By The Escape desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
There are two forms to know. Singapore’s SG Arrival Card must be filed within three days before arrival, the arrival day included. Visitors file one however they come in. Singapore citizens, PRs and long-term pass holders file one when they return by air or sea, but not when they come back through the Woodlands or Tuas land checkpoints. Malaysia’s Digital Arrival Card, the MDAC, is required of most foreigners entering Malaysia, but Singapore citizens are exempt. Both forms are free.
Quick facts
- SG Arrival Card: file within three days before arrival, the arrival day included.
- Residents need it by air and sea, but not at the land checkpoints.
- Visitors need it however they arrive.
- Malaysia’s MDAC: Singapore citizens are exempt.
- Most other foreigners, including many Singapore PRs, must file the MDAC within three days before arrival.
- Both are free; never pay a website to file them.
Who files what?
| You are | SG Arrival Card, entering Singapore | MDAC, entering Malaysia |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore citizen | Yes by air or sea; no by land | No |
| Singapore PR | Yes by air or sea; no by land | Yes, unless your nationality or pass is on Malaysia’s exempt list |
| Long-term pass holder in Singapore | Yes by air or sea; no by land | Yes, unless exempt |
| Visitor | Yes, by any route | Yes for most nationalities |
| Airside transit at Changi | No, if you don’t clear immigration | Not applicable |
How does the SG Arrival Card work?
File it on ICA’s website or in the MyICA app, within three days before you arrive, counting the arrival day. It includes a health declaration; if your health or travel history changes before you land, you must update it. It takes residents under three minutes, and the app fills in their details from ICA’s records. Travellers who haven’t submitted one are asked to do it on the spot and then rejoin the immigration queue. A refreshed version, in more languages, went into early access on ICA’s website from 26 August 2026.
How does the MDAC work?
Travellers who need it fill it in on the Malaysian Immigration Department’s official website within three days before arrival. Singapore citizens are exempt at every entry point, not just in Johor, because so many cross almost daily. Also exempt are Malaysian PRs and long-term pass holders, diplomatic passport holders, and certain Brunei, Thai and Indonesian border-pass holders.
Watch out for fee-charging sites
Both forms are free. Commercial sites charge to submit them for you, and ICA warns travellers to use its own app or website instead. If a page asks you to pay, it isn’t the official one.
The WahLiao Verdict
Singaporeans have nothing to file going into Malaysia and one form to file when flying home: do it in the MyICA app before you leave for the airport. PRs and pass holders should check the MDAC before every Malaysia trip. Nobody should ever pay to file either form.
Questions people ask
Do I need an SG Arrival Card coming back from JB by bus?
Not if you’re a Singapore citizen, PR or long-term pass holder. Visitors do.
Is the SG Arrival Card a visa?
No. It doesn’t grant entry, and visitors who need a visa still need one.
Can I file it a week early?
No. The system accepts it only within three days before arrival.
What happens if I lie on the health declaration?
False declarations can be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases Act.
Sources: ICA, reminder to submit the SG Arrival Card; Zurich Kotak, summary of ICA’s rules (August 2026); Visas News on the refreshed SG Arrival Card; Wego on submission timing; Time Out Singapore on the MDAC exemption for Singaporeans; Noonsite on MDAC exemptions.
Read next: Changi Airport Departures · Renewing Your Singapore Passport · Back to The Escape
Visiting Singapore rather than living here? SG Arrival Card and Singapore Entry Requirements is the visitor’s guide: passports, visas, the No-Boarding Directive and what not to pack.
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