How do Indians get a Singapore visa, and what does it cost?

Singapore is one of the few popular short-haul destinations where Indians still need a visa in advance, and the process has a few quirks: you cannot apply as an individual, the fee is quoted in two currencies on two official pages, and the arrival card is free but heavily imitated. This guide sticks to figures and rules read on the Singapore government pages.

Exchange basis: S$1 = about INR 74.35 (open.er-api.com, 24 October 2026: USD 1 = INR 95.04 = S$1.278). Rupee amounts are rounded; your bank or forex card will add its own margin.

Singapore visa for Indians at a glance

Question	Answer	Source
Do Indians need a visa?	Yes, in advance	ICA Singapore
Can you apply yourself?	No. Apply through an authorised visa agent, strategic partner or local contact	ICA Singapore, High Commission of Singapore
Official fee	INR 2,100 per application, non-refundable (ICA’s India page lists S$30)	High Commission of Singapore in New Delhi; ICA
Agent service fee	Agents may charge up to Rs 1,300 on top	High Commission of Singapore in New Delhi
Processing time	3 working days (ICA) to 3 to 5 working days (High Commission), excluding submission day	ICA; High Commission
When to apply	Within 30 days before arrival	ICA; High Commission
Passport	Valid at least 6 months from entry	ICA; High Commission
Arrival card	SG Arrival Card, free, within 3 days before arrival	ICA Singapore

The Singapore visa application process for Indians

The visa is applied for online, and it is the agent or partner who submits the application, not you. ICA’s India page describes two routes:

• In Singapore: the application is submitted online through a strategic partner or a local contact in Singapore.
• At a Singapore overseas mission: the application is submitted at the nearest mission, or through its authorised visa agent. The High Commission of Singapore in New Delhi tells applicants to use one of its authorised visa agents.

For most Indian travellers, that means an authorised visa agent. The High Commission publishes the list as a PDF; its page (updated 3 August 2026) says the agents are in Delhi NCR, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab (and Nepal). Use only agents named on that official list, and be wary of anyone who cannot show that they are on it.

Documents

For a business or social visit, ICA and the High Commission list:

1. Form 14A, completed and signed by you. The application is based on what you declare in it.
2. A recent colour passport photograph taken within the last three months (the High Commission lists two copies).
3. A passport copy with the biodata page, valid for at least six months from your entry into Singapore.
4. Additional documents on a case-by-case basis, for example Form V39A, a Letter of Introduction from a local contact. The local contact must be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident aged at least 21. LOIs issued by your embassy or high commission may also be accepted.
5. English translations of any documents in Hindi or other languages.

The High Commission adds that applicants are not required to buy a flight ticket before applying, and that anyone who buys one before approval bears the loss if the visa is refused or its validity does not match the travel dates.

Fees, timing and what the visa does

• Fee: the High Commission lists INR 2,100 per application, paid when applying, and non-refundable even if the application is refused or withdrawn. It says authorised agents may charge a service fee of Rs 1,300 on top. ICA’s India page lists the processing fee as S$30, payable by Visa or MasterCard. At today’s rate S$30 is about INR 2,230, so the two pages describe broadly the same fee.
• Processing: ICA says within three working days, excluding the day of submission, and that some applications take longer. The High Commission says generally 3 to 5 working days, excluding submission day, weekends and public holidays.
• Collection: if approved, the agent, partner or local contact prints the e-Visa through ICA’s e-Service. You can also check status and reprint on the ICA website with your application number.
• When to apply: within 30 days before arrival.
• The visa is not a guarantee of entry: the High Commission page says that ICA officers decide entry at the border, and that you must also meet entry conditions such as a valid passport, sufficient funds and a confirmed onward or return ticket.
• Validity and stay: visa validity is the period in which you may seek entry. The length of stay is set by the ICA officer at the checkpoint and sent to you by email as a Visit Pass (e-Pass), with no passport stamp. So enter a valid email on the SG Arrival Card. Neither page we read states a standard validity period for the visa itself.

We are citing the ICA page as it stands (it shows a last-updated date of 2 March 2024), alongside the High Commission’s current pages. If a fee or time differs when you apply, follow the High Commission or your authorised agent’s official receipt.

