The Singapore Arrival Card is completely free (SGD 0). Any website charging a fee is a scam. The only legitimate portal is ica.gov.sg β operated by Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.
The SGAC scam involves fake websites that charge travellers SGD 10–80 to apply for Singapore’s Singapore Arrival Card β a document that is completely free when obtained through the official ICA portal. These unauthorized third-party portals exploit travellers who are unfamiliar with the Singapore Arrival Card requirement, copying the look and feel of Singapore’s government websites to appear legitimate.
The Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) is a mandatory electronic declaration submitted by all non-Malaysian international visitors before arriving in Singapore. Introduced in 2023, it replaced the older paper disembarkation/embarkation (DE) cards and must be submitted up to 3 days before arrival. The application takes approximately 5 minutes and costs SGD 0 β there is no government fee of any kind.
Fake SGAC websites exploit three traveller vulnerabilities:
https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/
entering-singapore/sg-arrival-card
Cost: SGD 0 | Time: ~5 minutes | Domain: .gov.sg only
ICA has officially named these three domains as fraudulent. They are not affiliated with ICA or the Singapore government in any way. Any SGAC submission made through these sites is not recognized at Singapore’s borders.
| Fake Domain | ICA Status | Fee Charged | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| application.singaporevisa.com | ✕ Confirmed Fake | SGD 10–50 | CRITICAL |
| discovering-sg.com | ✕ Confirmed Fake | SGD 10–80 | CRITICAL |
| discover-singaporepass.com | ✕ Confirmed Fake | SGD 10–80 | CRITICAL |
application.singaporevisa.com positions itself as a Singapore visa and arrival card authority, using the word “singaporevisa” to imply official government status. The site presents an SGAC application form that mimics ICA’s official format β then charges applicants a fee ranging from approximately SGD 10 to SGD 50.
Travellers who used this site may arrive at Changi Airport without a valid SGAC on record and face delays at immigration.
.com, not .gov.sg. Any legitimate Singapore government service is hosted under the gov.sg domain.
discovering-sg.com presents itself as a Singapore travel discovery portal, using tourist-friendly language and imagery to build trust. Embedded within travel content is an unauthorized SGAC application service that collects personal data and charges fees.
The site is particularly dangerous because its travel-blog format does not immediately suggest it is an SGAC processing site β travellers may find it through social media or search results.
discover-singaporepass.com exploits the terminology around Singapore’s government identification systems, using “Singapore Pass” to imply it handles official travel authorizations. The site charges fees for SGAC applications and collects passport details and payment information.
The SGAC submissions it processes are not forwarded to ICA’s systems β your entry to Singapore may be at risk.
A fake SGAC website always charges a fee β since the official Singapore Arrival Card from ICA is absolutely free (SGD 0), any website requesting payment for an SGAC application is guaranteed to be a scam. However, payment is not the only warning sign. Look for all seven red flags below before submitting any personal information.
ica.gov.sg.
The SGAC is free. The ICA charges SGD 0 for all Singapore Arrival Card applications. Any website requesting payment β whether SGD 5, SGD 20, or SGD 80 β is fraudulent. No exceptions.
Singapore government services are exclusively hosted on .gov.sg domains. The legitimate SGAC portal is at ica.gov.sg. If the URL contains .com, .net, .org, or any variation other than ica.gov.sg, it is not an official portal.
Official government websites undergo strict editorial review. Grammatical errors, awkward phrasing, or misspelled words on an “SGAC application” page are strong indicators of a fake site built quickly by scam operators.
The SGAC application requires only: passport information, travel dates, accommodation address, and contact details. No payment step exists at any point in the legitimate application. If a site asks for credit card or payment details, close the window immediately.
Fake SGAC websites frequently display warnings such as “Apply now or risk denial at immigration” or “Last chance β submit before your flight.” The genuine ICA portal only notifies travellers of the 3-day submission requirement in neutral, factual language. Manufactured urgency is a hallmark of phishing websites.
Check your browser’s address bar. A legitimate government website will have a padlock icon confirming an active HTTPS connection. If the padlock is absent, shows a warning, or clicking it reveals certificate issues, the site is not secure. Never submit passport data on an unencrypted connection.
