The Refreshed Singapore Arrival Card: What Your Visiting Family and Friends Need to Know

If your parents, cousins or friends are flying in for the year end holidays, one of the first things they will need is the Singapore Arrival Card. Many of them will ask you for help, because the form is online and the rules are new to them.

Here is the good news. Since 26 August 2026, the Singapore Arrival Card has a refreshed design. It now supports up to 19 languages, and it can fill in some fields automatically when your visitor scans their passport. It is still free on official channels.

This guide explains what changed, who has to submit the card, and how to keep your visitors away from websites that charge for something that costs nothing.

What Changed in August 2026

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, known as ICA, updated the electronic arrival card to make it easier for travellers. The biggest changes are more language options and passport scanning, which reduces typing mistakes.

The MyICA mobile app was updated later than the website, so the layout your visitor sees may depend on which channel they use. Both official channels are acceptable.

Who Has to Submit It

The card is for foreign visitors and foreign pass holders entering Singapore. If you are a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, you do not need to submit it. Your family members who hold foreign passports do.

• Tourists and business visitors holding foreign passports.
• Foreign pass holders returning to Singapore.
• Children travelling on their own foreign passports.
• Visitors arriving by air, sea or land.

When and How to Submit

Visitors should submit the card within three days before they arrive in Singapore, including the day of arrival. If they submit too early, the system may not accept it. Encourage them to complete it on the official ICA website or the MyICA app, not through a link in an advert or a message.

1. Open the official ICA website or the MyICA app.
2. Choose the Singapore Arrival Card and select a preferred language.
3. Scan the passport or type the details carefully.
4. Add flight details, address in Singapore and a health declaration.
5. Submit and keep the confirmation email on the phone.

Watch Out for Paid Copycat Sites

Several private websites look official and charge a fee to submit the arrival card. They are not linked to ICA. Some also collect passport details, which is a bigger risk than the fee itself. If any website asks for payment for the arrival card, close it straight away.

The safest habit is to type the ICA web address directly, or download the MyICA app from an official app store, rather than clicking a search advert.

Tips for Hosts in Singapore

If you are hosting, send your visitors a short message a week before travel. Remind them about the three day window, the free official channels, and your address in Singapore, which they will need for the form. Elderly parents may find the passport scan helpful, but sit with them on a video call if needed.

Also remind them that the arrival card is not a visa. Visitors from countries that need a visa for Singapore must still apply for one before travelling.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Most problems with the arrival card come from small errors rather than the rules themselves. A visitor may type a passport number with a letter O instead of a zero, or enter a hotel name that does not match the booking. The passport scan feature helps, but it is still worth checking every field before pressing submit.

Another common mistake is submitting for the wrong date. If a flight is delayed past midnight, the arrival date changes. If your visitor's plans change after submitting, they should check the official guidance on updating their submission rather than paying a private site to do it.

Families travelling together can often submit for several people in one session, but each traveller still needs correct details. Children with their own foreign passports need their own entries. Keep a screenshot of each confirmation, because phones can run out of battery or lose signal on arrival.

Finally, remember that the card also includes a health declaration. Visitors should answer it honestly. If they feel unwell before travelling, they should follow any health guidance shown on the official site.

Before You Rely on Any Figure

This reflects ICA information and reliable reports as of October 2026. Rules, fees and dates change, so check the official government website on the day you act. For questions about your own case, speak to a licensed immigration lawyer or an authorised representative. World Visa Academy is a training academy; it does not file applications or guarantee any visa or outcome.

The Honest Summary

The new Singapore Arrival Card is easier, available in more languages and still free. Your foreign visitors must submit it within three days of arrival, using only ICA's official channels. A little help from you can save them time and money.

Key takeaways

• An updated Singapore Arrival Card went live on 26 August 2026.
• It now offers up to 19 languages and can fill in details by scanning a passport.
• Foreign visitors and pass holders must submit it within three days before arrival.
• It is free on official ICA channels; Singapore citizens and PRs do not submit it.