Singapore visa free transit for Indians (96 hours)

Indians in transit through Singapore may qualify for the 96-hour Visa Free Transit Facility (VFTF), but only if every condition is met:

• You are in transit to or from a third country by air, and you may enter by any mode of transport but must depart by air or sea only.
• You hold a valid onward air, ferry or cruise ticket leaving Singapore within 96 hours.
• You hold a valid visa or long-term pass for Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the United States, with a validity of at least one month from the date you enter Singapore. For Germany or Switzerland, the High Commission specifies visas issued by those countries or Schengen visas good for entry there.
• Extension of stay is strictly not allowed, and ICA officers decide entry at the border.

The High Commission page warns that an Indian traveller with no valid Singapore visa who does not qualify for VFTF will not be allowed to enter.

That is how the US visa matters: it can make you eligible for transit without a Singapore visa. It does not turn into a tourist visa waiver for a holiday that is not a transit.

SG Arrival Card: free, and often copied

All travellers except those transiting without immigration clearance must submit the SG Arrival Card (SGAC) with an electronic health declaration before arriving in Singapore. ICA’s page lays out the rules:

• When: within three days (including the day of arrival) before you arrive.
• How: through ICA’s SGAC e-Service or the free MyICA Mobile app.
• Cost: free of charge.
• Not a visa: the SGAC is separate from your entry visa.
• Acknowledgement: you receive an email on submission. Keep it handy at the immigration counter.
• Health declaration: false declarations may be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases Act.

Fake and paid SG Arrival Card sites

ICA says it is aware of commercial entities and websites that provide paid services to submit the SG Arrival Card. Its public advisory (updated 15 September 2026) lists a long annex, 63 web addresses at the time we read it, many of them lookalikes using words such as “sg”, “arrival”, “singapore” and “visa”. ICA states that submission is free, should be done only through its official channels, and that these providers are not related to ICA and are not endorsed. If a site charges you to submit the arrival card, close it.

A 3-day Singapore plan (assembled from public information)

A compact first trip built from well-known sights, not a diary.

Day 1: Marina Bay

Arrive, check in, and head to Marina Bay in the late afternoon. Walk the waterfront around the Marina Bay Sands area, then stay for the evening light show at Gardens by the Bay (check show timings before you go).

Day 2: Chinatown, Little India and the river

Morning in Chinatown (the temples, heritage streets and food centres), then Little India for lunch and the temples and markets there. Evening at Clarke Quay or a river walk.

Day 3: Sentosa or Jewel, then fly home

Spend the morning at Sentosa (beaches and attractions) if you like theme parks and sea views, or at Jewel Changi Airport if you want an easy last day before a flight. Leave generous buffer for check-in.

Cost of a 3-day trip from India (INR, estimates)

Item	Cost (per person)	Where the number comes from
Visa processing fee	INR 2,100	High Commission of Singapore in New Delhi
Agent service fee	up to INR 1,300	High Commission of Singapore in New Delhi (maximum allowed)
Hotel, 2 nights, private room shared by 2	INR 12,000 to 30,000	Our planning range
Food, 3 days	INR 4,000 to 8,000	Our planning range
MRT, buses, ride-hailing	INR 1,500 to 3,000	Our planning range
Attractions	INR 6,000 to 15,000	Our planning range
SIM or eSIM, small extras	INR 1,000 to 2,500	Our planning range
Total without flights	about INR 27,000 to 62,000

These are budgeting ranges, not quotes. For your own dates and group size, use our trip cost calculator. To compare Singapore with places that need no advance visa for Indians right now, see our visa-free countries for Indians tool.

Vegetarian food in Singapore

Little India and the areas around Serangoon Road have many Indian vegetarian restaurants, and hawker centres usually have at least one vegetarian stall. Chinese vegetarian restaurants are common too. Ask for “no meat, no fish” and check for fish sauce or shrimp paste in sauces. Jain travellers should carry a printed note listing no onion, garlic or root vegetables.

Quick checklist before you fly

• Visa applied for through an authorised visa agent (check the agent on the High Commission’s official list)
• Passport valid for at least 6 months from entry, and the e-Visa printed
• Confirmed onward or return ticket, hotel booking and funds for your stay
• SG Arrival Card submitted free within 3 days of arrival, only through ICA’s e-Service or the MyICA app
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended)

Planning more Asia trips? See our Malaysia visa guide, our Sri Lanka visa guide and our Dubai visa guide.