Singapore Visa: Entry Requirements, SG Arrival Card and Consulting Service by Nhị Gia
Do Vietnamese Citizens Need a Visa to Enter Singapore?
Vietnamese citizens holding ordinary passports are visa-exempt when entering Singapore for stays of not more than 30 days, provided that they meet Singapore’s entry requirements.
However, visa exemption does not automatically guarantee entry in all cases. Upon arrival, the Singapore immigration authority may check travel purpose, stay duration, return or onward ticket, accommodation, financial capacity and other relevant entry conditions.
For cases involving employment, study, long-term stay, investment, family reunion or other purposes beyond regular short-term visits, applicants should check the suitable permit, visa or entry pass before preparing the application.
How Long Can APEC/ABTC Cardholders Stay in Singapore?
Holders of an APEC Business Travel Card, or ABTC, may benefit from facilitated short-term business travel among participating APEC economies if the card is valid and bears the appropriate economy code on the back.
For Singapore, ABTC holders should check whether the card has the code “SGP” on the back. If eligible, the cardholder may not need a separate visa for short-term business travel and may be considered for entry under the applicable ABTC arrangement.
It should be noted that ABTC mainly supports short-term business travel. It does not replace a work pass, student pass or long-term residence permit if the foreign national intends to work, study or live in Singapore long term.
Singapore Entry Requirements to Note
Even with short-term visa exemption, Vietnamese travellers still need to prepare required documents and meet entry conditions when entering Singapore.
Common points to note include:
- Passport with suitable validity, generally recommended to be valid for at least 06 months from the date of entry;
- Return ticket or onward ticket if requested;
- Accommodation information in Singapore;
- Clear travel plan consistent with the intended stay duration;
- Financial capacity for the stay period;
- SG Arrival Card submitted within the required timeframe;
- Not falling under restricted entry cases under Singapore regulations;
- Compliance with the declared entry purpose.
If the itinerary to Singapore involves transit through a third country, clients should also check transit visa or entry requirements of the transit country/territory. Being visa-exempt for Singapore does not mean being visa-exempt for the transit destination.
What Is the SG Arrival Card?
The SG Arrival Card is Singapore’s electronic arrival declaration, used to declare travel and health information before entry. It is not a visa and does not replace visas, work passes, student passes or other entry permits if the applicant is required to obtain them.
Under Singapore regulations, travellers must submit the SG Arrival Card within 03 days before arrival in Singapore, including the day of arrival. For example, if the traveller plans to arrive in Singapore on the 10th, the SG Arrival Card may be submitted from the 8th to the 10th.
Information declared in the SG Arrival Card must be accurate and consistent with the passport, flight ticket, accommodation and travel purpose. If information changes before entry, travellers should check whether it can be updated or resubmitted according to system instructions.
Documents to Prepare for Short-Term Travel to Singapore
For short-term travel to Singapore such as tourism, family visit, business or event attendance, clients should prepare the following basic documents:
- Valid passport;
- Return ticket or onward ticket;
- Hotel booking information or accommodation address;
- Intended itinerary in Singapore;
- Invitation letter or information of the inviting entity if traveling for business, conference or event;
- Documents proving travel purpose if needed;
- Financial documents or proof of ability to cover the stay if requested;
- SG Arrival Card submitted before entry;
- ABTC/APEC card if using the APEC business travel arrangement.
For business travel, the itinerary, inviting entity, working period and travel purpose should be clearly prepared. For family visits, the inviter’s information, accommodation address and relationship documents should be prepared if relevant.
When Is a Visa, Permit or Separate Application Needed for Singapore?
Vietnamese citizens are visa-exempt for short-term stays of not more than 30 days, but a separate application should be checked if the entry purpose is not regular short-term stay.
Cases that require further checking include:
- Working in Singapore;
- Studying in Singapore;
- Internship, training or professional programs;
- Long-term stay;
- Family reunion or dependant status of a person residing/working in Singapore;
- Investment, business or establishing commercial presence;
- Transiting through another country before arriving in Singapore;
- Foreigners residing in Vietnam who do not hold Vietnamese passports;
- Cases with previous entry refusal, overstay or travel history requiring explanation.
