 "Booked ticket for Singapore? Check new rule if you are eligible to board from January 2026")
Starting January 30 next year travellers flying to Singapore may be barred from boarding their flights if flagged as “undesirable” or found not meeting entry requirements, under a new “no-boarding directive” announced by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
The directive requires airlines to verify advance passenger information — including visa and passport validity, SG Arrival Card data, and any prior immigration or security flags — before allowing boarding.
Passengers failing these checks will be denied entry even before departure.
Airlines permitting flagged passengers to board face fines of up to SGD 10,000, while airline staff, including pilots and ground personnel, can be fined up to SGD 10,000 or jailed for up to six months if found complicit.
Travelers denied boarding can still appeal by contacting ICA through the “ICA Feedback Channel” to seek approval before rebooking their flights.
The measure effectively moves Singapore’s security and immigration checks upstream, from arrival to departure. Business travelers, tourists, HR teams, travel agents, and frequent flyers are advised to ensure all documentation is thoroughly verified prior to booking or check-in, as boarding may now be refused.
Use of advance traveller information
Currently, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) uses advance traveller information — including data from the SG Arrival Card, flight manifests, and other sources — to identify high-risk travellers before they reach Singapore’s checkpoints. Flagged individuals undergo more stringent checks upon arrival.
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View AllStarting January 2026, ICA will issue Non-Boarding Directive (NBD) notices to airlines targeting prohibited or undesirable travellers.
Airlines receiving an NBD must prevent these passengers from boarding flights to Singapore. The directive will also apply to travellers who do not meet entry requirements, such as having a valid visa or a travel document with at least six months’ validity.
Objective of the NBD
The NBD allows ICA to block identified high-risk travellers from boarding flights to Singapore, strengthening border security by keeping potential threats away from the country before arrival.
“Airline operators which fail to comply with an NBD notice will be guilty of a strict liability offence under the Immigration Act 1959 and may face fines of up to SGD 10,000. Pilots or airline employees who allow a person subject to an NBD to board — whether by act or omission — may be fined up to SGD 10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both,” ICA said.
With inputs from agencies
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