ICA’s official portal displays the Singapore Government crest and is clearly branded as a government service. Fake SGAC sites sometimes copy design elements but cannot legally replicate official government branding in full. Its absence on an “SGAC application” site is a definitive warning sign.
The only legitimate SGAC application portal is operated by ICA under the gov.sg domain β any website outside this domain offering SGAC applications is unauthorized and should not be used. Verifying legitimacy takes less than 30 seconds using the five checks below.
Navigate to your browser’s address bar. The URL must begin exactly with https://www.ica.gov.sg. Any variation β including http://, ica.com.sg, or any .com domain β is not the official portal.
The official ICA portal displays the Singapore Government crest at the top of the page. This is a standardized element present on all gov.sg websites. Its absence is an immediate red flag.
Click the padlock icon in your browser’s address bar. It should confirm the certificate is issued to ica.gov.sg or the Singapore Government. A mismatch between the certificate and URL indicates domain spoofing.
Progress through the application form. No payment step should appear β not at the start, not halfway through, and not at confirmation. The SGAC confirmation page simply displays a QR code. If any payment prompt appears, exit immediately.
Bookmark the verified official URL below and use it directly. Avoid searching for “SGAC apply” in search engines β unauthorized sites sometimes appear in paid ad placements above official results.
Bookmark this β it is the only legitimate SGAC application portal:
https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/entering-singapore/sg-arrival-card
Apply Free via Official Guide →
| ✅ REAL | ica.gov.sg |
| ✕ FAKE | application.singaporevisa.com |
| ✕ FAKE | discovering-sg.com |
| ✕ FAKE | discover-singaporepass.com |
The official Singapore Arrival Card application is available at ica.gov.sg, takes approximately 5 minutes to complete, requires no payment at any stage, and generates a valid QR code confirmation that is recognized at all Singapore entry checkpoints.
Go to https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/entering-singapore/sg-arrival-card
Select “Apply for SG Arrival Card”
Enter your personal and travel details
Review the health and customs declaration questions
Submit β no payment screen will appear
Receive a confirmation email with a QR code β save this for Changi Airport immigration
Act immediately. Contact your bank for a chargeback, report the scam to Singapore Police and ICA, then resubmit your SGAC through the official ICA portal at no cost. Your ability to dispute a payment decreases after 72 hours.
See Recovery Steps ↓If you paid a fake SGAC website, immediately contact your bank to initiate a chargeback, report the scam to Singapore Police and ICA, then resubmit your Singapore Arrival Card through the official ICA portal at no cost. Act quickly β your ability to dispute a payment decreases after 72 hours in most cases.
Do not panic. The situation is fixable. Follow these three steps in order:
Call your bank or credit card provider as soon as you realize you were scammed. Request a chargeback β a reversal of the fraudulent transaction. Provide:
Reporting is important β it helps Singapore authorities track and shut down fake SGAC domains. Your report protects other travellers.
Report to Singapore Police:
Report to ICA:
Report to ScamAlert Singapore (NCPC):
Before your trip:
Go to the official ICA portal: ica.gov.sg
Submit a new SGAC with your correct travel details
This is completely free β it takes approximately 5 minutes
Save the official QR code confirmation from ICA’s email
Fake SGAC websites are convincing because they copy the visual design of ICA’s official portal, use similar-sounding domain names, and exploit the psychological pressure travellers feel in the days before an international flight. Understanding why they work helps you stay vigilant.
Scam operators invest time in copying Singapore government website layouts, colour schemes, and terminology. At a glance, a fake SGAC site can appear nearly indistinguishable from a legitimate government portal. Only the URL gives it away.
Names like singaporevisa, discovering-sg, and discover-singaporepass all sound plausibly related to Singapore’s official travel documentation. Scammers deliberately choose domain names that register as “Singapore + travel document” in a traveller’s mind.
Fraudulent SGAC sites have been reported appearing in paid advertising slots on search engines above official results. When a traveller searches “Singapore Arrival Card apply,” they may click the first link β which could be a paid ad for an unauthorized site.
Fake SGAC sites are promoted on Facebook, Instagram, and travel forums through paid posts and fake positive reviews. This creates a false sense of legitimacy among travellers who use peer recommendations as a trust signal.
