If you are planning to travel to Singapore from the UK, it is important to check visa requirements and learn which documents you may need to be granted entry, depending on the length and intended purpose of your stay.
While it may not be necessary to obtain a Singapore visa for your trip if you are not planning a long-term stay, it may be necessary to arrange other travel documentation if entering Singapore from the UK.
Who needs a visa for Singapore?
Singapore entry requirements currently state that nationals of all countries not designated as ‘Assessment Level I’ or ‘Assessment Level II’ do not need a visa for Singapore due to visa waiver agreements.
The majority of visa-exempt nationalities for Singapore are granted a visa-free stay of up to 30 days for tourism or business purposes. However, citizens of all European Union countries, as well as the UK, the United States and Australia, among others, are permitted to visit for up to 90 days without a visa.
All other foreign citizens are either required to obtain a visa for Singapore regardless of the motive for their stay or the intended length of the visit, whether through a local Singaporean contact or a strategic partner in Singapore, or at the nearest Singaporean diplomatic mission or one of its authorized visa agents abroad.
Do you need a visa for Singapore from the UK?
Because of an existing visa waiver agreement between the UK and Singapore, British citizens do not need a visa for Singapore if only planning to visit for a short stay.
The majority of British passport holders are granted permission to stay upon arrival for up to 3 months for tourism or business, although those who do not have right of abode in the UK are only allowed to stay for up to 30 days without a visa.
To gain entry to Singapore from the UK for stays under 90 days, it is necessary to present a British passport valid for at least 6 months from the entry date to border control officials upon arrival.
It is also necessary to present some additional supporting documentation to guarantee entry, such as:
- A ticket for onward or return travel (and a valid visa for the onward destination, if applicable)
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover the entire stay
- A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever (only if arriving via a country in the yellow fever belt in Africa or South America)
- An approved SG Arrival Card.
An SG Arrival Card is a mandatory requirement for all foreign visitors to Singapore and can either be obtained online before departure or at an electronic booth upon arrival, although this latter option may involve having to wait in long immigation queues at the border.
Singapore SG Card for British Citizens
All British citizens arriving in Singapore by air, no matter the period of expected stay or motive for traveling, must have a completed SG Card before they may be granted entry to the city-state.
An SG Card is not a visa: it is an electronic registration document introduced to replace the now-defunct paper Disembarkation Card for Singapore, and can be issued using a simple online application in just a few minutes.
To complete this online form, British nationals are required to fill out the application with contact details, basic passport data, and their travel plans, as well as to make a declaration of good health.
If submitting an SG Card application online from the UK, travelers are advised to complete the request at least 5 business dates before the intended date of arrival on the island, to allow for sufficient processing time.
Nevertheless, applying for a SG card online before traveling to Singapore is considered the most efficient option, as it removes the need to wait in lengthy lines to complete a form on arrival.
Can a UK citizen move to Singapore?
Although British citizens are permitted visa-free entry to Singapore for short stays,passport holders with right of abode in the UK will be required to have an approved visa for any visit intended to last longer than 90 days, or for purposes other than business or tourism.
This means that any British national who wishes to move to Singapore for permanent residency, or who wishes to obtain a study or work visa for Singapore, must apply for the relevant travel document in advance.
The application process will require the traveler to make a visa appointment at the Singaporean consulate or High Commission in London at least a few weeks before their intended period of stay to allow for sufficient processing time,
It is also necessary to bring a range of supporting documentation to the embassy interview before the visa may be approved, which differs depending on the type of visa the applicant has selected.
