Visa & Immigration Guides

How to Apply for Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC)?

autohr img By Vipul Jain | 23 Aug, 2025

Singapore Arrival Card

For Indians, Singapore remains a popular travel destination for its scenic landscapes and vibrant culture. According to recent reports, millions of people travel to Singapore each year, reflecting a steady rise in tourism.

If you are also planning to visit this country, whether for vacation or work, understanding the entry requirements is vital. To visit Singapore, one of the most important things you need is the Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC). The Singapore government launched it to simplify the immigration process for Indian and foreign travelers visiting the country.

Want to know more about this card in detail? Read this blog and get your answers.

What is the Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC)?

It is an online form introduced by the Singapore Government to replace the old paper disembarkation/embarkation card that travelers had to fill out when entering or exiting the country. Through this change, the immigration process in Singapore has become much faster and more efficient.

However, you need to know that the arrival card and a visa are two different documents. Even after you fill out the SGAC form, you still need a Singapore visa to visit the country.

Note: The Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) is not a visa.

Who Needs to Submit the Singapore Arrival Card?

The Singapore Arrival Card is a mandatory electronic document that travelers must submit upon entering Singapore. Therefore, it is compulsory for everyone planning to visit Singapore to apply for this card. However, a few people are exempt from this requirement:

1. People Just Passing Through the Country:

If you are transiting through Singapore to catch another flight without leaving the airport, you do not need to apply for the card.

2. Residents Coming by Land: 

This category includes Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and individuals who study or work in the country. These individuals do not need the card if they are entering the country through the Tuas or Woodlands land borders.

Considering the above information, it is vital for Indian travelers visiting Singapore by sea or air to fill out this form online.

Singapore Arrival Card

When Do You Need to Submit the SGAC?

Travelers should submit the SGAC card within three days before visiting Singapore.
For example, if you are planning to enter Singapore on 14 August 2025, then submit this card anytime between 12 August 2025 to 14 August 2025.

Submitting the card within this timeline ensures quick processing and helps you avoid possible delays during inspection by immigration officials. You can submit the SGAC via the official SGAC e-Service.

How to Apply for a Singapore Arrival Card?

The SG Arrival Card application process is straightforward. Travelers can easily fill out this form online using their mobile devices or computers within a few minutes.

Here is how you can apply for a Singapore Arrival Card:

Step 1: Apply Online

Visit the official ICA website to apply for your SG card. Additionally, you can also download the MyICA app on your Android or iOS device for an easy application process.

Step 2: Select the Submission Type

Choose between an individual and a group submission based on your application. If you are traveling with your family, opt for group submission as it allows up to 10 people to submit the card together.

Step 3: Mention Your Details

Provide your complete name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, and passport expiry date.

Step 4: Provide Contact Information

Enter your contact number and a valid email address to receive confirmation and updates.

Step 5: Mention Your Travel Details

Include your arrival date (the date you enter Singapore), mode of travel (air, land, or sea), and the number of days you plan to stay in the country.

Step 6: Accommodation Details

Provide the name and address of your hotel where you will stay after entering Singapore. In case you are staying with a relative or friend, mention their name and home address.

Step 7: Health Declaration

Share your current health status and recent travel history, if applicable.

Step 8: Review and Submit

Before final submission, make sure all the information you have provided is accurate and complete.

Once you have successfully submitted your Singapore entry card application, you will receive a confirmation email on your mentioned email ID. For reference, it is advisable to keep a printed or digital copy of this email.

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Health Declaration: Things You Should Know

To get a Singapore Arrival Card, it is mandatory to fill out a health declaration form online. This is done to safeguard public health and control the spread of diseases in the country.
In this form, travelers need to mention details such as:

  • Recent travel to a place with infectious diseases
  • Any symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath

Make sure the information you mention in the health declaration form is accurate, as providing incorrect information is considered a serious offense and may lead to legal action after entering Singapore.

Note: Health declaration requirements may change depending on Singapore’s health and safety regulations. Always check the latest ICA updates before traveling.

What are the Processing Time and Fees of SGAC?

Having information about the SGAC processing time and fees is vital. It helps in avoiding delays, extra costs, and ensures that everything goes smoothly. For the latest information, always check the official ICA website.

