Singapore to bar high risk travellers from flights starting Jan 30

Early screening will keep high risk travellers off Singapore bound flights

Singapore will start stopping undesirable or high risk travellers before they ever set foot on a plane to the Republic. From January 30, airlines flying to Singapore will receive no boarding directive notices from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. When a traveller is flagged, the carrier must refuse boarding. The goal is to keep potential security, health or immigration threats from reaching Singapore and to reduce enforcement at the arrival hall.

The no boarding directive, often shortened to NBD, lets authorities act on advance traveller information that carriers already collect before departure. If a person is identified as prohibited or undesirable, or does not meet entry rules, the airline must prevent that person from getting on a flight bound for Singapore. This covers common entry issues such as a missing visa or a passport that does not have at least six months of validity.

The system will apply to all airlines operating at Changi and Seletar airports. It starts for flights on January 30, 2026. Sea going vessels that carry travellers to Singapore will come under the same framework in 2028. ICA said the change will strengthen border security by moving screening earlier in the journey, rather than relying on checks once travellers arrive at checkpoints.

Airlines that receive an NBD must stop the flagged traveller from boarding. Carriers can be fined up to S$10,000 for non compliance. Pilots and airline employees who fail to comply can also face fines up to S$10,000, up to six months in jail, or both. Travellers who are denied boarding but still wish to come to Singapore must first write to ICA and receive approval before booking a new flight.

How the no boarding directive works before takeoff

Singapore already uses data provided before flights depart to identify people who may require closer scrutiny when they land. The new directive shifts action to the departure airport, so the decision happens before the person leaves for Singapore. The change uses processes familiar to airlines and most border agencies that rely on advance passenger information and booking records to assess risk and verify basic entry requirements.

What data is used

ICA screens information that airlines share ahead of departure. This includes details from the SG Arrival Card submitted online by travellers, along with flight manifests and standard advance passenger data such as names, passport numbers and nationalities. Some carriers also share portions of the passenger name record, which covers booking and contact details. These data points help authorities verify if a person holds a valid visa when required and meets general entry conditions like passport validity.

Under the directive, ICA can issue a notice to an airline if a person is barred from entering Singapore, is assessed as an undesirable or high risk traveller, or does not meet entry rules. The notice requires the carrier to deny boarding. ICA may also instruct airlines to perform specific checks before allowing a passenger or crew member to board. Examples include confirming that a visa is in place or verifying that the person has submitted the SG Arrival Card.

Who can be flagged

The directive covers travellers who pose security, immigration or public health risks. It also applies to those who have been previously barred from entering Singapore after certain criminal convictions, and to anyone who fails to meet routine entry criteria. That includes travellers who need a visa but do not have one, or whose travel document will expire in fewer than six months. The decision point is before boarding, so a person who is not eligible to enter can be stopped at check in.

If a traveller receives an NBD and believes it was issued in error, the person can contact ICA for guidance and seek approval before making new travel plans. Submitting correct documents and clarifying any mismatches, such as a new passport or an updated visa, will be important for a fresh assessment.

Why Singapore is tightening checks now

Traveller volumes are large and still rising. In 2024, about 230 million crossings took place through Singapore’s air, sea and land checkpoints. More growth is expected with major projects coming online, such as the Johor Bahru Singapore Rapid Transit System, the construction of Changi Airport Terminal 5, and a long term expansion of Woodlands Checkpoint. Managing this flow safely and efficiently requires more automation and earlier risk assessment.

ICA says enhancements in profiling and detection have already made a difference. In the first half of 2025, the number of foreigners refused entry at Singapore’s borders rose by about 43 percent compared with the same period in 2024. The increase reflects better identification of high risk travellers before they arrive, not just more people showing up. Moving the decision to the departure airport builds on these gains and reduces the burden on arrival operations.

Checkpoint processes are also being redesigned. Singapore has introduced passportless immigration clearance at air and sea checkpoints using facial or iris scans. At land checkpoints, clearance uses QR codes that passengers present at automated gates. These changes aim to keep clearance quick for the vast majority of visitors who comply with the rules while focusing attention on cases that require deeper checks.

