# Does Singapore Offer Visa on Arrival to Indians? > There is no Singapore visa on arrival for ordinary Indian passports. Here is the one visa-free transit exception, how to get the e-Visa first and what it costs. _Published: 2026-10-24 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1087_ ## TL;DR Singapore does not give visas on arrival to ordinary Indian passport holders; you need an e-Visa before you fly. The only exception is the 96-hour Visa Free Transit Facility for Indians transiting to a third country with a qualifying visa. A regular visa goes through an Authorised Visa Agent and takes 3 to 5 working days. ## Key takeaways - No visa on arrival for ordinary Indian passports; diplomatic, official and service passport holders do not need a visa. - 96-hour Visa Free Transit Facility: onward ticket within 96 hours plus a qualifying visa valid at least 1 month from entry; no extension. - Regular visas are filed through Authorised Visa Agents: INR 2100 visa fee plus Rs. 1300 agent fee (New Delhi and Mumbai). - Processing: 3 to 5 working days, excluding the date of submission, weekends and public holidays. - A visa does not guarantee entry; ICA officers decide admission at the checkpoint. **No. According to Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), ordinary Indian passport holders must obtain a Singapore visa before travelling. The only visa-free option is the 96-hour Visa Free Transit Facility, for Indians transiting to a third country with a qualifying visa from Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK or USA.** ## Article Singapore issues e-Visas, but you cannot apply for one yourself at the airport or online on a self-service portal; someone files it for you before you travel. The rules below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For the full application process, see our Singapore visa guide for Indians. ### Why can't Indians get a visa on arrival in Singapore? Singapore simply does not offer one to India's ordinary passport holders. ICA's India page is direct: an Indian traveller without a valid Singapore visa who is not eligible for the 96-hour Visa Free Transit Facility will not be allowed to enter. There is one passport-based exception. Holders of Indian diplomatic, official and service passports do not need a visa. If you hold the standard blue ordinary passport, plan for a visa. ### Can the 96-hour Visa Free Transit Facility replace a visa? Only if you are genuinely in transit to or from a third country. The facility carries no visa fee, but every condition must be met: - A valid onward air, ferry or cruise ticket departing Singapore within 96 hours. You can leave only by air or sea. - A valid visa or long-term pass, valid for at least 1 month from the date you enter Singapore, from one of the countries in the table below. - No extension of stay is allowed under this facility. Country that issued your visa or long-term passNotesUnited StatesVisa or long-term passUnited KingdomVisa or long-term passCanada, Australia, New Zealand, JapanVisa or long-term passGermany, SwitzerlandSchengen visas valid for Germany or Switzerland countA round trip from India to Singapore and back is not transit to a third country, so the facility does not cover a Singapore holiday on its own. ### Do you need a visa if you never leave Changi's transit area? Not if you stay airside. Passengers who remain in the Changi Airport transit area with onward boarding passes do not clear immigration. The trouble starts when a connection forces you through immigration, which often happens when you arrive on or connect to a low-cost carrier on a separate ticket. Then you must meet entry requirements, which means a visa or eligibility for the 96-hour facility. ### How do you get a Singapore visa before you fly? Singapore does not use VFS Global in India. Its High Commission in New Delhi and Consulates-General in Mumbai and Chennai do not take walk-in applications. Instead, an Authorised Visa Agent (AVA) files your application online in ICA's e-Visa system, or a local contact or strategic partner in Singapore submits it online for you. RouteOfficial feesProcessingAuthorised Visa Agent, New Delhi or Mumbai jurisdictionINR 2100 visa processing fee + Rs. 1300 agent service fee3 to 5 working days, excluding the date of submission, weekends and public holidaysAuthorised Visa Agent, Chennai jurisdiction (Chennai page)30 Singapore dollars converted to INR + INR 1000 agent service fee3 to 5 working daysLocal contact or strategic partner in Singapore (ICA)SGD 30, paid online by Visa or MasterCardWithin three working days, excluding the day of submissionThe core documents are Form 14A signed by you, a passport valid at least six months on the date of entry, and passport-sized colour