Changi Airport Guide

Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) handles arrivals across four terminals east of the city. The airport is well-signed and efficient, but a few things are worth knowing before you land, particularly if you are arriving at Terminal 4, which sits separately from the other three.

For the full Singapore destination guide, see Singapore travel guide.

Before You Land: SG Arrival Card

The Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) is mandatory for all foreign visitors and must be submitted online before landing. It is free and replaces the paper disembarkation card that Singapore used to issue on the plane. Submit it within 72 hours of your intended arrival using the MyICA Mobile App or the ICA website at ica.gov.sg. You will need your passport details, flight number, and an accommodation address in Singapore. After submitting, save the confirmation screen to your phone as you may be asked to show it at the desk.

Do not submit more than 72 hours before arrival as the system will not recognise your arrival date if you do.

Visas and Immigration

Singapore operates a visa-free arrangement with over 90 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and most of Southeast Asia. Eligible visitors are typically granted 30 to 90 days on arrival with no fee or prior application. Some nationalities require a visa arranged in advance. Always check your entry requirements with the Singapore Embassy or the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority before travel. Entry rules change without notice.

At the immigration desks, officers take fingerprints from both index fingers. Singapore operates automated ICA e-gates for eligible biometric passport holders. Follow signs for the automated lanes, place your passport on the reader, and scan your fingerprints. Most travelers clear immigration in 10 to 20 minutes. Peak periods, particularly weekend evenings when several long-haul flights arrive together, can run longer.

Changi’s Four Terminals

T1, T2, and T3 form a connected cluster. A free automated Skytrain runs between all three terminals in both the public and transit areas, supplemented by pedestrian walkways and moving walkways. T4 sits on the other side of the airport road system and is not connected to the Skytrain. US visitors accustomed to older hub airports like JFK or LAX will find Changi strikingly clean, fast, and well-signed, but the T4 separation is the one thing that catches people off-guard.

• T1: the original terminal, recently refurbished, serving Singapore Airlines and Star Alliance carriers. Direct pedestrian connection to Jewel Changi Airport from the arrival hall.
• T2: refurbished with a nature-themed design. Connected to T1 and T3 by Skytrain.
• T3: the largest terminal, with a butterfly garden in the transit area. Shares the MRT station with T2.
• T4: the newest terminal, designed for efficiency with self-service check-in kiosks and automated bag drop. Serves mainly AirAsia, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, and other budget and regional carriers. No MRT access directly from T4.

If you arrive at T4, take the free shuttle bus to T3 (roughly 10 minutes, runs frequently), then connect to the MRT or other transport from there. Build this into your onward timing.

Jewel Changi Airport

Jewel is a glass-domed complex attached to T1, housing the Rain Vortex, an indoor waterfall that drops 40 metres from the roof. It also has a forest garden, restaurants, shops, and the paid Canopy Park on the top floor. The Forest Valley and Rain Vortex viewing areas are free to enter.

Jewel is in the public landside area, which means you must have cleared immigration to visit. Transit passengers who have not cleared immigration cannot access Jewel without exiting through immigration first and then re-entering the terminal via security. Only consider this if you have several hours and your onward flight departs from T1, T2, or T3.

From T1, Jewel is a five-minute walk from the arrival hall. From T2 and T3, use the covered link bridges or take the Skytrain to T1.

SIM Cards, Cash, and Connectivity

All four arrival halls have SIM card counters from Singtel, StarHub, and M1. Tourist prepaid SIMs start from around S$10 to S$15 (roughly USD 7 to 11) for 7 to 14 days of data; plans up to 30 days are available from all three operators. If you prefer an eSIM, all three operators offer eSIM tourist plans that can be activated before you land (more on choosing a network, SIMBA, and free island-wide WiFi in the Singapore SIM card guide). Free WiFi is available throughout the airport on the #WiFi@Changi network, with sessions limited to three hours per login.

Singapore has largely moved to cashless payments. Contactless bank cards, Visa, and Mastercard are accepted at almost all shops, restaurants, and larger hawker centres. Some traditional hawker stalls and wet markets still operate cash-only, so keeping a small amount of Singapore Dollars on hand is worthwhile. ATMs are available at all four terminals and Jewel.

For public transport, the EZ-Link stored-value card costs around S$10 (~USD 7), which includes S$5 in travel credit and a S$5 non-refundable card fee (the S$5 credit is spendable; the S$5 card fee is not). Buy it at the Passenger Service Centre or a 7-Eleven counter in the arrival hall. Alternatively, tap your contactless bank card directly on the MRT fare gates through the SimplyGo system. Most international Visa and Mastercard cards work, with a small daily admin fee of around S$0.60 (~USD 0.45) for foreign cards. See the getting into the city by MRT for fare details and route maps.

Getting to the City

The MRT is the most cost-effective option for most travelers. Changi Airport MRT station (CG2) is located beneath T2 and T3. The airport line is a short spur, so you take the airport train to Tanah Merah (EW4) and change to the East-West Line heading toward the city. The journey to City Hall takes around 35 minutes and costs S$1.50 to S$2.20 (~USD 1.10 to 1.65) with a stored-value card. Trains run from approximately 5:30am to midnight. Check before travelling as schedules can change. If you arrive at T4, take the free shuttle bus to T3 before heading to the MRT station.

Grab pickup zones are in the basement of each terminal and are clearly signed. The app shows fares upfront with no airport surcharge, making costs predictable. Typical fares to the city centre range from S$22 to S$35 (roughly USD 16 to 26). During high-demand periods, fares rise.

Standard taxis use a metered system with an airport surcharge of S$3 (~USD 2.20) on Sunday through Thursday and S$5 (~USD 3.70) on Friday and Saturday. Typical daytime fares to the city centre work out to S$25 to S$40 all in (around USD 19 to 30). Between midnight and 6am, a 50% late-night surcharge applies, bringing typical fares to S$35 to S$55 (~USD 26 to 41). Taxi queues are outside the arrival hall at each terminal.

Bus 36 runs from the basement bus terminal beneath T1, T2, and T3 to Orchard Road and the city centre. It costs around S$2.10 (~USD 1.55) and takes about an hour. A practical option if you have time and light luggage.

Before You Leave the Terminal

Luggage storage is available at all four terminals and inside Jewel, charged by the hour or by the day. Useful if your hotel room is not ready and you want to explore the city without bags.

The Changi App lets you track your bags by flight number from the moment you land, and shows which baggage carousel your flight has been assigned to before you reach the hall.

Departing from Singapore

Changi recommends arriving two to three hours before departure for international flights. T4 runs self-service check-in kiosks and automated bag drop, which speeds up the process but can catch first-timers off-guard if they are used to staffed counters. If departing from T4, allow time for the shuttle bus from T4 to T2 or T3 if you need to cross terminals.

Security at all terminals uses the standard international rules: liquids limited to 100ml per container, carried in a single 1-litre clear resealable bag, and laptops and large electronics removed from bags at the scanner.

Singapore introduced a Singapore Airport Development Levy (SAF Levy) for departing passengers from 2026, which is collected as part of your ticket fare at check-in. Check your airline’s fare breakdown if you want to confirm the amount.