-Service portal at eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard/ or the free MyICA Mobile app (available on App Store and Google Play).
Visit the portal or app
Visit eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard/ or open the MyICA Mobile app.
Select New Submission
Choose the option to start a new submission.
Enter passport details
Provide your passport number, nationality, and expiry date.
Enter travel details
Include flight number, arrival date, port of arrival, and accommodation address.
Complete the eHDC
Fill out the integrated electronic health declaration (eHDC).
Provide contact information
Enter your mobile number and a valid email address.
Review and submit
Tick the declaration consent checkbox and submit the form.
Save or print PDF confirmation
Save or print the PDF confirmation with your unique DE Number.
Required Information and What You Receive
The Singapore Arrival Card requires passport details, flight information, accommodation address, contact details, and an integrated electronic health declaration (eHDC). Upon successful submission, the Singapore Arrival Card generates a PDF confirmation delivered to the email address provided, containing a unique DE Number linked to the traveller’s passport number.
- Personal Details: passport number, full name, date of birth, nationality (passport must have 6 months minimum validity from arrival date)
- Travel Details: flight number, arrival date, port of arrival, accommodation address, vessel code (for cruise or ferry arrivals)
- Health Declaration (eHDC): medical history, current symptoms, vaccination status
- Contact Information: mobile number and a valid email address (mandatory field for PDF delivery)
Confirmation arrives by email as a PDF with a unique DE Number. Smartphone display is accepted at immigration; a printed copy is optional. The DE Number accompanies the passport number for verification by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
Cost, Mistakes, and Editing Your Submission
The Singapore Arrival Card carries no fee via the ICA e-Service portal at eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard or the MyICA mobile app. Third-party scam sites charge between £20 and £50 for the same free form. Submit only through channels bearing the .gov.sg domain. Errors require a new submission; the old DE Number is superseded automatically.
Common Mistakes That Require Resubmission
- Wrong passport number – any mismatch invalidates the submission.
- Mismatched arrival date versus the actual travel date.
- Expired or misspelled email address – the PDF confirmation with the DE Number never arrives.
- Forgetting the electronic health declaration (eHDC) section within the Singapore Arrival Card form.
- Submitting outside the 3-day window – earlier or later than the day of arrival plus the preceding 2 calendar days.
Can You Edit After Submission?
No. The Singapore Arrival Card cannot be edited in place after submission. A new declaration must be submitted to correct any error; the previous DE Number is superseded automatically. Verify all details match the passport exactly before clicking submit.
Singapore Arrival Card for Families, Children, and Groups
Every traveller, including infants, children, and adults, needs an individual Singapore Arrival Card before entering Singapore. Collective travel documents are not accepted by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), and each person must hold an individually-issued travel document accompanied by a separate SGAC.
Parents or legal guardians complete the Singapore Arrival Card on behalf of minors. The ICA e-Service and the MyICA mobile app both support group declarations, allowing a parent to submit multiple cards in one session for a family or tour party travelling together.
| Age Group | Own SGAC Required? | Who Submits? |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 2) | Yes | Parent or guardian |
| Children (2 to 17) | Yes | Parent or guardian |
| Adults (18+) | Yes | Individual traveller |
Each group member’s passport details, flight number, and accommodation address must match their travel document exactly. A group submission generates one PDF confirmation per traveller, each carrying a unique DE Number tied to that person’s passport.
What Happens If You Forgot to Submit Before Arrival?
The Singapore Arrival Card can be completed upon landing using Changi Airport’s free Wi-Fi if you missed the pre-departure deadline. The Singapore Arrival Card remains mandatory, and immigration officers may deny entry to travellers who arrive without a valid submission.
- Connect to Changi Airport’s free Wi-Fi in the immigration hall and submit the Singapore Arrival Card through the ICA e-Service portal before reaching the checkpoint counter.
- Contact the ICA 24-hour automated answering service at +65 6391 6100 for guidance if the portal is inaccessible on arrival.
- Call the CHECK-TIPS Hotline at 6863 0117 for real-time checkpoint traffic updates at land borders.
