By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
Most visitors do not need a visa for Singapore. According to ICA, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, nationals of 34 countries do, including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria, Russia and Ukraine, along with holders of certain travel documents. Visas cannot be issued at the airport: apply before you fly, through a local contact, an authorised visa agent or a Singapore embassy. Everyone, visa or not, must file the free SG Arrival Card.
A Singapore visa is permission to travel here and ask to come in, not permission to stay. How long you may stay is decided at the checkpoint and written on the electronic visit pass, the e-Pass, that arrives by email. This page sets out who needs a visa, how to get one, and what happens at the border.
Singapore visa: quick facts
| Who needs a visa | Nationals of the 34 countries on ICA’s list, and holders of certain travel documents (below) |
| Where to apply | Through a local contact with Singpass or Corppass, an authorised visa agent, or a Singapore Overseas Mission |
| At the airport? | No. ICA does not accept visa applications at immigration counters |
| How long you can stay | Set by ICA at entry and shown on your e-Pass, not by the visa’s validity |
| Still required | A passport valid six months or more, and the free SG Arrival Card |
| In transit only | Some nationalities may use the Visa-Free Transit Facility; conditions apply |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Most visitors | No visa needed. File the SG Arrival Card and go. |
| If you need one | Apply early through an authorised agent or embassy; do not leave it to the last week. |
| The trap | Flying without a visa: since January 2026, airlines can be told not to board you. |
| The myth | The SG Arrival Card is not a visa. |
| Always | Check ICA’s own list for your passport before you book. |
Which nationalities need a visa?
ICA’s list, last updated on 25 June 2026, names these countries. If your passport is issued by one of them, you need a Singapore visa before you travel.
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| South Asia | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan |
| Middle East | Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen |
| North Africa | Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Mali, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan |
| Europe and the Caucasus | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine |
| Central Asia | Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |
| East Asia | Democratic People’s Republic of Korea |
You also need a visa if you travel on a refugee travel document, an alien’s passport, a Palestinian Authority passport, a temporary passport issued by the United Arab Emirates, a Hong Kong Document of Identity, a Macao Travel Permit or a PRC Travel Document. Lists change; check ICA’s page for your passport before you book.
How to apply
- Through a local contact. A Singapore citizen, permanent resident or company with Singpass or Corppass can apply for you online.
- Through an authorised visa agent. Singapore’s overseas missions appoint agents in many countries. This is the usual route for tourists without a local contact.
- At a Singapore Overseas Mission. Contact the nearest Singapore embassy, high commission or consulate for its procedure.
Apply well before you fly and keep the approval with your passport. Holding a visa does not guarantee entry: ICA officers still check your passport, funds and onward ticket at the checkpoint.
How long can you stay?
The length of your stay is decided by the ICA officer at entry and shown on the e-Pass sent to the email address you gave on your SG Arrival Card. It is not tied to how long your visa is valid. To stay longer, apply to ICA to extend your Short-Term Visit Pass before it runs out.
Transit without a visa
Nationals of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Georgia, India, Turkmenistan and Ukraine, and holders of some PRC, Hong Kong and Macao travel documents, may be able to use the Visa-Free Transit Facility for a short stay while in transit. Conditions apply, including onward travel; read ICA’s page before you plan on it. Travellers who stay airside at Changi, without clearing immigration, do not need a Singapore visa.
Singapore visa: FAQ
Do I need a visa to visit Singapore?
Only if your passport is issued by one of the 34 countries on ICA’s list, or you hold one of the travel documents it names. Everyone else can visit without one.
Do Indian citizens need a visa for Singapore?
Yes. India is on ICA’s list. Apply through an authorised visa agent, a local contact or a Singapore mission before you travel.
Can I get a Singapore visa on arrival?
No. ICA does not accept visa applications at immigration counters.
Is the SG Arrival Card a visa?
No. It is a free arrival and health declaration that every traveller files, with or without a visa.
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Singapore?
Ordinary Chinese passports are not on ICA’s list of visa-required countries, but PRC Travel Documents are. Check ICA’s page for your document.
Read next
This page belongs to Visiting Singapore, our guide for first-time visitors. Next, file your SG Arrival Card, and on a stopover, read the Singapore layover guide.
Sources checked 28 September 2026: ICA, Check if You Need an Entry Visa (list last updated 25 June 2026); ICA, No-Boarding Directives from 30 January 2026; ICA, Entering Singapore. Visa rules change; ICA’s page is the final word. This page is general information, not immigration advice. Last updated 28 September 2026.
