100+ Visa-Free Countries
US, UK, EU, Australia, China and more — no visa needed, just your passport.
SG Arrival Card
Mandatory for all visitors. Free, takes 2 minutes. Submit online before you fly.
Fast Immigration
Automated lanes for most nationalities. Usually under 15 minutes to clear.
Do You Need a Visa for Singapore?
Singapore grants visa-free access to passport holders from around 100 countries and territories. Many major nationalities, US, UK, EU, Australia, can enter without a visa. However, many others, including India, Russia, most of South Asia and the Middle East, require a valid visa before arrival.
✅ Visa-Free Entry (Selected Countries)
| Country | Entry | Stay Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | Visa-Free | 90 days |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Visa-Free | 90 days |
| 🇪🇺 All EU / EEA countries | Visa-Free | 90 days |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Visa-Free | 90 days |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Visa-Free | 90 days |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | Visa-Free | 90 days |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | Visa-Free | 90 days |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | Visa-Free | 90 days |
| 🇸🇬 ASEAN (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar) | Visa-Free | 14–30 days (varies) |
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR | Visa-Free | 90 days |
| 🇹🇼 Taiwan | Visa-Free | 30 days |
| 🇨🇳 China (PRC) | Visa-Free | 30 days (ordinary passport only, eff. 9 Feb 2024) |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | Visa-Free | 30 days |
❌ Visa Required (Selected Countries)
The following nationalities must obtain a visa before arrival. You cannot get a visa on arrival in Singapore.
| Country | Status | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 India | Visa Required | Apply through an ICA-authorised visa agent. Fee: INR 2,100 + agent fee ~INR 1,000. Processing: 3–5 working days. |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | Visa Required | Apply through authorised channels. |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Visa Required | Apply through authorised visa agent. |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | Visa Required | Apply through authorised visa agent. |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | Visa Required | Apply through authorised channels. |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | Visa Required | Apply through authorised channels. |
| 🇮🇷 Iran | Visa Required | Apply through authorised channels. |
| 🇮🇶 Iraq | Visa Required | Apply through authorised channels. |
| 🇵🇸 Jordan | Visa Required | Apply through authorised channels. |
| 🇱🇧 Lebanon | Visa Required | Apply through authorised channels. |
| 🇸🇾 Syria | Visa Required | Apply through authorised channels. |
| 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | Visa Required | Apply through authorised channels. |
| 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Visa Required | Apply through authorised channels. |
| 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan / Central Asia | Visa Required | Apply through authorised channels. |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia | Visa Required | Apply through authorised channels. |
Singapore Visa for Indian Passport Holders
Indian passport holders require a valid visa to enter Singapore. There is no visa on arrival. You must apply before you travel.
- Where to apply: Through an ICA-authorised visa agent in India (the Singapore Consulate does not accept direct applications). Find agents at ica.gov.sg or the Singapore Consulate-General Mumbai
- Fee: INR 2,100 (visa fee) + ~INR 1,000 (agent service fee) — both non-refundable
- Processing time: 3–5 working days (excluding weekends and public holidays)
- Stay allowed: Usually 30 days single entry or multi-entry for frequent travellers
- Documents required: Valid passport (6+ months validity), passport photos, proof of accommodation, return flight ticket, bank statement, employment letter/proof of funds
SG Arrival Card: Mandatory for ALL Visitors
Regardless of whether you need a visa or not, every international visitor must submit an SG Arrival Card (SGAC) before arriving in Singapore. This is the digital replacement for the old paper disembarkation card.
- Where: eservices.ica.gov.sg or the MyICA mobile app
- Cost: Always FREE. Any website charging money for SGAC is a scam middleman.
- When: Submit within 3 days before your arrival date
- What you get: A confirmation email — screenshot it, nothing to print
- Transiting only (airside): You do NOT need to submit an SGAC if you're transiting and not entering Singapore
How to Apply for a Singapore Visa
| Visa Type | Stay | Processing | Fee (SGD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Entry Tourist | Up to 30 days | 3–5 working days | S$30 |
| Multiple Entry (5 yrs) | Up to 30 days per visit | 3–5 working days | S$60 |
| Transit Visa | Short transit | 3–5 working days | S$20 |
Official application portal: eservices.ica.gov.sg, or through an authorised agent for nationalities that cannot apply directly.
Customs: What You Can & Cannot Bring
| Item | Allowance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spirits | 1 litre | Must be 18+, not arriving from Malaysia, away 48+ hrs |
| Wine / Port | 1 litre | Same conditions |
| Beer / Cider | 1 litre | Same conditions. Max 3L total alcohol. |
| Tobacco / Cigarettes | ZERO | All tobacco is dutiable — no duty-free allowance since 2014 |
| Personal goods/souvenirs | S$500 (if away 48+ hrs) | S$100 if away under 48 hours |
| Medicines | 3-month personal supply | Bring prescription for controlled substances |
Strictly Prohibited — Do Not Bring
For the full official list, see Singapore Customs: Controlled & Prohibited Goods →
| Item | Penalty |
|---|---|
| 🚫 Recreational drugs (any quantity) | Mandatory death penalty for trafficking above certain weights. Imprisonment/caning for possession. |
| 🚫 Vaping devices / e-cigarettes | Fine up to S$2,000 for possession or import — enforced at customs |
| 🚫 Firecrackers / fireworks | Prohibited — serious penalties |
| 🚫 Pornographic material | Seized and potential prosecution |
| 🚫 Endangered species products (ivory, rhino horn) | CITES violation — serious criminal penalties |
| 🚫 Pirated / counterfeit goods | Seized, possible prosecution |
| ⚠️ Chewing gum | Banned for sale; personal supply for own consumption is tolerated but cannot be given/sold |
FAQ
Apply through an ICA-authorised visa agent (not the consulate directly). The process takes 3–5 working days. To avoid delays: submit a complete application with all supporting documents (bank statements, hotel booking, return flight, employment letter), apply at least 2 weeks before travel. There is no expedited processing option, plan ahead. Contact the Singapore Consulate-General in Mumbai or Chennai for the authorised agent list in your city.
No. Since 9 February 2024, Chinese ordinary passport holders can enter Singapore visa-free for up to 30 days. Singapore and China implemented a mutual 30-day visa-free arrangement on that date. This applies to ordinary passports only, holders of diplomatic or service passports should check separately. Always verify the current status at ica.gov.sg before travelling.
Technically, Singapore immigration may ask to see an onward or return ticket at the border. In practice, this is rarely asked of Western passport holders, but it is within the immigration officer's discretion to require it. If you're a long-term traveller without a fixed return date, it's advisable to have a printout of an onward booking (even a cheap bus to Malaysia) or a flexible airline ticket. Onward Ticket services (which rent temporary bookings) are used by some travellers, though this is a grey area.
Yes, each person, including infants and children, needs a separate SG Arrival Card submission. If your child's nationality requires a visa, they need a separate visa in their own passport. Children travelling on a parent's passport (some countries allow this) should check with the Singapore embassy in their country, as this can complicate immigration processing.
Previous overstays in Singapore are recorded and can result in you being denied entry on future visits, or requiring you to obtain a visa even if your nationality is normally visa-free. The severity depends on the length of the overstay. If you overstayed previously, check with the Singapore embassy before booking flights. There is no general amnesty for past overstays.