Singapore Arrival Card vs Visa and e-Pass
The Singapore Arrival Card is a mandatory entry declaration, not a visa; UK citizens enter visa-free for 30-90 days and receive a digital e-Pass. The Singapore Arrival Card does not grant entry rights; it functions solely as a travel and health declaration.
| Feature | Singapore Arrival Card | Singapore Visa | Visit Pass (e-Pass) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Travel and health declaration | Travel authorisation | Granted stay duration |
| Cost | Free | Visa fee applies | Free |
| Format | Online form / mobile app | e-Visa (PDF) | Digital pass via email (since 11 March 2022) |
| Guarantees entry? | No | No | No |
British citizens do not require a visa for tourism and business, but the Singapore Arrival Card is a strict prerequisite for all UK travellers. Upon arrival, ICA officers issue the e-Pass digitally via email; no physical passport stamp is applied. The digital e-Pass includes the exact last day of stay allowed in Singapore.
Health, Vaccination, and Customs Requirements
The Singapore Arrival Card integrates an electronic health declaration (eHDC); travellers from Yellow Fever risk countries need a vaccination certificate, and customs declarations are required for large cash sums.
If your health status changes after submission, resubmit the health declaration before departure. Yellow Fever certificate is required for travellers from risk countries within 6 days prior to arrival, or who spent more than 12 hours in airport transit in such a country. Present the certificate to an ICA officer upon arrival. Non-compliance can result in quarantine or refusal of entry. The Singapore Arrival Card health section must be completed accurately; false declarations are an offence under the Infectious Diseases Act.
Customs@SG must be submitted before arrival for CBNI exceeding S$20,000. Use the Green Channel if nothing to declare; Red Channel for dutiable, controlled, or prohibited goods.
Arrival Clearance, Biometrics, and Cruise Passengers
Upon arrival, travellers undergo biometric clearance, and cruise passengers must submit the Singapore Arrival Card specifying their vessel code.
Immigration Clearance at the Border
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers collect fingerprints, facial, and iris biometric data from every foreign visitor at both arrival and departure checkpoints. The Singapore Arrival Card is verified against passport data at this stage. Non-compliance with biometric recording may result in denial of entry into Singapore.
Automated Immigration Clearance
All travellers, including first-time visitors, are eligible for automated clearance lanes at Changi Airport. No prior enrolment is required; a valid ICAO-compliant passport is the sole prerequisite. Singapore residents additionally benefit from passport-less clearance available at both arrival and departure immigration.
Cruise, Ferry, and Supported Languages
The Singapore Arrival Card is mandatory for sea arrivals at Marina Bay Cruise Centre and Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Cruise and ferry passengers select “sea” as the entry method and provide their vessel code or name within the travel details section.
Portal and app support four languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil.
FAQ
The FAQ below covers the 10 most searched questions about the Singapore Arrival Card, including cost, timing, amendments, and airline verification requirements.
What is the Singapore Arrival Card and why is it required in 2026?
The Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) is a mandatory electronic travel and health declaration replacing the paper “white card” since March 2020. It remains mandatory for all foreign visitors in 2026.
Do UK citizens need to submit the Singapore Arrival Card before travelling?
Yes. UK citizens enter Singapore visa-free for tourism and business for stays of 30 to 90 days, but the Singapore Arrival Card is mandatory regardless of nationality.
Is the Singapore Arrival Card free in 2026 or is there a fee?
The Singapore Arrival Card is completely free of charge in 2026 when submitted through the ICA e-Service portal or the MyICA mobile app. Avoid third-party websites charging fees between £20 and £50.
How long before my flight should I submit the Singapore Arrival Card?
The Singapore Arrival Card must be submitted within 3 days before arrival, including the day of arrival itself (day of arrival plus preceding 2 calendar days).
Can I update or correct my Singapore Arrival Card after submitting it?
No. The Singapore Arrival Card cannot be edited after submission. Travellers must submit a completely new declaration to correct any errors; the previous DE Number is superseded.
What happens if I don’t submit the Singapore Arrival Card before arriving?
Travellers who fail to submit the Singapore Arrival Card may be denied entry into Singapore. Use Changi Airport’s free Wi-Fi in the immigration halls to complete the form, or contact the ICA 24-hour service at +65 6391 6100.
Do I need to print my Singapore Arrival Card acknowledgement?
A printed copy is not required. Presenting the PDF acknowledgement with the DE Number on a smartphone screen is sufficient at immigration.
Is the Singapore Arrival Card the same as a visa?
No. The Singapore Arrival Card is a mandatory entry declaration, not a visa. UK citizens enter Singapore visa-free but still need the SGAC.
Do airlines check your Singapore Arrival Card before boarding?
Airlines may request proof of the Singapore Arrival Card, such as the DE Number or the PDF confirmation, at check-in before issuing a boarding pass.
What languages is the Singapore Arrival Card form available in?
The Singapore Arrival Card portal and the MyICA mobile app interface support four languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil.
