Singapore's Changi Airport to scrap paper arrival cards

Changi Airport is now trialling electronic arrival cards which will eventually replace those white slips of paper.

By Brandon Loo, August 16 2019
Singapore's Changi Airport to scrap paper arrival cards

Singapore aims to axe paperwork for international travellers, shifting instead to a digital arrivals card completed online or through a smartphone app, in a move that's arguably overdue for the tiny tech-forward nation.

A 'beta trial' of the digital entry system is already in full swing, although it's currently limited to passengers arriving on Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Jetstar Asia and AirAsia, along with a handful of coach and ferry passengers.

Enter your details through the Apple app, Android app or the website.
Enter your details through the Apple app, Android app or the website.

Those travellers can head to the SG Arrival Card page to submit their details within 14 days of arrival in Singapore. Up to 10 people can be included in one joint submission, which is handy for group travel such as to conferences. Travellers who enter Singapore multiple times in that 14-day period only need to submit one application to cover up to three visits.

Add multiple trips if you'll be entering Singapore more than once in two weeks.
Add multiple trips if you'll be entering Singapore more than once in two weeks.

The most recent information on the electronic arrival card is available here. Eligible passengers can fill out the SG Arrival Card online or through the identically-named app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Of course, the smarter option for frequent visitors is to sign up for Singapore's eponymous Frequent Traveller program, which unlocks e-gate entry and negates the need for any type of arrival card at all.

For Australian citizens, two entries into Singapore within 24 months is all you need to be eligible. Registration is free and easy – offices are located at Changi Airport T3 (after immigration) and in downtown Singapore, near Lavender MRT Station.

Breeze through Singapore Airport's e-gates as a registered Frequent Traveller
Breeze through Singapore Airport's e-gates as a registered Frequent Traveller

Read more: How your Australian passport can access fast-track Singapore immigration

Brandon Loo

Based in Perth, Brandon enjoys tucking into local delicacies, discovering new cocktails, and making aeroplane food look good on camera.

28 Nov 2017

Total posts 1

what's with the registration process at Changi while Singaporean passport holders can use smart gates at Australian ports without having to go through any form of prior registration.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

25 May 2012

Total posts 580

The Changi e-gates use fingerprints for biometric verification, so Singaporean Immigration needs to collect this data which is usually not available through ePassports (at least Australian ones).

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

29 Jul 2014

Total posts 100

I enrolled last Month and it only took 15 minutes and the Staff were great

If you need to get to two visits after you arrive to qualify you can take the Ferry to Indonesia

You can also cross over to Malaysia by train or Bus

There are a combined number of 101 ferry crossings each day across a selection of 7 Ferry Routes which are operated by 4 ferry companies including Sindo Ferry, Horizon Fast Ferry, Batam Fast Ferry & Majestic Fast Ferry with the shortest crossing taking around 50 minutes (HarbourFront Centre to Sekupang

United Airlines - Mileage Plus

29 Jan 2011

Total posts 157

It says in the above article " offices are located at Changi Airport T3 (after immigration)".

Does the above mean the office is located "airside" or "landside" at T3? Will be arriving at T3 next week and want to confirm where to go looking for the registration office.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

29 Jul 2014

Total posts 100

Its located airside next to the immigration gates at T3 .I arrived at lunchtime and the sign on the door said they would be back by 1-30pm which they were on the dot. I got 5 years validation and each visit is valid for 90 days The stamp occupies a full page of your passport

Facing the immigration gates airside and with the shops at your back its on the left

If you look for Louis Vuitton shop its opposite that .Its only a small office to the side of the immigration gates by about 30 seconds walk wise

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

13 Dec 2014

Total posts 80

akronflyer, it's next to the gates when you depart, in other words passport control or "emigration", not "immigration" which is arrivals and can be seen in the photo above. As you know Immigration is on a lower level and those with the stamp in their passport and their fingerprint on file can use the e-Gates seen in the image at the left. When I applied I was in transit but had already done two visits on two different trips to Singapore, so as long as you've made those two visits you can apply.

Cheers

United Airlines - Mileage Plus

29 Jan 2011

Total posts 157

I forgot ask if the office is airside on arrivals or airside on departures.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

29 Jul 2014

Total posts 100

A suggestion , there is a photo of the office in the article about Singapore Frequent Visitors Scheme in this Blog

I took a screenshot of it and it made it a lot easier to find.

If you go through the immigration when you arrive its too late , you need to visit the office before you complete formalities

If you were departing you would have to go through immigration before you could get to the office in question

Its opposite Louis Vuitton in the transit area

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=iIMfiaLnH9U

Changi Airport Terminal 3, Departure / Transit Lounge Central, 65 Airport Boulevard, Level 2, Unit No. 02-36A
819663Changi - Singapore

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

29 Jul 2014

Total posts 100

If you go through immigration first its too late unless you go the the office in the City at Lavender

The airport office is opposite the Louis Vuitton shop in the airside transit area

United Airlines - Mileage Plus

29 Jan 2011

Total posts 157

Thanks for the clarification akronflyer, I'll call into the office before heading down the escalator to the arrivals immigration hall.

21 Aug 2019

Total posts 64

Australia are you watching. Same in the US and UK now.

United Airlines - Mileage Plus

29 Jan 2011

Total posts 157

Take note, the Beta Trial for the digital SG Arrival card presently only supports arrivals on the following airlines:

AirAsia Berhad, Jetstar Asia, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines

does not include Silk Air.

United Airlines - Mileage Plus

29 Jan 2011

Total posts 157

Arrived into Singapore yesterday afternoon & just made it to the office as they were about to close for the day (5.00pm). Very kindly the lady in the office processed the applications for my wife & I (we had already downloaded & filled in the forms).

From the office we then went to immigration arrivals there in T3 and all the lines were fully loaded and backed up due to a number of flights having just arrived. However as newly minted frequent travelers we breezed through the e-gates and were on our way.


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