Singapore trip planning 2026: the SGAC window, passport validity and the new SIM card limits
Preparing for Singapore really comes down to three things: the arrival card window, your passport validity, and the limits on buying a local SIM. Get the first two wrong and you risk being turned away; the third changed in 2026. Here is each one straight from the official notices.
Before you fly to Singapore: the SGAC and entry conditions
Taiwan does not appear on ICA’s list of nationalities requiring a visa. What everyone has to do is the SG Arrival Card:
- Who files it: all travellers. The only exceptions are transit passengers who do not clear immigration and residents entering by land at Woodlands and Tuas.
- When: within three days of arrival, including the day of arrival.
- Cost: ICA states it is free and that it does not recognise paid commercial services.
- Where: the ICA SGAC e-Service or the official MyICA app, not a third-party site.
- What else it covers: an electronic health declaration, with false declarations prosecutable under the Infectious Diseases Act.
- If you skip it: ICA states that travellers who fail to submit may be denied entry.
On entry conditions, ICA requires at least six months of passport validity for everyone except Singapore passport holders, and short-term travellers should carry sufficient cash and proof of onward travel. Note ICA’s own wording: how long you may stay is set by the Visit Pass issued on arrival, not by a visa.
From Changi into the city: train, bus and taxi
| Option | What the airport publishes | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| MRT | Changi Airport (CG2) to Tanah Merah (EW4), then the East West Line; first train 05:31 Mon to Sat, last 23:18 daily | Fare not published by the airport |
| Bus | Bus bays on the basement level of T1 to T3, routes 24, 27, 34, 36, 53, 110, 858 | Fare not published; exact fare required, no change given |
| Taxi | About 30 minutes to the city | S$25–45, plus surcharges |
The taxi surcharges work out as S$8 between 17:00 and 23:59 or S$6 at other times, plus 50% on the meter between midnight and 05:59 and 25% at peak times. On a late arrival those add up to roughly the fare itself, so budget for it.
Paying for transport in Singapore
You can tap a contactless bank card straight at the gate, so a travel card is optional. Foreign-issued cards carry a daily admin fee, though, which is what decides whether a card pays for itself. The cost comparison across all three payment methods, and the difference between the SimplyGo EZ-Link card and the Tourist Pass, is in our EZ-Link and SimplyGo guide.
Getting online in Singapore: eSIM, local SIM or roaming
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| eSIM | Short leisure and business trips | Install over Wi-Fi before you fly, then turn on data roaming |
| Local prepaid SIM | Travellers who need a Singapore number | IMDA caps prepaid at three per person across all telcos; government ID required |
| Local postpaid SIM | Longer stays | From 28 February 2026 a foreign passport is no longer accepted |
| International roaming | Transits and very short stays | Higher rates; check the daily cap |
IMDA announced all three changes in one release on 23 January 2026: the three-SIM prepaid cap, the move to a ten-SIM postpaid cap across all telcos rather than per telco, and the ban on foreign passports for postpaid registration. For a short visit the cap is the part that bites, and an eSIM avoids the question entirely.
- ・Shipped on a Singapore-only allocation since September 2025, with island-wide coverage
- ・Pick data and days to match the trip; no physical SIM, no registration
- ・Refundable if the signal is unstable or the plan goes completely unused
What a day of data in Singapore looks like
| What you are doing | Rough daily use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maps and MRT interchange lookups | 200–350 MB | A dense network means frequent checking |
| Social feeds and stories | 300–600 MB | Driven by how much video you watch |
| Photo and short video uploads | 400 MB and up | Marina Bay and Sentosa push this up |
| Attraction and restaurant lookups | 100–200 MB | Hours, queues and bookings |
| Voice and video calls | 100–300 MB | Budget separately for long calls |
For four days in the city, 1GB a day is the baseline. If Malaysia is on the itinerary, note the difference: the Singapore plan runs on a Singapore-only allocation, while the Malaysia plan works in both countries.
A pre-departure checklist for Singapore
- ・No physical SIM to swap, installed before you leave home
- ・Delivered in about 10 minutes, with no airport queue
- ・Refundable if the signal is unstable or the plan goes unused
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Singapore trip FAQ
Is the SG Arrival Card compulsory?
Yes. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority states that all travellers must submit an SG Arrival Card, with exceptions only for transit passengers who do not clear immigration and for residents entering by land at Woodlands and Tuas. The window is within three days of arrival, including the day of arrival, and ICA states clearly that submission is free of charge and that it does not recognise paid commercial agents. Our SGAC walkthrough covers the form.
What happens if I do not submit it?
ICA's own page states that travellers who fail to submit an SGAC may be denied entry into Singapore. The SGAC also carries an electronic health declaration, and a false declaration can be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases Act.
How much passport validity do I need?
ICA requires every traveller except Singapore passport holders to hold at least six months of passport validity. Short-term travellers should also carry sufficient cash and proof of onward travel, and must not overstay the Visit Pass issued on arrival.
How do I get from Changi into the city?
Changi Airport's own guidance is to take the train from Changi Airport MRT (CG2) to Tanah Merah (EW4) and transfer to the East West Line. The first train runs 05:31 Monday to Saturday and the last at 23:18 daily towards Tuas Link. A taxi takes about 30 minutes and costs between S$25 and S$45, plus an airport surcharge of S$8 between 17:00 and 23:59 or S$6 at other times, with 50% added to the meter between midnight and 05:59 and 25% at peak times.
What are the rules on buying a local SIM?
Per IMDA's press release of 23 January 2026, prepaid SIMs are capped at three per person across all telcos, and from 28 February 2026 postpaid SIMs are capped at ten per person across all telcos, with foreign passports no longer accepted for postpaid registration. Registration requires government-issued identification, and online registration uses Singpass.
How much data does a Singapore trip use?
The rail network is dense so you look things up often, but each lookup is light. For four days, 1GB a day usually covers it; check your coverage area if you are crossing into Malaysia. See our data sizing guide.
Related reading
How the Singapore plans compare and how to install one.
The online declaration due within three days of arrival.
Comparing the three ways to pay, including the foreign-card admin fee.
Worth comparing if your trip takes in both countries.
