fb-pixel

Singapore Transit Visa For Indians: Eligibility & Application

Last Updated : 18-Sept-2023

Atlys in the news

Atlys featured inAtlys featured inAtlys featured inAtlys featured in

30-second Summary

Indian nationals transiting through Singapore's Changi International Airport need a standard Singapore visa if they plan to leave the transit area.

    Indian passport holders can enjoy visa-free transit in Singapore for up to 96 hours, allowing them to stay within the airport's transit area.

    To qualify for visa-free transit, you need a confirmed onward ticket to specific countries like Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, or the United States.

    If you wish to leave the airport during your layover or have a longer stay, you will need to obtain a regular tourist visa for Singapore.

*There is no transit visa for Singapore, only the standard visa.

Important Information

Do Indians Need A Singapore Visa?

Yes, Indians require a visa to enter Singapore.

Singapore Visa Price

The visa fee is S$ 30 (approx. ₹1 698). According to current currency exchange.

Singapore Visa Process Time

The visa takes about 3 - 5 working days to process.

Singapore's Changi International Airport is super famous and has won the "Best Airport" award for seven years in a row.

Lots of flights from India stop at this airport. But here's the thing - people often wonder if Indian citizens need a special visa to pass through Singapore on their way to somewhere else. In this blog, I'm going to clear up all your questions about this.

Youtube Thumbnail

Do Indians Need A Singapore Transit Visa?

Yes. If Indians wish to enter Singapore for tourism, transit, or any other purposes, they must apply for a normal tourist visa for Singapore from India.

Indian citizens who wish to leave the transit area must get a Singapore transit visa (standard Singapore visa).

However, for eligible Indian citizens, there is a Visa Free Transit Facility Singapore or VFTF Singapore available that allows them to transit visa-free.

An Indian traveller who is not in possession of a valid Singapore visa and not eligible for Singapore VFTF will not be allowed to enter Singapore if they leave the transit area.

IMPORTANT: There is no "Singapore Transit Visa" for Indians or other citizens. For the sake of this blog, we will refer to a standard Singapore entry visa as a transit visa.

Indian citizens do not need to get a transit visa for Singapore for Indians when they are transiting through the Changi International Airport. However, they must also meet the following requirements:

    You have booked a single ticket to your final destination.

    You're checked in for your entire trip until your final destination.

    Your baggage is checked until your final destination.

    You do not need to leave the transit area.

    You do not have to pass through the immigration.

You don't need a visa for Singapore if you're changing terminals at Changi International Airport and staying in the transit area, even if you're on the same airline.

This is because the airport's terminals are connected, so you can move between them easily without going through immigration.

If Indian transit travellers know they will need to leave the transit area in the Singapore airport, they must get a standard tourist visa for Singapore to avoid any problems.

Additionally, if you are travelling with airlines that require you to change the flight to a low-cost carrier or book separate tickets, you might need to leave the transit area and check in again; you will need a Singapore visa for Indians.

In essence, if you know that you will at some point have to pass through the immigration desk at the Changi International Airport, you will need a transit visa for Singapore.

As I mentioned earlier, some Indian citizens are eligible for visa-free transit offered by the Singapore government.

For example, a Visa Free Transit Facility Singapore (VFTF Singapore) allows Indian citizens travelling to a third country via Singapore to transit visa-free by air for up to 96 hours.

However, for Indian citizens to be able to transit through Singapore visa-free, they must meet additional eligibility criteria and entry requirements.

You can read more on the VFTF below.

What Are The Singapore Transit Requirements For Indians?

If you are eligible for a Singapore VFTF, you will not need to get a Singapore transit visa for Indians.

You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a Singapore VFTF for Indian passport holders:

    Indian citizens are only eligible for up to a 96-hour Visa Free Transit Facility in Singapore.

    They are transiting to or from a third country by air.

    Indian citizens can enter Singapore with any mode of transportation but must depart via air or sea within the next 96 hours.

    You must have an onward air ticket, cruise ticker, or a ferry ticket to your destination.

    They must have a long-term visa or a valid visa from allowed countries that is valid for at least 1 month from the date of entry in Singapore.

    The allowed visas are from the following countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

    They must have the required documents to present to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers.

    If you return to India with a single journey visa from a third country, you can get a VFTF Singapore, provided you have not been to your home country since you last used your single journey visa.

The visa granted by Germany, Switzerland, or the Schengen area must be valid and should allow you entry into Germany or Switzerland.

As I mentioned, if your flights are organized so that you have to pass through immigration, you will need to get a pre-arranged visa. This is because Indian citizens cannot get a visa on arrival or visa-free entry.

Hence, you must apply for a standard entry visa with all the necessary travel documents. Such as:

    A duly completed and signed visa application form 14A.

    A valid passport with six months validity.

    A copy of the bio-data page of your passport.

    Passport size color photograph on a white background and must meet other visa photo requirements.

    Proof that you paid your visa fee (payslip).

    Proof of sufficient funds.

    Copy of return flight ticket.

For a more extensive list of documents, read our blog on Singapore Visa For Indian Citizens.

How To Apply For A Singapore Transit Visa For Indians?

Singapore transit visa for Indians can be applied the same way as you would for a standard visa. Indian citizens have two ways of applying for their visas.

In India, the Singapore Embassy/High Commission does not accept visa applications directly, and you must apply for any visa via authorized visa agents.

Atlys is an authorised visa agent, meaning you can easily apply for your Singapore visa online on Atlys.

You can find the list of the authorised agents on the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for specific cities.

If you have local contacts such as friends, family, or business partners in Singapore who can apply for a visa, they can do so via the ICA Website.

You can provide them with the necessary information to apply online.

You can read about the application process on our Singapore Visa For Indians blog.

Youtube Thumbnail

What Are The Entry Requirements In Singapore For Indians?

Even if you are only transiting through the Singapore International Airport and will have to go through immigration, you must know about the entry requirements.

All incoming passengers into Singapore must have the following documents:

    A valid passport with at least six months validity from your arrival date.

    A submitted SG Arrival Card.

    A valid Singapore visa for Indians.

    Boarding passes for the flight.

    A confirmed onward or return air ticket.

    Evidence that you can enter your next destination (for example, a valid visa).

    A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate if you travel from a Yellow Fever country.

    Travellers must adhere to the latest travel requirements and advisories on the SafeTravel website.

All Done!

In summary, if you are not leaving the transit area at Changi International Airport, you do not have to worry about getting a Singapore visa for Indians.

However, ensure you know whether you must pass through immigration to catch your next flight.

Happy Traveling!

Government Sources

This blog provides trustworthy information. We pick content from official government sources to offer accurate data and distinctive insights not found elsewhere. Our posts are fact-checked and written with the assistance of AI.

Frequently Asked Questions

In short, the answer is NO; there is no Singapore transit visa for Indians. Therefore, if you pass through the immigration at the Changi international airport when transiting in Singapore, you will have to get a Singapore short-term pass or entry visa to be able to transit without problems.

Verified Author:

Related Articles