Frequently Asked Questions
This page contains answers to frequently asked questions and clarifications regarding travelling to Singapore. If you have not done so already, you should visit the “Travelling to Singapore” page for an overview of entry requirements. For departure or transit-related information, visit the “Departure from Singapore” or “Transiting through Singapore” pages.
If you have a query that has not been addressed, click on the categories below to refer to the relevant traveller FAQs:
- Vaccinated Travel Framework
- Definition of “Fully Vaccinated” and “Non-fully Vaccinated” Travellers
- Entry requirements for Fully Vaccinated Travellers & Travellers born on or after 1 Jan 2010
- Entry requirements for Travellers born on or before 31 Dec 2009 and are Non-Fully Vaccinated
- Troubleshooting for SafeTravel Portal Errors (Vaccination Check Portal, Entry Application Portal)
- SG Arrival Card and e-Pass Issues
Please refer to MOH’s FAQs and info for issues related to vaccination status and boosters within Singapore, and what to do if tested positive while in Singapore. Foreign workers and their employers may also wish to refer to MOM’s FAQs for details on MOM-specific requirements.
1a. Are there travel requirements specific to nationality, or country/region I’m departing from?
There are currently no COVID-19 entry requirements based on nationality or country/region of travel. Entry requirements related to COVID-19 are currently only based on age and COVID-19 vaccination status.
There are additional entry requirements based on traveller profile and country of travel only if you are:
- A short-term visitor holding a passport of a visa-required country; OR
- A traveller who has visited Yellow Fever high risk countries/regions; OR
- A non-Malaysian work permit In-Principle Approval holder in the Construction, Marine Shipyard or Process sectors
For details, please visit the Travelling to Singapore page and then read the fully vaccinated checklist or non-fully vaccinated checklist depending on your age and COVID-19 vaccination status.
1b. Am I subject to General Travel Category or Restricted Category travel measures?
All countries are currently under the General Travel Category and there are no countries/regions in the Restricted Category today.
Countries/regions may subsequently be shifted to the Restricted Category to limit the risk of importing new and potentially dangerous disease variants if they arise.
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2a. I took non-WHO EUL COVID-19 vaccines and am considered fully vaccinated in my home country. Do I qualify for entry into Singapore as a fully vaccinated traveller?
Completing the vaccination regime in your home country does not automatically qualify you for entry into Singapore as a fully vaccinated traveller.
You are only considered a fully vaccinated traveller for entry to Singapore only if you have received the required WHO-EUL COVID-19 vaccine type/dose(s) and can produce the relevant vaccination proof. If you had only taken COVID-19 vaccines that are not approved under the WHO-EUL, or did not receive the required minimum vaccine doses, you are considered non-fully vaccinated.
2b. Am I considered fully or non-fully vaccinated for entry to Singapore? Is my previous COVID-19 infection or recovery a consideration?
Children born on or after 1 January 2010 (i.e. aged 12 and below by year of birth) will follow the quarantine-free entry requirements for fully vaccinated travellers, regardless of their vaccination or recovery status.
Travellers born on or before 31 Dec 2009 (i.e. aged 13 and above by year of birth) must receive at least the minimum required WHO-EUL vaccines to qualify for entry to Singapore as a fully vaccinated traveller. This applies to travellers who have recovered from COVID-19 as well. Travellers who have taken only non-WHO EUL vaccines, or are certified medically ineligible for vaccination, are not eligible for quarantine-free entry.
To continue to qualify for any vaccination-differentiated measures during your stay, you must satisfy the prevailing domestic vaccination requirements in Singapore. For more information on vaccination requirements within Singapore, visit: MOH’s Post-Vaccination Matters FAQs.
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Note: Full entry requirements can be found in the Fully Vaccinated Traveller Checklist (click to access).
3a. Do I need to take a pre-departure test (PDT) before travelling to Singapore?
No.
3b. Must I verify my vaccination certificate using the Vaccination Check Portal (VCP) before arrival?
You can use the VCP to verify your certificate only if it is a digitally verifiable vaccination certificate (DVC) issued by certain countries/regions.
If you do not possess a VCP-compatible vaccination certificate or are unable to submit your vaccination certificate due to technical difficulties, you can show a physical hardcopy or app containing the required details. If you still wish to troubleshoot your VCP submission, refer to the “Portal FAQs” section for details.
3c. I am fully vaccinated but I tested COVID-19 positive just before travelling to Singapore, what should I do?
Follow the COVID-19 recovery protocols and laws that are in place in your country of departure, if any. If there are no specific recovery protocols in place, you can consider travelling again if you are feeling well and have subsequently tested negative, or if it has been at least 7 days after you first tested positive.
3d. How do I show proof of my vaccination status after clearing immigration in Singapore?