photographs taken within the last three months (two at most missions; Mumbai asks for one). A Letter of Introduction (Form V39A) from a Singapore citizen or permanent resident aged 21 or over is required case by case. The Mumbai Consulate covers Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat and Odisha; Chennai covers the southern states; New Delhi covers the north and east. ### How far ahead should you apply? The missions advise applying about 30 days before arrival so that the visa's validity covers your visit. The Chennai Consulate adds that at least one week ahead is enough off-peak, but two to four weeks ahead is wise in the March-May peak season. Do not apply months early. The validity printed on the visa is the window in which you may seek entry, and it cannot be amended or extended afterwards. If it lapses, you apply afresh through an Authorised Visa Agent and pay again. ### Does a visa guarantee entry at Changi? No. ICA officers decide admission at the checkpoint, and a visa alone does not guarantee entry. Carry: - A valid passport. - Sufficient funds for your stay. - A confirmed onward or return air ticket, if applicable. The length of your stay is set by the officer, not by the visa, and is sent as a digital visit pass (e-Pass) to the email address you gave in the SG Arrival Card. If you need to stay longer, the Mumbai Consulate says to apply to ICA for an extension at least 5 working days before the visit pass expires. ### Mistakes that leave Indians stranded - Booking a separate low-cost connection through Singapore without a visa or a qualifying transit visa. - Assuming any foreign visa works for the 96-hour facility. Only the eight listed countries count, and the visa must be valid at least 1 month from entry. - Looking for a VFS centre or walking into the High Commission; neither accepts applications. - Applying too late in the March-May peak. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for visa applicants, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set with cover letter. Reach us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or through the contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Do Indian diplomatic passport holders need a visa for Singapore? No. ICA states that holders of Indian diplomatic, official and service passports do not need a visa. The visa requirement applies to ordinary Indian passport holders. #### Can I use a Schengen visa for Singapore's 96-hour visa-free transit? Yes, if the Schengen visa is good for Germany or Switzerland and is valid for at least 1 month from your entry into Singapore. You also need an onward ticket leaving Singapore by air or sea within 96 hours. #### What happens if my Singapore visa is rejected? The Chennai Consulate says an appeal must be submitted within one month of the rejection through the Authorised Visa Agent that filed the application, and it generally takes 14 working days. ICA does not disclose rejection reasons. #### Can I transfer my Singapore visa to a new passport? No. A Singapore visa cannot be transferred from an old passport to a new one. You need a new visa application with the prevailing fee. ## FAQ ### Do Indian diplomatic passport holders need a visa for Singapore? No. ICA states that holders of Indian diplomatic, official and service passports do not need a visa. The visa requirement applies to ordinary Indian passport holders. ### Can I use a Schengen visa for Singapore's 96-hour visa-free transit? Yes, if the Schengen visa is good for Germany or Switzerland and is valid for at least 1 month from your entry into Singapore. You also need an onward ticket leaving Singapore by air or sea within 96 hours. ### What happens if my Singapore visa is rejected? The Chennai Consulate says an appeal must be submitted within one month of the rejection through the Authorised Visa Agent that filed the application, and it generally takes 14 working days. ICA does not disclose rejection reasons. ### Can I transfer my Singapore visa to a new passport? No. A Singapore visa cannot be transferred from an old passport to a new one. You need a new visa application with the prevailing fee. ## Sources 1. [ICA - India visa requirements](https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/entering-singapore/visa_requirements/visa-detail-page/india) — Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore 2. [High Commission of Singapore in New Delhi - Visa information](https://new-delhi.mfa.gov.sg/consular-services/visa-information/) — High Commission of Singapore in New Delhi 3. [Singapore Consulate-General Chennai - Frequently asked questions on visa](https://chennai.mfa.gov.sg/consular-services/visa-information/frequently-asked-questions-on-visa/) — Consulate-General of Singapore in Chennai