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Country guide · Singapore

Singapore travel apps and what you need before you go

Submit the free SG Arrival Card on the ICA website or MyICA app within 3 days before arrival, and make sure your passport has at least 6 months left. Most passports, including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian, need no visa. Once there, tap your contactless card on the MRT and buses, use Grab, Gojek or TADA for rides, GrabFood or foodpanda for delivery, and WhatsApp to message almost anyone.

Checked against official sources on 22 October 202611 apps · 4 to set up at home
The Helix Bridge, ArtScience Museum and Marina Bay Sands at dusk in Singapore
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

What you need to enter Singapore

Singapore's rules depend on your passport. Check ICA's visa requirements page for your nationality before you fly.

Visa

Most visitors do not need a visa. ICA lists the nationalities that do, including India, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan and Bangladesh, among others; US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian passports are not on that list. The length of your stay is set by the Visit Pass given at the checkpoint, not by a visa.

Source: ICA, visa requirements · GOV.UK Singapore entry requirements

Passport validity

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. Collective travel documents are not accepted.

Source: ICA, entering Singapore

SG Arrival Card

All travellers must submit the SG Arrival Card, which includes a health declaration, within 3 days before arrival (the arrival day counts). It is free on the ICA website or the MyICA app; failing to submit can lead to denial of entry. Travellers transiting without clearing immigration are exempt.

Source: ICA, entering Singapore

Onward ticket and funds

Short-term visitors should carry enough money for the stay and proof of onward travel, such as a ticket. Short-term visit pass holders may not work.

Source: ICA, entering Singapore

Customs and banned items

E-cigarettes and vaporisers are illegal to bring in. Goods above the duty-free or GST relief limits must be declared and taxed, and cash above S$20,000 must be declared. If you were in a yellow fever risk country in the 6 days before arrival, you need a vaccination certificate.

Source: ICA, entering Singapore · GOV.UK Singapore entry requirements

Before you fly: 7 steps

  1. Check your passport has at least 6 months left.
  2. Check ICA's list to confirm your nationality does not need a visa.
  3. Submit the free SG Arrival Card on the ICA website or MyICA app within 3 days before arrival.
  4. Make sure you have a contactless Visa or Mastercard (not Maestro) for the MRT.
  5. Install Grab and Gojek and add your card.
  6. Leave any vapes or e-cigarettes at home.
  7. Bring a Type G adapter.

The apps that matter in Singapore

Grouped by the job they do. Set up at home means install it and sign in before you fly, while you still have your home number and Wi-Fi.

Entry and official apps

MyICA (SG Arrival Card)

ICA's official app for submitting the SG Arrival Card; the same form is also on the ICA website.

Set up at home

Update the app before you submit, as an enhanced version with more languages launched on 30 September 2026. It is free, so ignore paid third-party sites.

Official siteSource: ICA, entering Singapore

Taxis and ride hailing

Grab

The biggest ride-hailing app in Singapore, plus GrabFood delivery.

Set up at home

Add your card before you land so you can book from the airport. Compare with Gojek or TADA at peak times.

Official siteSource: Grab Singapore transport

Gojek

A licensed ride-hailing alternative to Grab in Singapore.

Set up at home

Worth installing as a second app for price comparison.

Official siteSource: MissLobang, ride-hailing apps in Singapore (Oct 2026)

TADA

A Singapore ride-hailing app that runs on a zero-commission model for drivers.

A third quote to check when Grab and Gojek surge.

Official siteSource: MissLobang, ride-hailing apps in Singapore (Oct 2026)

CDG Zig

ComfortDelGro's app for booking its taxis, including fixed-fare rides.

Paying a metered ComfortDelGro taxi by card adds a 10% surcharge plus GST; fixed-fare bookings in the app avoid that.

Official siteSource: MissLobang, ride-hailing apps in Singapore (Oct 2026)

Metro, buses and city transport

SimplyGo (contactless card on MRT and buses)

Singapore's fare system lets you tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard, or a phone wallet, at MRT gates and on buses.

Foreign-issued cards add a S$0.60 admin fee for each day you travel, so one card for the whole day is fine. Maestro and Cirrus debit cards are not accepted.

Official siteSource: SimplyGo / TransitLink

Maps

Citymapper

Step-by-step public transport directions, including which MRT exit to use.

Google Maps also covers MRT and bus routes well; keep whichever you already know.

Official siteSource: Citymapper

Google Maps

Walking, MRT and bus directions, and hawker centre opening hours.

Save the hawker stalls you want to try; many close on set days of the week.

Official siteSource: Google Maps

Paying

PayNow

Singapore's instant bank transfer and QR system, used by locals at hawker stalls.

Limited for visitors

It needs a Singapore bank account, so visitors usually pay by contactless card or cash instead. Some hawker stalls are cash only.

Official siteSource: The Association of Banks in Singapore, PayNow

Messaging and calls

WhatsApp

The default messaging app in Singapore for hotels, tours and restaurants.

Set up at home

You can keep your home number on WhatsApp even after switching to a local SIM or eSIM for data.

Official siteSource: WhatsApp

Food and delivery

foodpanda

One of the two main food delivery apps in Singapore, alongside GrabFood.

Deliveroo stopped operating in Singapore on 4 March 2026, so GrabFood and foodpanda are the main choices.

Official siteSource: Eatbook, Deliveroo Singapore closure

Money: Singapore dollar (SGD)

Contactless cards work almost everywhere, including the MRT and buses. Locals pay hawker stalls with PayNow or NETS QR, which need a local bank, so keep some cash for smaller stalls. Restaurants usually add a 10% service charge plus GST, and tipping is not expected.

Practical things to know

Plugs
Type G (the UK-style three-pin plug); 230 V.
Emergency numbers
Police 999, ambulance and fire 995.
Mobile data
Prepaid SIMs are sold at the airport and convenience stores and are registered with your passport. A travel eSIM set up before you fly also works well.
Tipping
Not expected. Many restaurants already add a service charge.
Rules to know
Vapes and e-cigarettes are banned, and fines apply for littering and eating or drinking on the MRT.

Questions travelers ask

Do I need a visa for Singapore?

Most nationalities do not, including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian passports. ICA lists the countries that need one, such as India and Russia.

When should I submit the SG Arrival Card?

Within 3 days before arrival, including the day you arrive. It is free on the ICA website or MyICA app.

Can I use my foreign card on the MRT?

Yes. Tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard at the gates. Foreign cards add a S$0.60 admin fee per day of travel.

Is Deliveroo still in Singapore?

No. Deliveroo closed in Singapore on 4 March 2026. Use GrabFood or foodpanda.

How long does my passport need to be valid for Singapore?

At least 6 months, according to ICA.

Sources

Checked on 22 October 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm with the official links before you travel.

Found a mistake? Report a correction and we’ll check it against the source.

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