  • Processing Time:
    You can fill out the SGAC online form within 10–15 minutes, and once you submit it, the processing is immediate. Within a few minutes, you will receive a confirmation email at your registered email ID.

  • Fees:
    There is no fee charged by the Singapore government for providing the SGAC arrival card. It is completely free for all travelers. However, ICA will not be responsible if an individual takes help from a third party to apply for the card and they charge a service fee for it.

Given the above information, the Singapore Arrival Card is a quick, free online form. For the latest details on the SG card, it is advisable to visit the ICA website and be cautious of any companies that charge fees for SGAC submission.

Validity of the Singapore Arrival Card

The Singapore Arrival Card is valid for a single entry into the country. According to ICA guidelines, the SGAC card must be submitted within three days before your arrival in Singapore.

Travelers should ensure that their arrival date matches their travel plan. Additionally, if there is any change in travel plans or health conditions, travelers must update their SGAC card before arrival.

Things to Expect After Arriving in Singapore

After entering Singapore, knowing what to expect makes things easier. Below are the general steps at the airport once you collect your bags:

  • Immigration Check
    Present your passport to the immigration officer. Through your online SGAC application, the officer already has your details, making the process faster.

  • Electronic Visit Pass
    After clearing immigration, you will receive your electronic visit pass (e-Pass) via email. It shows how long you are allowed to stay in Singapore.

  • Biometric Scan
    If you are visiting Singapore for the first time, you will be required to provide your biometric details, including fingerprints and facial recognition. Immigration officials will guide you through this process.

Final Thoughts

If you are planning to visit Singapore from India, you should know and follow the guidelines mentioned for the Singapore Arrival Card. This blog has covered all the key details about the SGAC card and how you can apply for it online.

Hopefully, after reading this, you have all the information you need. Remember, along with the SGAC card, you also need a Singapore visa to travel to the country.

If you are looking for someone to help you get your visa easily, without going through the lengthy process, Visament is here to assist you.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Singapore Arrival Card is an electronic pre-arrival declaration form required by the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) of Singapore. It is not a visa for the country but should be submitted before arrival.

The SGAC card is valid for a single entry into Singapore. For every trip to Singapore, a new submission of the card is required.

For the SGAC Card, you can apply online via the ICA website or the MyICA mobile app by providing your passport details, travel information, accommodation, and a health declaration.

No, the SGAC is not a visa and it does not replace it as well. If required, visitors must apply for a separate Singapore visa before submission.

Failure to submit your SGAC may cause delays or denial of entry into the country. So, ensure you submit it on time for a hassle-free arrival in Singapore.

Yes, all Indian passport holders visiting the country, regardless of their type of visa, need to submit an SG Arrival Card online before entering Singapore. It streamlines the immigration process of the country and ensures compliance with the entry regulations.

To update information on your Singapore arrival card (SGAC), you need to visit the official ICA website and choose the "update SGAC" option. Here, mention the changed information and resubmit the form online.

Yes, all travelers who are entering Singapore need to apply for a Singapore arrival card. However, it does not apply to people who are transferring or transiting through the country without seeking immigration clearance or residency, whether Singapore citizens, permanent residents, or long-term pass holders who are entering the country via land checkpoints.

No, you cannot download the SG arrival card, as the information you mentioned on the form is submitted online to ICA. However, once you submit the form, you receive a confirmation email that you can download or have a digital copy of it by your side.

To apply for an SG arrival card, you need to provide your personal information, such as your full name, passport details, date of birth, and validity of your passport. In addition, also mention your travel details such as expected time to stay in the country, flight details, accommodation proof, and travel itinerary along with a health declaration form.

You can submit your Health declaration certificate with the SGAC at the e-service or through the MyICA mobile app.

If there is a change in the health status, then you can update it through the "Update SGCA "feature on the SG Arrival card e-service. If you submitted a false health declaration, as an offense, you can be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases Act.

The electronic declaration is compulsory for every resident arriving via air or sea to safeguard against the various importing diseases and to protect the residents of Singapore. Applicants who submit a false health declaration certificate can be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases Act.

The electronic health declaration can be submitted by Travelers who enter Singapore, including Singapore citizens, Long-term pass holders, permanent residents, and foreign travelers. They all need to submit the health declaration as part of the SGAC submission.

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