Transit rules · Singapore
Layover in Singapore: transit visa and leaving the airport
At Changi (SIN) passengers who connect without clearing Singapore arrival immigration have no specific requirements and need neither a visa nor the SG Arrival Card. If you must collect bags or a boarding pass and check in again (common with low-cost carriers), you enter Singapore and must meet normal entry rules. Most of the covered nationalities are visa-free; Indian nationals need a visa unless they qualify for the 96-hour Visa Free Transit Facility. Anyone clearing immigration must submit the free SG Arrival Card within 3 days before arrival.
At a glance, by passport
| Passport | Change planes airside | Leave the airport |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| Canada | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| United Kingdom | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| Australia | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| New Zealand | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| EU / EEA / Switzerland | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| India | No document needed to stay airside | Not without a visa · 96 hours under VFTF |
| China (mainland) | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| Brazil | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| Mexico | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| South Africa | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| Philippines | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| Japan | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
| South Korea | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed |
Changing planes without leaving the airport
Airside means you stay behind passport control: you walk from one gate to the next and never formally enter Singapore. Many countries let you do that without any document, some ask for an online authorisation or a transit visa even for this.
Holders of United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, India, China (mainland), Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Japan and South Korea passports can change planes airside without any document.
Leaving the airport
To see the city you pass immigration and enter Singapore like any visitor, so the normal entry rule for your passport applies, however short your stay.
Without a visa: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, China (mainland), Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Japan and South Korea. Only with a visa: India.
Transit rules in Singapore
Visa Free Transit Facility (VFTF), 96 hours
Who: Nationals of India, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and CIS states; holders of PRC Travel Document, HKSAR Document of Identity or Macau SAR Travel Permit (not PRC passports)
- valid onward ticket departing Singapore within 96 hours (Indians/PRC documents: air, ferry or cruise; CIS/Georgia/Turkmenistan/Ukraine: air only)
- Indian nationals: valid visa or long-term pass, valid at least 1 month from entry, issued by or valid for Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, UK or US
- stay cannot be extended; entry still at ICA officer's discretion
SG Arrival Card (SGAC)
Who: All travellers clearing Singapore immigration
- submit within 3 days (including arrival day) before arrival
- free of charge
- not needed when transiting without clearing immigration
Changi Free Singapore Tour (airport operator, not a government scheme)
Who: Transit passengers eligible to enter Singapore
- layover between 5.5 and 24 hours
- visa-required nationals need a valid Singapore visa
- register at transit-area booths or pre-book up to 50 days ahead
- runs daily
Source: Changi Airport Group
Your passport in detail
United States passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Not on ICA's list of countries requiring a visa. Allowed stay is shown on the e-Pass issued on arrival. SG Arrival Card required.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside No specific requirements for transit without clearing immigration.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
Canada passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed As US.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
United Kingdom passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed As US.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
Australia passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed As US.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
New Zealand passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed As US.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
EU / EEA / Switzerland passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed No EU/EEA state or Switzerland is on ICA's visa-required list.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
India passport
Leave the airport: Not without a visa India is on the visa-required list. Visa Free Transit Facility: up to 96 hours with an onward air/ferry/cruise ticket out of Singapore within 96 h and a visa or long-term pass (valid 1+ month) of Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, NZ, Switzerland, UK or US. Stay: 96 hours under VFTF.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside No visa needed if you do not clear immigration.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Visa Free Transit Facility (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
China (mainland) passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed PRC ordinary passports are not on ICA's visa-required list (only the PRC Travel Document is); stay shown on e-Pass.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
Brazil passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed As US.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
Mexico passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed As US.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
South Africa passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed As US.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
Philippines passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed As US.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
Japan passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed As US.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
South Korea passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed As US.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside As US.
Official source: Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026) , Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) , Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026)
How much time you get in the city
Being allowed out is half the answer; the other half is the clock. Count the time to get off the plane and through immigration, the trip into town and back, and getting back early enough for security and the gate. Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): the fastest public option, MRT from Changi Airport, change at Tanah Merah, to City Hall, takes about 35 minutes, so plan a layover of at least 5 h 45 min.
The planner on each airport page does this for your own flight times and lets you change every assumption.
Questions
Do I need a transit visa for Singapore?
Holders of United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, India, China (mainland), Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Japan and South Korea passports can change planes airside without any document.
Can I leave the airport during a layover in Singapore?
It depends on your passport. Without a visa: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, China (mainland), Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Japan and South Korea. Only with a visa: India.
How long a layover do I need to leave the airport?
With our cautious defaults (45 minutes to get out, the trip into town and back plus 20%, 120 minutes back before departure, at least 90 minutes in the city): Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): the fastest public option, MRT from Changi Airport, change at Tanah Merah, to City Hall, takes about 35 minutes, so plan a layover of at least 5 h 45 min.
Official sources
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Transit through Singapore (last updated 27 Oct 2026) (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)):
There are no specific requirements to transit through Singapore.
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Visa Guidelines (last updated 28 Oct 2026) (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)):
If your travel document is issued by any of the countries or places listed below, you will require a valid visa to enter Singapore.
-
SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026) (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)):
You must submit the SGAC within 3 days (including the day of arrival) before you arrive in Singapore.
-
Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) (last updated 29 Oct 2026) (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)):
An Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) is issued to all arriving foreign visitors.
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Visa Free Transit Facility (last updated 28 Oct 2026) (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)):
You must have a valid visa or long-term pass that is valid for at least 1 month from your date of entry into Singapore.
Checked against these sources on 2026-11-01. Rules change; the airline and the border officer have the final word. Found something out of date? Tell us.