You can show proof of vaccination via the TraceTogether mobile app at settings where Vaccination-Differentiated Safe Management Measures are in force. If you were vaccinated overseas, your vaccination status only lasts up to 30 days after arrival. For extended stays in Singapore, visit a Public Health Preparedness Clinic to register your vaccination status into the National Immunisation Registry (NIR). A booster vaccination dose may also be required.
To install or activate your TraceTogether app, refer to the TraceTogether installation guide. If you are unable to install/activate the TraceTogether app, write to support@tracetogether.gov.sg for assistance, or you can collect a TraceTogether token for a fee of S$13 at the Singapore Visitor Centre at Orchard Gateway or any collection booth found at local community centres.
If your vaccination status is reflected incorrectly in TraceTogether, write to https://go.gov.sg/vds-query-form for assistance.
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Note: Full entry requirements can be found in the Non-fully Vaccinated Traveller Checklist (click to access).
4a. Can I be exempted from Stay-Home Notice (SHN)?
Non-fully vaccinated travellers must serve a 7-day SHN. An electronic copy the SHN will be issued upon your clearance of arrival immigration and commence immediately. See illustration below on the SHN period to be served.
Illustration:
Traveller A had cleared arrival immigration on 1 March 2021. His SHN will start immediately on 1 March and end on 8 March 2021, or after the release of a negative COVID-19 test result, whichever is later.
Alternatively use this calculator for your estimated SHN-end date.
Non-compliance with any SHN condition is an offence punishable under Singapore’s laws. If you encounter any difficulties during your SHN or need to leave your SHN accommodation for emergency reasons, contact the SafeTravel Enquiries Helpline at 6812 5555 for assistance and advice.
4b. What are my transport options to my SHN venue and to my COVID-19 testing location?
You can take any form of transportation except public trains and buses.
If you are travelling with a private transport operator, including taxis and private-hire cars, you must inform the transport operator and driver of your SHN status. Travellers who use a mobile app to book their transport should indicate “SHN” in your transport booking. You should sit alone in the back seat with windows down and air-conditioning turned off. Only travellers with the same travel history and heading to the same place are allowed to share a taxi or private hire vehicle.
4c. I was issued an Electronic Monitoring Device (EMD) while serving my Stay-Home Notice (SHN). How do I use it?
If you are issued with an EMD, download the StayHome@SG mobile application (AppStore, Google PlayStore) and follow this EMD set-up guide or video. Once the EMD is ready, you must wear the wristband throughout the SHN. In the event of an SHN breach, an alert will be sent from the EMD to the relevant authorities and enforcement action will be taken. Upon the completion of your SHN, ICA will contact you on the collection of the gateway device. You may dispose the wristband based on existing e-waste disposal methods.
Additional EMD resources available here: Infographics, FAQ.
4d. Can I be exempted from COVID-19 tests?
The COVID-19 tests are mandatory.
Exemption from a pre-departure COVID-19 test is allowed only if you can produce valid proof of having contracted and recovered from COVID-19 in the past 14 – 90 days before departure for Singapore. A valid proof of recovery can include any document below, if it is in English, or translated to English, and contains your name, date of birth, ID or Passport Number, date of infection:
- Medical discharge memo issued by the relevant state authority or licensed medical professional;
- Result of a positive COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction Test (PCR Test) administered at an internationally accredited or recognised lab/clinic/medical facility; or
- Result of a positive Antigen Rapid Test (ART) administered by a trained professional.
4e. My trip to Singapore was cancelled. Can I ask for a refund for fees paid?
If payment was made directly to a 3rd party service provider, e.g. selected hotel accommodation, please contact the service provider directly for assistance.
For payments made during the Entry Application process, e.g. Stay-Home Notice (SHN) exit-swabs, refund requests will be considered if there are strong mitigating factors. This may include flight cancellations by the airline, or changes in border policies which prevent the traveller from leaving for Singapore.
Please submit your cancellation or refund requests via the respective channels below:
(Mobile users scroll right ☛ to view the table)Traveller pass type | Refund Channels |
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Periodic Commuting Arrangement | COVID_SafeTravelAppeals@mti.gov.sg |
Helpers and Confinement Nannies | Use the relevant form below to cancel the helper or nanny's entry approval at least 5 days before the approved entry date: |
All other Work Pass Holders and their dependents | Use the relevant form below to cancel the pass holder's entry approval at least 7 days before the approved entry date: |
Student’s Pass Holders | Refund Form Refund requests must be submitted within 3 months from the end of SHN or the end of the SafeTravel Pass validity period, whichever is later. Late requests will not be considered. |
All other travellers | Submit your supporting documents together with your refund request using this form. |
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5a. Which web browser should I use to access the SafeTravel Portal?
For the best user experience, submit your application or verify your vaccination certificate using Google Chrome (version 84 or later) or Microsoft Edge (Version 95 or later) Web Browser. To facilitate payment, please also disable your pop-up blocker.
