Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travellers with new no-boarding directive

From 30 January 2026, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will issue No-Boarding Directive (NBD) notices to airline operators at Changi and Seletar Airports, to prevent undesirable or prohibited immigrants, and those who do not meet Singapore’s entry requirements, from boarding flights bound for Singapore. This upstream measure will enhance Singapore border security.

Use of Advance Traveler Information
Currently, ICA leverages advance traveler information, including that provided in the SG Arrival Card (SGAC), flight manifests and other sources of data, to identify high-risk travelers before they arrive at our checkpoints. Upon arrival, these travelers are flagged for more stringent checks when they clear immigration.

However, from January 2026, ICA will issue NBD notices to airlines against identified prohibited or undesirable travelers. Airlines that receive an NBD notice must not allow these travelers to board the flight for Singapore. ICA may also issue NBDs against travelers who do not meet Singapore’s entry requirements, such as possessing a valid visa or a travel document with at least six months’ validity.

Objective of NBD
The NBD allows ICA to prevent identified prohibited or undesirable travelers from boarding the flight for Singapore. This strengthens Singapore’s border security by keeping potential threats from reaching the country in the first place.

ICA has briefed the airline operators and will continue to work with them to ensure the smooth operationalization of the NBD regime. Upon receiving advance traveler information from the airlines, ICA will screen the travelers due to travel to Singapore. Prohibited or undesirable immigrants and those who are ineligible for entry into Singapore will be subject to an NBD.

When such travelers check-in for a flight to Singapore, the airline which has been issued the NBD notice must deny these travelers from boarding the flight. In some cases, the airlines may be required to perform additional checks, such as verification of visa or SGAC submission, before allowing the passenger or crew member to board the flight.

Travelers who are denied boarding but still wish to travel to Singapore will be required to write to ICA (via the ICA Feedback Channel) to seek approval for entry, before arranging a new flight to Singapore.

Airline operators which fail to comply with an NBD notice will be guilty of a strict liability offense, under the Immigration Act 1959. It will then be liable on conviction to a fine of up to S$10,000 (US$ 7,740). If a pilot of the aircraft or an employee of the airline operator enables a person subjected to an NBD to board an aircraft (whether by act or omission), he or she will be liable on conviction to a fine of up to S$10,000 or imprisonment for a term of up to 6 months, or both.

According to the Straits Times, Singapore main newspaper, around 41,800 foreigners were turned away at the Republic’s checkpoints in the first 11 months of 2025. This represents a jump of 26% over 2024 and 46% more than those refused entry in 2023.