Singapore’s SG Arrival Card (SGAC) is a free online form most arriving travellers must submit before they land.
Here’s who needs it, when to file it, and how to do it free on ICA’s official channels.
What Is the SG Arrival Card
The SG Arrival Card (SGAC) is an online declaration you make to Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) before arriving. It replaced the old paper disembarkation/embarkation card.
It bundles two things: your arrival details and an electronic health declaration for disease control. Foreign visitors also confirm their trip and accommodation information.
The SGAC is not a visa. If your nationality needs a visa to enter Singapore, you still apply for that separately. The card also doesn’t guarantee entry — that decision rests with the officer at the checkpoint.
Who Needs to Submit It
The rule is broad: all travellers must submit the SGAC before arriving, with a few clear exceptions. This includes Singapore citizens, Permanent Residents, and pass holders returning by air or sea.
| Traveller | SGAC needed? |
|---|---|
| Foreign visitors (tourists, business, family) | Yes |
| Citizens, PRs and pass holders arriving by air or sea | Yes |
| Residents entering by land at Woodlands & Tuas Checkpoints | No |
| Transit passengers staying airside (no immigration clearance) | No |
The transit line matters: if you stay airside at Changi and never clear immigration, you skip the card. But the moment you clear immigration for a city stopover — even briefly — you must submit it.
When to Submit
You can file the SGAC within three days before arrival, counting the arrival day itself. So if you land on 30 June, the earliest you can submit is 28 June.
Submit too early and the system won’t accept it — you’d have to do it again inside the window. File it once your travel and accommodation details are confirmed, then you’re set.
How to Submit It: Official Channels
There are exactly two official, free channels. Use one of these and nothing else.
- SGAC e-Service — the web form on the ICA website.
- MyICA mobile app — free on the Apple App Store and Google Play. It can scan your passport bio page and save your profile to auto-fill future trips.
For repeat visitors, the app’s saved profile makes each subsequent submission much faster.
Required Documents
Before you start, gather the following so the form goes through in one sitting:
- Passport — details must match exactly; the app can scan the bio page.
- A working email — your confirmation lands here.
- A mobile number ICA can reach you on.
- Travel and accommodation details — flight and where you’re staying.
- Health declaration — answered honestly for disease-control screening.
If your health status changes after submitting, use the Update SGAC function rather than filing a fresh card.
Mistakes That Cost Travellers
Two errors trip people up most often, and both are avoidable.
Paying a third-party site. The SGAC is free. ICA states it does not endorse commercial services that charge a fee to submit it. Look-alike sites in search results often charge for a free government form.
Skipping it entirely. Travellers who fail to submit the SGAC may be denied entry. Making a false health declaration is a separate offence — it can be prosecuted under Singapore’s Infectious Diseases Act.
Where Singapore Sits in the Region
Singapore’s card is part of a wider shift to digital arrival declarations across Asia. If your trip spans more than one country, you’ll likely file a separate form for each.
- Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
- Vietnam Digital Arrival Card
- India e-Arrival Card
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SG Arrival Card the same as a visa?
No. The SGAC is an arrival and health declaration, not a visa. If your nationality requires a visa for Singapore, you apply for it separately, and the card does not guarantee entry.
Do transit passengers need to submit it?
Only if you clear immigration. If you stay airside at Changi for a connection and never pass through immigration, you don’t need the SGAC. If you exit for a city stopover, you do.
How much does the SGAC cost?
Nothing. It’s free through the ICA e-Service or the MyICA app. Any website charging a fee is a third-party service ICA does not endorse.
Do returning Singapore residents need to file it?
Yes, if arriving by air or sea. Residents are only exempt when entering by land through the Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints.
Sources
- ICA — SG Arrival Card (SGAC) with Electronic Health Declaration
- ICA — Entering Singapore
- ICA — Public Advisory on the Submission of SGAC
- ICA — Reminder to All Travellers to Submit SGAC
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
