I’ve finalized many of the plans for our upcoming trip to Southeast Asia. This included finding out how to get an e-visa to Vietnam and how to upgrade our stay at the Park Hyatt.
However, an additional question arose when I was checking our flight home on Singapore Airlines. I booked a flight from Siem Reap to Singapore using Aeroplan points and a flight the next day to the US using KrisFlyer Miles.
We’re planning to spend our layover exploring Changi Airport since Sharon’s been writing about it for years and wants to see what’s the big deal about an airport.
That’s when I realized we’d be entering Singapore and not simply being transit passengers, as we would be during our connection between LAX-SIN-SGN.
My research is relevant for those who have valid US Passports, as we do. Anyway, according to the US State Department, we should be OK.
- PASSPORT VALIDITY: 6 months.
- BLANK PASSPORT PAGES: 2 page requirement for entry stamp.
- TOURIST VISA REQUIRED: Not required for stays under 90 days.
However, checking the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority website, it’s not as clear-cut to enter.
It looks like we do not need a visa to enter the country. However, there are the following requirements:
To enter Singapore, travellers must meet the following immigration requirements:
i) Passport Validity
Have minimum 6-month passport validity if you are not a Singapore passport holder
ii) Visa
Short term travellers holding a passport or travel document from a visa-required country/region must apply for a Visa
Visa-required travellers can use the Visa-Free Transit Facility for stay of less than 96 hours in Singapore, if eligible
iii) SG Arrival Card (SGAC)
All travellers must fill in the SGAC declaration up to 3 days before arrival
Only Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass Holders entering via land checkpoints do not need to fill in the SGAC
iv) Security and Immigration Processes on Arrival
Ensure that you do not bring prohibited items into Singapore
Familiarise yourself with immigration/customs clearance procedures, including whether you are eligible for automated clearance
Short-Term travellers should have sufficient cash and proof of onward travel (tickets, visas), and ensure that you do not stay beyond your visit pass validity. You may retrieve your e-Pass after arrival using the e-Pass Enquiry Portal or check your visit pass validity using the visit pass validity tool.
Visitors who wish to stay beyond the period of stay granted can apply for a visit pass extension online using the e-Service. Applications are subject to approval.
Travellers on short-term visit pass are also not permitted to engage in any business, professional or paid employment activities when in Singapore. Overstaying is also a punishable offence in Singapore.
Our passports have more than 6 months of validity, and we have onward tickets home to the USA. We’ll have enough money for our stay, so the only requirement is to fill out the SG Arrival Card up to 3 days before arrival.
So while we don’t need a visa to enter Singapore, that doesn’t mean we don’t have any work to do before our trip. Filling our a free, online web form before our trip will prevent us from having unnecessary delays at the border when we enter Singapore.
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary, or put ads on our site? Click here for more info.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
2 comments
All visitors need to fill out an online entry form before going through immigration. You can submit it a few days in advance as long as you know your arrival flight number. There are many questions to answer and several drop down boxes that require selection. It is much much easier to fill this out on a computer with a full sized screen and keyboard than on a mobile phone standing in the airport.
Not to worry, if the online arrival card is not filled in beforehand, there is a table by the side wall by the checkpoint where there are computers. When I saw it twice, there was no line to use the computers. After entering the information, one may go directly to the electronic gates or the manned immigration gates. There is also a person to direct those who have questions. They said that you can fill out the forms and go to the checkpoint immediately.
If one is visiting India and transits Singapore on the way back to North America (or elsewhere) know that Indian airports often do not have wifi available if you do not have an Indian mobile number. Not to worry, you can fill out the Singapore arrival card at the hotel before you leave, use data by roaming, or wait until you arrive in Singapore.