Yes, Indian passport holders need a visa for Singapore, and it has to be arranged before you fly: there is no visa on arrival for ordinary Indian passports. You apply through a Singapore-authorised visa agent in India, pay an official fee of S$30 plus the agent's service fee, and the visa arrives as an e-visa, usually in three to five working days. This Singapore visa for Indians guide walks through each step, with the rules as they stand in September 2026.
Who needs a visa, and the exceptions
The official source is Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), whose India visa page at ica.gov.sg sets the rules; the fees and agent lists are published by the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi and the Consulates-General in Mumbai and Chennai. India is on ICA's list of visa-required countries, and only diplomatic, official and service passports are exempt. ICA does not accept visa applications at the immigration counter.
The other exception is the 96-hour Visa Free Transit Facility, for Indians passing through Singapore to or from a third country who hold a visa or long-term pass for the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany or Switzerland (a Schengen visa good for Germany or Switzerland counts), valid for at least a month after entering Singapore, with an onward air, ferry or cruise ticket within 96 hours. It cannot be extended, and it is built for a stopover on the way to another country, not for a holiday that starts and ends in India.
How to apply, step by step
- Choose an authorised agent. The New Delhi High Commission and the Mumbai and Chennai consulates each publish a list, and the Chennai list covers agents in Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The missions no longer take walk-in applications. A Singapore citizen or permanent resident with a Singpass account can also submit the application online for you as your local contact.
- Fill in Form 14A in full and sign it, and give the agent your passport copy, photo and anything else they ask for. You do not need to buy flights before applying.
- The agent submits the application online to ICA.
- If the visa is approved, the agent or local contact prints the e-visa for you. You can also download it from ICA's status enquiry with the application reference number and your passport number.
- Check that the name and passport number match your passport, then file the SG Arrival Card online within the three days before you land.
Fee as of September 2026
ICA's visa processing fee is S$30. On top of it comes the authorised agent's service fee, and the published figures differ by mission:
| Mission | Visa fee | Agent's fee |
|---|---|---|
| High Commission, New Delhi | ₹2,100 | ₹1,300 |
| Consulate-General, Mumbai | ₹2,100 | ₹1,300 |
| Consulate-General, Chennai | S$30 at its rate | ₹1,000 plus any admin fee |
The Chennai list is the one that covers agents in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. It gives no fixed rupee figure for the S$30, which converts at the consulate's own consular rate (about ₹2,250 at the market rate in September 2026), and notes that some agents charge other administrative fees, so ask the agent for the full total before you pay. All of it is non-refundable, whether the visa is granted or refused. The visa is not part of any Travloger package price; we help with the paperwork and confirm the current fee with your quote.
Documents you need
- Form 14A, completed in full and signed by the applicant.
- A photocopy of the passport's biodata page; the Chennai consulate also asks for the last page. The passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you enter Singapore.
- A recent colour photograph taken within the last three months, 35 mm by 45 mm, on a plain white background. ICA asks for one and the New Delhi High Commission lists two, so carry a spare.
- Form V39A, a letter of introduction from a local contact who is a Singapore citizen or permanent resident aged 21 or over. The Mumbai consulate lists it; otherwise it is asked for case by case.
- Any further supporting documents ICA or the agent requests. The New Delhi and Mumbai missions ask for any document in Hindi to be translated into English.
Processing time and when to apply
ICA says it processes an application in three working days, not counting the day of submission. The Indian missions say three to five working days after the agent submits, not counting the day of submission, weekends or public holidays, and some applications take longer.
ICA advises applying within 30 days before you arrive. The Chennai consulate suggests applying at least a week ahead in quiet months and two to four weeks ahead in its busy season, March to May.
Validity, single or multiple journey, and how long you can stay
The validity printed on the visa is only the window in which you may seek entry. It is set application by application, as a single-journey or multiple-journey visa, and it cannot be extended or changed once issued. How long you may actually stay is decided by the immigration officer at the checkpoint and shown on the electronic visit pass, the e-Pass, emailed to you on arrival; it is not tied to the visa's validity dates.
A single-journey visa can be used only once, so a cruise, or a side trip to Malaysia or Bali that brings you back into Singapore, needs a multiple-journey visa still valid on the day you return, or a fresh application. Which type a first-time applicant gets is decided per application and not published, so tell the agent your full route. A visa also cannot be moved to a new passport.
The SG Arrival Card
Every traveller, children included, submits the SG Arrival Card, which includes a health declaration, on the official ICA website or the MyICA app within three days before arrival; the three days include the day you land. It is free, and ICA does not endorse paid services, so ignore any site that charges for it. ICA also says short-term visitors should have proof of onward travel and enough money for the stay, so keep your return ticket and hotel confirmation on your phone.
Common mistakes that cost people a trip
- Travelling on a passport with less than six months left from the date of entry.
- Using a single-journey visa for a cruise or a Malaysia or Bali loop that comes back through Singapore.
- Renewing the passport after the visa is issued: the visa does not move to the new one.
- A photo that is the wrong size, older than three months or not on a plain white background.
- Reading the visa's validity dates as the length of stay; the e-Pass decides that.
- Paying a website to file the SG Arrival Card, which is free on ICA's site and app.
Questions we are asked most
Do Indians need a visa for Singapore?
Yes. Ordinary Indian passport holders must get a visa before travelling, through a Singapore-authorised visa agent; there is no visa on arrival. It is issued as an e-visa, usually in three to five working days (as of September 2026).
How much is the Singapore visa fee for Indians?
The official processing fee is S$30, charged as ₹2,100 by the New Delhi and Mumbai missions, plus the agent's service fee of ₹1,300 there or ₹1,000 through Chennai-listed agents. It is non-refundable (as of September 2026).
How long does a Singapore visa take for Indians?
ICA says three working days, and the Indian missions say three to five working days after the agent submits, not counting the submission day, weekends and public holidays. ICA advises applying within 30 days before arrival.
With the visa sorted, the rest of the planning is on the Singapore tour packages page: the full trip cost, the best time to go and the 4-day itinerary. Planning a week with Kuala Lumpur? Malaysia's entry rules are different and are in Malaysia visa-free for Indians, and Singapore or Malaysia compares the two. Our 7 Days Singapore Malaysia Twin Country Escape starts in Singapore and ends in Kuala Lumpur, so you enter Singapore only once.