SGAC scams are part of a broader pattern of travel document fraud targeting Singapore-bound visitors β always verify that any travel-related government service uses a gov.sg domain before entering personal data. The SGAC is the most commonly targeted document, but other Singapore entry requirements face similar fraud risks.
Yes β the Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) is completely free. ICA charges SGD 0 for all applications. There are no processing fees, administrative charges, or premium submission costs. Any website charging for an SGAC is operating fraudulently.
The only official SGAC application portal is hosted by ICA at:
https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/entering-singapore/sg-arrival-card
No other website is authorized to accept SGAC applications.
No β discovering-sg.com is a confirmed fake SGAC website named in ICA’s official advisory. It is not affiliated with the Singapore government in any way. Do not submit personal information or payment on this site.
No β application.singaporevisa.com is a fraudulent website identified by ICA. Singapore’s official ICA portal is ica.gov.sg. The .com domain is a clear indicator that this is not a government service.
Your submission through a fake site may not be recognized. Third-party unauthorized sites do not submit your data to ICA’s systems. You should immediately resubmit a new SGAC through the official ICA portal at no cost. Your legitimate ICA confirmation QR code is what immigration officers at Changi Airport and other entry points will check.
Yes β in many cases you can. Contact your bank or credit card provider immediately and request a chargeback. Describe the payment as a fraudulent transaction for a misrepresented service. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express all have fraud protection that covers this type of scam. Act within 48β72 hours for the best outcome.
Yes β and it matters. Report to Singapore Police at police.gov.sg/iWitness and to ICA through the iEnquiry form on ica.gov.sg. Your report provides ICA with evidence to pursue removal of the fake domain and warns other travellers. Also report to ScamAlert Singapore at scamalert.sg.
The official ICA website is at ica.gov.sg β a verified .gov.sg domain. It displays the Singapore Government crest, has a valid HTTPS certificate, and at no point requests payment during the SGAC application process. If you see any deviation from these criteria, you are not on the official site.
Travel agents cannot process SGAC applications on your behalf through any legitimate means. The SGAC is a personal declaration requiring your direct input. Any travel agent or service claiming to process SGACs for you is either (a) using a fake site on your behalf or (b) simply going to the official free portal and charging you for doing so. Apply directly β it takes 5 minutes and costs nothing.
Report it using the platform’s built-in reporting tools. On Google, click the three dots next to the search ad and select “Report this ad.” On Facebook, use the dropdown menu on the post to select “Report post.” You should also report the URL to ICA at ica.gov.sg and to ScamAlert Singapore at scamalert.sg.
ICA does not currently have a dedicated SGAC mobile app. The application is completed through a mobile-responsive browser at ica.gov.sg. Any app claiming to be an “SG Arrival Card” application in app stores should be treated with extreme caution unless it links directly to and opens the official ica.gov.sg portal.
Arriving without a valid SGAC may result in delays at immigration and you may be directed to complete the declaration at the checkpoint. Singapore immigration officers have the authority to require declaration completion before clearance. To avoid delays, submit your official SGAC through ica.gov.sg ideally 1β3 days before arrival.
The SGAC scam is straightforward to avoid: the Singapore Arrival Card is free, and the only legitimate portal is ica.gov.sg. Any other website offering SGAC services β regardless of how professional or official it appears β is unauthorized.
https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/entering-singapore/sg-arrival-card
If you have already used a fake site, act immediately: contact your bank for a chargeback, report to Singapore Police and ICA, and resubmit your SGAC through the official portal.
Apply Free via Official Guide →Information in this guide is based on official ICA advisories and Singapore government policy. Official URLs and fee information are verified against ICA’s publications. For the most current advisory list, visit ica.gov.sg directly.
Step-by-step walkthrough of the legitimate SGAC application through the official ICA portal. Free, takes 5 minutes.
Apply Guide →Singapore’s eHDC is integrated into the SGAC form. Learn what to declare and how to complete it correctly.
eHDC Guide →Complete overview of all documentation required to enter Singapore β passport, SGAC, visa requirements by nationality.
Entry Guide →