For these cases, clients should check the suitable visa, pass or permit before purchasing tickets and preparing the itinerary.
Common Mistakes When Entering Singapore
Common mistakes when preparing to enter Singapore include:
- Not submitting the SG Arrival Card before arrival;
- Declaring SG Arrival Card information inconsistent with passport, flight ticket or accommodation;
- Passport validity is too short;
- Not preparing a return ticket or onward ticket if requested;
- No clear accommodation information;
- Travel purpose is unclear or inconsistent with stay duration;
- Confusing short-term visa exemption with the right to work or study in Singapore;
- Not checking transit visa requirements if the itinerary passes through a third country;
- Using ABTC/APEC for the wrong purpose or not checking the economy code on the back of the card.
These mistakes may cause delays at immigration clearance, require additional explanation or affect the travel plan.
Singapore Entry and Visa Consulting Service by Nhị Gia
Singapore is a popular destination for tourism, business, conferences, study, work and business networking. Although Vietnamese citizens are visa-exempt for short-term travel, clients still need to prepare the correct documents and complete entry declarations as required.
With experience in outbound visas, Vietnam visas, work permits, temporary residence cards, entry approvals and legal dossiers for individuals and enterprises, Nhị Gia supports clients in preparing Singapore-related dossiers based on each specific case.
Nhị Gia supports clients with:
- Advising on Singapore entry requirements for Vietnamese citizens;
- Checking whether the short-term visa exemption applies;
- Guiding preparation of documents before travel;
- Guiding SG Arrival Card submission based on information provided by the client;
- Checking passport, flight ticket, accommodation and itinerary information;
- Advising on ABTC/APEC card use for business travel to Singapore;
- Advising on transit visa requirements if the itinerary passes through another country;
- Advising on applications for study, work, long-term stay or special purposes;
- Advising on handling cases with previous entry refusal, overstay or travel history requiring explanation;
- Supporting urgent, express or fast-track handling needs where applicable;
- Maintaining confidentiality of personal information and client dossiers.
For urgent, express or fast-track handling needs, Nhị Gia will review the travel purpose, available documents, intended departure date, declaration requirements and relevant application type to advise on a suitable handling option. The actual timeline depends on information completeness, additional requests if any and receiving rules at the relevant time.
Nhị Gia has recorded a high rate of smooth handling for eligible cases that are fully, truthfully and properly prepared in accordance with the entry purpose. However, permission to enter, visa issuance, pass issuance or related permits remain subject to the decision of the competent Singapore authority.
Nhị Gia Support Process for Singapore Applications
The support process at Nhị Gia focuses on checking the travel purpose first, advising on a suitable approach and helping clients prepare information based on each specific case.
- Step 1: Information Collection. Nhị Gia collects information about travel purpose, intended travel time, nationality, passport type, personal status, travel history, flight itinerary, accommodation and specific support needs.
- Step 2: Check Entry Category or Suitable Application Type. Nhị Gia checks whether the client falls under short-term visa exemption or needs a visa, pass or separate permit for study, work, long-term stay or special purposes.
- Step 3: Document Preparation and Declaration Guidance. Nhị Gia guides clients in preparing required documents, checking passport, itinerary, accommodation, flight ticket and supporting SG Arrival Card submission based on information provided by the client if needed.
- Step 4: Follow-Up and Handling Additional Matters. If the dossier or itinerary involves additional factors such as transit, business travel using ABTC/APEC, travel history or long-term stay needs, Nhị Gia advises on a suitable handling direction before departure.
- Step 5: Information Delivery and Pre-Departure Guidance. Nhị Gia delivers information, guides document rechecking and advises clients on key points to prepare before entering Singapore.
If you need to travel to Singapore for tourism, business, family visit, study, work, long-term stay or another suitable purpose, the correct entry requirements, application type and required documents should be checked before departure.
With experience handling various visa and entry application groups, Nhị Gia supports clients in preparing clear, purpose-consistent and case-appropriate information. For urgent, express or fast-track handling needs, Nhị Gia will review the actual dossier status and advise on a suitable option.
Please contact Hotline 1900 6654 or email info@nhigia.vn for case-specific consultation from Nhị Gia’s specialists.