5b. I cannot get my Digitally Verifiable Vaccination Certificate (DVC) verified on the Vaccination Check Portal (VCP). What can I do?
You can use the VCP to verify your certificate only if it is a digitally verifiable vaccination certificate (DVC) issued by certain countries/regions. If it is, ensure that:
- A high-resolution QR Code in JPG, PDF, or PNG format is submitted; and
- Vaccination certificate clearly reflects your full, unmasked personal information that is identical to your passport
If you do not possess a VCP-compatible vaccination certificate or are unable to submit your vaccination certificate due to technical difficulties, you can show a physical hardcopy or app contaning the required details.
5c. My name contains non-Latin/Roman alphabets (e.g. á, à, â, ä, å). How should I input my name?
Applications containing non-Latin/Roman alphabets and punctuations (e.g. commas, hyphens) cannot be processed.
To get around this issue, submit the machine-readable name found in your passport (see image below for example). Alternatively, you may refer to the table for the list of replacement characters. If your name contains a punctuation, replace these characters with a space instead.

Character replacement table:
Non-Latin/Roman Alphabets | Replacement Characters |
---|---|
á, à, â, ä, å | a |
è, é, ê, ë | e |
ì, í, î, ï | i |
ò, ó, õ, ö | o |
ù, ú, û | u |
β | ss |
ø | oe |
ü | ue |
5d. I was logged out of the system mid-way through my application. Why has this happened, and can I continue with my earlier application?
All application sessions will expire after 20 minutes of inactivity. As this is to prevent unauthorised access to your application information, you will not be able to continue with your earlier application.
5e. I did not receive my entry approval or vaccination acceptance letter. What should I do?
You can use the SafeTravel Application Checker to check on the status of your submissions/applications made using any of the following portals:
- Vaccination Check Portal
- Non-fully vaccinated Travellers Entry Application Portal (Familial Ties)
- Periodic Commuting Arrangement
- Reciprocal Green Lane
For all successful submissions made using the portals above, the SafeTravel Office will send the relevant approvals and acceptance letters directly to the email indicated in your submissions. Depending on email settings, these letters may be found in your junk/spam folder. If you are unable to locate your approvals / acceptance letter, submit the following details via this form for assistance: (a) application reference number, (b) your contact details, and (c) screenshots of your application status or payment invoice.
5f. Can I change/update the details of my entry approval?
Amendments to applications approved by the SafeTravel Office will only be entertained if there are strong mitigating reasons. If there are compelling reasons for the amendments, submit the relevant supporting documents as well as traveller passport/FIN number and approval reference number via this form.
For applications submitted directly with an agency that is not the SafeTravel Office, approach the relevant agency for assistance.
5g. What does “invalid FIN number” mean?
Your FIN document is likely invalid, expired, or expiring in less than 15 days from the date of entry into Singapore. Renew or apply for a new pass before you attempt a second application.
5h. Nothing happens when I click “SUBMIT” or “NEXT”. Why?
To proceed to the next stage of your application, check that all (i) required fields are correctly filled (e.g. DD/MM/YYYY format for date of birth), and (ii) acknowledgement boxes are checked.
5i. I have followed the instructions on the SafeTravel Application portal but am still unable to submit my application. What should I do?
Submit screenshots of the error message(s) that you are seeing to the SafeTravel Office using this form.
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6a. Am I required to submit my SG Arrival Card (SGAC)?
Yes, all travellers must complete their SGAC up to three days before arrival in Singapore.
You do not need to submit an SGAC declaration only if you are a fully vaccinated Singapore Citizen, Permanent Resident or Long-term Pass Holder arriving in Singapore via Land.
To troubleshoot your SGAC submission, visit these pages: What is SGAC and SGAC FAQs.
6b. How do I retrieve my SG Arrival Card (SGAC) acknowledgement e-mail after submission?
Upon the submission of your SG Arrival Card, an acknowledgement slip will be displayed, which you can download in PDF format. The same acknowledgement slip will also be sent to your email inbox (check your spam/junk folder). If there is a mistake in your submission, or if you are unable to retrieve your acknowledgement slip, you can submit a fresh declaration if you have not yet cleared immigration.
If you have already cleared arrival immigration in Singapore, and are unable to retrieve your acknowledgement slip for the disembarkation (DE) number, provide the following information via this form to the Safe Travel Office for assistance: (a) full name (per passport), (b) date of birth, (c) nationality, (d) passport number, (e) passport expiry date, (f) date of arrival in Singapore.
6c. I am unable to retrieve my e-Pass from the ICA system. What should I do?
An e-Pass (e-visit pass) is only sent to foreign visitors after they have cleared arrival immigration. You will not be able to retrieve your e-Pass before clearing arrival immigration.
If you have already arrived in Singapore and had submitted more than one SGAC for the same trip, please use the DE number from the latest SGAC acknowledgement e-mail.
Click here for more information on the e-Pass.
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