Are you coming to Singapore? Even the most seasoned traveller can feel a touch of disorientation in a new country, amidst the hustle and bustle of an unfamiliar airport.
Consistently ranked as one of the best airports in the world, Changi Airport facilitates a seamless airport experience for all travellers from the time you disembark your flight, to breezing through immigration and getting your airport transfer to the city.
From essential procedures like immigration and baggage claim, to other useful tips on shuttle bus services and other transport options to the city, tourist SIM card options and more, this arrival checklist will answer all your questions and guarantee you a smooth and enjoyable start to your holiday!
1. Fill up the SGAC
When you disembark from your flight at Singapore Changi Airport, you’ll be able to connect to Changi Airport’s free WiFi. Use this WiFi connection to fill up the SG Arrival Card (SGAC), which is an electronic arrival declaration form required by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for travellers entering Singapore.
As you will need to submit the SGAC before you clear immigration, you can complete the electronic form up to three days before your arrival. The MyICA app can link you to this mandatory form too.
To fill it up, you’ll need your flight details, travel history and passport information, as well as complete a health declaration.
Upon submitting the SGAC, you’ll receive a confirmation email. You won’t need to show this email to checkpoint staff, but do keep it handy in case it is needed for reference. Beware of sites that mimic the SGAC site, as they might phish for your information.
If you’re arriving at Terminals 2, 3 and 4, you can make use of Changi Airport’s baggage tracker service to get informed when your bags have arrived at the baggage claim belt. You can access this function on the Changi App and receive real-time information as to where your bags are and when they will be ready for collection from the conveyor belts. Check the list of participating airlines on Changi Airport’s website here.
2. Go through immigration
Immigration at Changi Airport is efficient, tech-forward, and traveller-friendly. Prominent signs will guide you towards the immigration area. Changi has separate lanes for Singapore citizens, residents and visitors. All foreign travellers arriving in Singapore are eligible for automated clearance, without the need for any prior registration. The immigration clearance system uses iris and facial biometrics as primary identifiers.
If you need assistance, proceed to a staffed immigration counter where an officer will assist you. You won’t need to show your completed SGAC as it will already be linked to your passport.
3. Enjoy duty-free and tax-free shopping
Since you’ll know exactly when your luggage will be ready for collection with the baggage tracker, you can take your time to enjoy the array of shopping available in Changi Airport’s transit areas.
Before baggage claim, you’ll pass boutiques selling duty-free perfumes and beauty products, as well as wines and spirits. The Shilla Duty Free retails an extensive mix of skincare and makeup products all in one place, plus travel exclusives and bundle sets from your favourite brands. So take the chance to stock up on beauty essentials as prices are tax-absorbed by Changi Airport.
If you would like to pick up some alcoholic beverages for your holiday in Singapore, note these restrictions. You have to be 18 years old or above, have spent 48 hours or more outside Singapore before arrival and are not arriving from Malaysia, to purchase up to:
- 1 litre of spirits and 1 litre of wine, or
- 1 litre of spirits and 1 litre of beer, or
- 1 litre of wine and 1 litre of beer, or
- 2 litres of wine, or
- 2 litres of beer.
If you are carrying more alcohol than this limit, you will have to pay tax for your alcohol.
Before leaving the transit area, check the flight information display screens or the app notifications from the baggage tracker to find your flight’s baggage claim carousel.
After immigration, you’ll pass through customs. Changi uses a red and green channel system—use the green channel if you have nothing to declare and the red channel if you have goods to declare.
4. Buy a SIM card and exchange currency
Free WiFi is available abundantly across Singapore, but for convenience, we recommend buying a SIM or an eSIM card from the airport so that you can have connectivity immediately.
SIM cards with large data bundles and wide coverage are available for as little as S$12 at Changi Recommends counters. You can find these counters in every arrival and departure hall. They have different packages tailored to different lengths of stay, and you can even rent WiFi routers that your whole travel party can connect to.
SIM cards are also sold in convenience stores like 7-Eleven and WHSmith, and at automated kiosks.
Once purchased, these SIM cards are usually easy to activate right away, and the staff can assist you with any setup.
If you need to change currency, the good news is, money changers can be easily found across all of Changi Airport’s terminals. They’re usually located side by side, so that travellers can compare their competitive rates. For convenience, you can also exchange currency online using Changi Recommends FX.
5. Get transport to the city
Several public transport services connect Changi to the rest of Singapore. You can take our clean and efficient MRT trains to the city, a journey which will take about 40 minutes. At the Changi Airport MRT station, you can pay for a bus and MRT card (also available at Changi Recommends kiosks around Changi’s terminal), called an EZ-Link card, by cash, Visa or Mastercard credit cards.
As for buses, there are bus stops in every terminal—in the basement of Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and on the ground level at Terminal 4. Just follow the signs in the airport to get to them. These buses can take you to the city centre or to other parts of Singapore.
Alternatively, you can use a ride hailing app (Grab, Gojek, Tada or Zig) or hail a taxi to get to the city centre in about 20 minutes.
There are also two taxi stands in Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and one taxi stand in Terminal 4. To get to the waiting area for rides hailed via the ride hailing apps, or to get to the taxi stands, follow the signage after you exit the baggage claim area.
If you’re travelling in a big group that might require six-seater vehicles, you can approach Changi Airport’s Ground Transport Concierge, located in the arrival halls of each terminal, to make a booking.
Changi Airport also offers a paid Airport Shuttle that takes passengers directly to hotels in central Singapore. Tickets can be purchased at the Ground Transport Concierge too. The fare is S$10 for adults and S$7 for children under 12.
If you’d like to get to another terminal, you can take the skytrains, which operate from 5:00am to 2:00am daily.
Car rental companies like Hertz, Avis, Budget and Sixt operate 24/7 counters in all four terminals’ arrival halls. The counters are typically located just outside the baggage claim areas, making it easy to pick up your car shortly after landing. If you book online, you can save time by heading directly to these respective counters for quick documentation and vehicle collection.
6. Embark on quintessential Singaporean experiences
You can book tickets to famous attractions like Gardens by the Bay and Mandai Wildlife Reserve on Changi Recommends.
On Changi Recommends, you can also buy a Singapore Tourist Pass, which entitles you to unlimited rides on all public transport!
For more authentic local experiences, take your pick from the litany of tours, attractions and exclusive offers available on various online travel agents.
7. Airport accommodation
If you’re laying over in Changi or have appointments near the airport, consider checking into a hotel within the airport. Crowne Plaza and YOTELAIR are award-winning hotels located within walking distance from the various terminals. This way, you can also visit Jewel and explore its myriad of shops, restaurants and attractions!
Crowne Plaza is a luxurious property adjoined to Terminal 3. Its entrance is on the ground floor of this terminal building. For a budget friendly option, check out YOTELAIR, which also offers day rates at blocks of four hours. Simply get to Jewel via the linkbridges from Terminals 2 or 3.
You’re all set! You’ll be glad to know that passport-less immigration clearance is now available in Changi Airport and it’s easy to get to the different terminals of Changi Airport. If you’re wondering if you need a VISA to enter Singapore, here’s a quick rundown and how to apply.
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