ICA is also rolling out more automation for vehicles. An Automated Passenger Clearance System is planned for Tuas Checkpoint to allow self clearance for travellers in cars, motorcycles and cargo vehicles without needing to alight. A similar setup is planned for Woodlands Checkpoint after Tuas. The NBD fits into this broader program of streamlining routine traffic and pushing risk management earlier in the journey.

What airlines, crew and travellers need to know

The directive adds clear obligations for carriers. When a notice is received, staff must ensure the named traveller is not allowed to board. ICA may also require airlines to verify a visa, check the SG Arrival Card submission, or conduct other pre boarding checks. Operators risk fines if they ignore the directive or allow a flagged traveller on board. Pilots and airline employees can also face penalties if they fail to comply with instructions tied to the NBD.

Practical steps for travellers

• Confirm whether you need a visa for Singapore and apply in advance if required.
• Check your passport expiry date. Many travellers must have at least six months of validity.
• Submit the SG Arrival Card online before you fly. Ensure names, passport numbers and travel dates match your booking and passport.
• Arrive at the airport with the same passport used for any visa or SG Arrival Card submission.
• If you were previously refused entry or have an existing restriction, contact ICA before making new plans. Do not assume you can resolve this at the check in counter.

Travellers who are stopped by an NBD but still wish to visit can write to ICA for entry approval, then arrange a new flight after approval is issued. Keeping records such as visa approvals, updated passport details and proof of SG Arrival Card submission can help resolve mismatches quickly.

The new process also applies to airline crew and other staff who travel on duty. Carriers may need to incorporate additional checks into crew travel procedures to confirm that documents are valid and any required submissions are complete before departure.

Sea and land travel: what changes next

The no boarding directive will extend to sea going vessels that carry travellers to Singapore in 2028. Shipping lines already provide advance information about passengers and crew, which supports early screening much like the aviation model. The phased rollout allows operators to adjust workflows, train staff and ensure systems can handle the checks.

Applying an equivalent pre boarding directive at land checkpoints is more complex. Bus operators typically do not collect and submit passenger details before departure, which makes early screening difficult to implement without disrupting operations. Even without an NBD at land checkpoints, ICA is investing in faster and more automated clearance, including QR code processing and planned self service systems for vehicles, to keep traffic moving and to focus resources where they are most needed.

Permanent residents get a new re entry permit grace period

Changes tied to the same border control law also affect permanent residents who are overseas. From December 1, a permanent resident who is outside Singapore without a valid re entry permit will have 180 days to apply for a new permit and retain permanent resident status. Under the previous rule, a permanent resident outside Singapore without a valid permit was considered to have lost status immediately.

A re entry permit allows a permanent resident to travel out of and return to Singapore while maintaining permanent resident status. The new 180 day window gives people a chance to regularize their status if a permit lapses while they are overseas. ICA will publish updated conditions on its website. Permanent residents who travel frequently are encouraged to check permit validity and apply for renewals early to avoid travel disruption.

What to Know

• From January 30, 2026, airlines must stop travellers flagged by ICA from boarding flights to Singapore under a no boarding directive.
• The directive targets security, immigration and public health risks, and also covers travellers who lack a required visa or a passport with at least six months of validity.
• Airlines that fail to comply face fines up to S$10,000. Pilots and airline employees can be fined up to S$10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both.
• Travellers denied boarding must write to ICA for approval before rebooking.
• The framework will be extended to sea going vessels in 2028. Land application is more complex because bus operators do not collect advance passenger information.
• Border operations are becoming more automated, including passportless clearance at air and sea checkpoints and QR code processing at land checkpoints.
• The number of foreigners refused entry rose by about 43 percent in the first half of 2025 versus the same period in 2024 after enhanced screening.
• Separate changes from December 1 give permanent residents overseas a 180 day period to apply for a new re entry permit and keep their status.