🕐 Last verified: March 2026 — No changes to SGAC rules

Singapore Arrival Card 2026: Latest Updates & New Rules

The Singapore Arrival Card is still required in 2026 — free, mandatory for all non-citizens, submitted online up to 72 hours before arrival. No new rules in 2026. Last major change: 2023.

Complete SGAC Guide Check Requirements
🕐 Last updated: March 2026 — Information verified against official ICA (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority) sources. No changes to the Singapore Arrival Card have been announced for 2026.

Is the Singapore Arrival Card Still Required in 2026?

Short answer: Yes — the SGAC is mandatory for all non-citizen travellers entering Singapore in 2026.

Singapore Changi Airport modern terminal 2026 — digital technology and passenger flow

YES — SGAC Is Required in 2026

All non-citizen travellers must submit the Singapore Arrival Card before entering Singapore. The requirement has not changed. Singapore citizens are the only travellers fully exempt.

  • Free of charge — submit at eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard
  • Submit up to 72 hours before arrival
  • Instant QR code confirmation by email
  • No new rules or changes in 2026

The Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) replaced the paper Disembarkation/Embarkation (D/E) card in 2020 and has been mandatory ever since. There are no plans to remove or modify the requirement. For a full breakdown by nationality, see our Singapore Arrival Card for Foreigners guide.

Who Needs the SGAC in 2026?

Traveller Type SGAC Required?
Foreign nationals (all nationalities) ✅ Yes
Singapore Permanent Residents (PR) ✅ Yes
Employment Pass (EP) holders ✅ Yes
Student Pass / Work Permit holders ✅ Yes
Transit passengers (clearing immigration) ✅ Yes
Transit passengers (airside only — not clearing immigration) ❌ No
Children (under 18) ✅ Yes — parent/guardian submits
Singapore citizens ❌ No — fully exempt

Transit note: If you remain airside at Changi Airport without clearing immigration, no SGAC is needed. If your transit requires clearing immigration (e.g. to collect baggage), the SGAC is mandatory.

What's New in 2026 — Changes & Updates

No new rules have been introduced to the Singapore Arrival Card in 2026. The last major change was in 2023.

📋 2026 Status: No new rules or changes have been introduced to the Singapore Arrival Card in 2026. The process, form fields, submission window, and requirements remain identical to 2023, 2024, and 2025. Travellers who submitted the SGAC in previous years will find the process completely unchanged.
📅 Last Major Change: 2023

ICA permanently removed all COVID-19 entry requirements and integrated the health declaration directly into the SGAC form.

🔒 Stable Since 2023

2024, 2025, and 2026 have seen no changes to the SGAC process, form, or requirements. The system is fully stable.

🔮 Future Changes

ICA has not announced any upcoming changes as of March 2026. Any future updates will appear on the official ICA website (ica.gov.sg).

COVID Requirements: Officially Removed (Since 2023)

Singapore removed all COVID-19 entry requirements in 2023 — none of these apply in 2026. Travellers no longer need to provide any COVID-related documentation to enter Singapore.

The following COVID-19 requirements have been permanently removed and are not required in 2026:

  • Vaccination proof — not required (vaccinated or unvaccinated, all travellers welcome)
  • Pre-departure COVID-19 test (PCR or ART) — not required
  • SHN (Stay-Home Notice) — abolished; no quarantine on arrival
  • TraceTogether app — discontinued; no longer needed
  • Separate health declaration form — the health declaration is now integrated directly into the Singapore Arrival Card

The health declaration component remains part of the SGAC form, but it is a standard declaration of current health status — not a COVID-specific requirement. For more details, see our Singapore Health Declaration guide.

What Has NOT Changed in 2026

The core Singapore Arrival Card rules have remained unchanged since the SGAC was introduced in 2020. Returning travellers can expect exactly the same process:

Free of charge — no fee to submit the SGAC
72-hour submission window — submit up to 3 days before arrival
Official ICA website — eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard (same URL)
Mandatory for all non-citizens — no exemptions added or removed
Instant QR code confirmation — received by email immediately after submission
MyICA app — still available as an alternative submission method (iOS + Android)
English only — the form is available in English only
Single-entry validity — the SGAC is valid for your declared arrival date only

Singapore Arrival Card Timeline: 2020–2026 Changelog

The Singapore Arrival Card has gone through 4 major milestones since 2020 — with no changes in 2024, 2025, or 2026.

