Singapore SGAC Arrival Card — What You Need Before Landing

Three Days Before You Fly

Singapore requires all foreign visitors to submit the SG Arrival Card (SGAC) online before entering. The key detail most first-time visitors miss: you can only submit it within 3 days of your arrival. Not a week before, not at the airport — exactly within the 72-hour window before your scheduled landing. The official portal is eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard. There is no app — only the website.

What the Form Covers

The SGAC is not a visa. It is a digital replacement for the old paper disembarkation/embarkation card. You will enter your passport details, flight information, accommodation address in Singapore, and a health declaration. The form takes about 5-7 minutes. After submission, you receive a confirmation email with a reference number — save it or screenshot the confirmation page. Immigration officers can look up your SGAC using your passport number.

Things Singapore Is Strict About

Singapore takes its border rules seriously. Cash over SGD 20,000 must be declared. E-cigarettes and vapes are completely illegal even for personal use — customs scans checked baggage for them. Duty-free alcohol allowance is 1 liter of spirits, 1 liter of wine, and 1 liter of beer. Exceeding without declaration results in fines.

Free, Fast, Forgettable

The SGAC is entirely free. ICA does not charge anything. If you land at Changi without having filled it out, staff will direct you to a self-service kiosk — it adds about 10 minutes. Not a disaster, but avoidable.