Year Change / Event Status
2020 Paper Disembarkation/Embarkation (D/E) card replaced by digital Singapore Arrival Card ✅ Implemented
2020–2021 COVID-19 health requirements added (vaccination, SHN, TraceTogether) ✅ Implemented (now removed)
2022 Electronic SGAC fully rolled out across all entry points; MyICA app launched ✅ Implemented
2023 All COVID-19 entry requirements permanently removed; health declaration integrated into SGAC ✅ Implemented
2024 No changes — Stable
2025 No changes — Stable
2026 No changes — current status — Stable (Current)
📊 Summary: The Singapore Arrival Card has been stable since 2023. The 2020–2023 period saw the most significant changes — the introduction of the digital SGAC, the addition of COVID requirements during the pandemic, and their subsequent removal as Singapore fully reopened its borders. Since 2023, the SGAC process has remained consistent, and ICA has not announced any upcoming changes as of March 2026.

Singapore Entry Requirements 2026: Full Current Status

Singapore's entry requirements in 2026 are straightforward — submit the SGAC online (free, 72 hours before arrival), hold a valid passport, and have a valid visa if required for your nationality.

Requirement Status in 2026 Notes
Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) ✅ Required All non-citizens; free; submit online
Valid passport ✅ Required Min 6 months validity recommended
Singapore visa ✅/❌ Depends on nationality Many nationalities visa-free; check ICA
COVID-19 vaccination proof ❌ Not required Removed 2023
Pre-departure COVID test ❌ Not required Removed 2023
SHN (quarantine) ❌ Not required Abolished 2023
Health declaration ✅ Integrated into SGAC Not a separate form
TraceTogether app ❌ Not required Discontinued

For a full breakdown of what documents you need, see our Singapore Arrival Card Requirements guide. For visa eligibility by nationality, see Singapore Visa Requirements.

Submit Your Singapore Arrival Card — Free & Official

The SGAC is completely free. Submit at the official ICA portal. Takes under 10 minutes.

Step-by-Step Guide MyICA App Guide

How to Submit the Singapore Arrival Card in 2026

The process is identical to previous years — visit eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard or use the MyICA app, enter your passport details, travel information, and accommodation address, complete the health declaration, and submit. You receive an instant QR code confirmation by email. Submit up to 72 hours (3 days) before arrival.

Full Step-by-Step Guide with Screenshots →

FAQs About Singapore Arrival Card 2026

Answers to the most common questions about the Singapore Arrival Card in 2026.

Yes — the Singapore Arrival Card is still required in 2026 for all non-citizen travellers entering Singapore. Singapore citizens are the only exemption. The requirement has not changed.

No. No new rules, form changes, or process updates have been introduced in 2026. The Singapore Arrival Card process is identical to 2023, 2024, and 2025.

No. Singapore removed all COVID-19 vaccination requirements in 2023. Vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers are treated equally — no proof of vaccination is required to enter Singapore in 2026.

Yes — the Singapore Arrival Card is completely free. Submit it at the official ICA website (eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard) or via the MyICA app at no cost.

Submit the Singapore Arrival Card up to 72 hours (3 days) before your scheduled arrival in Singapore. You cannot submit it more than 3 days in advance. If your travel details change after submission, you can re-submit.

Submit at the official ICA e-service portal: eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard. Alternatively, use the MyICA mobile app (available on iOS App Store and Google Play). Do not use any other website.

The official website is eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard, operated by ICA (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority). This is the only legitimate free submission portal.

No. Singapore citizens are fully exempt from the Singapore Arrival Card requirement. All other travellers — including Singapore Permanent Residents — must submit the SGAC.

Yes — children of all ages require a Singapore Arrival Card. A parent or guardian submits the SGAC on behalf of children who cannot complete the form themselves.

Technically the form can be submitted at any time before immigration clearance, but ICA recommends submitting up to 72 hours before arrival. Submitting in advance avoids delays at the immigration counter.

Failure to submit the Singapore Arrival Card before immigration clearance can result in delays at the immigration counter. ICA officers may ask you to complete the form on-site, which can slow down your entry process.

ICA has not announced any upcoming changes to the Singapore Arrival Card as of March 2026. The SGAC has been stable since 2023. Any future changes would be announced on the official ICA website (ica.gov.sg).

Singapore Arrival Card — Application form