Explore Singapore visa-free: With visa-free transit, Indian travelers can leave the airport, explore Singapore, and make the most of long layovers without applying for a separate visa.

What is Singapore's 96-hour visa-free transit facility? Singapore allows certain travelers to stay in the country for up to 96 hours without a visa under its Visa-Free Transit Facility (VFTF). This facility is for travelers transiting through Singapore from a third country.

Who can benefit from this facility? The VFTF facility is available to citizens of India, select Chinese travelers, and citizens of CIS countries, Georgia, Turkmenistan, and Japan. Entry under this scheme is not automatic and is subject to approval by the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.

Indian passport holders may be granted a 96-hour visa-free transit when Singapore is a transit point in their journey to or from another country. Travelers must depart Singapore by air or sea within 96 hours, although they can arrive by any mode of transport.

Indian travelers must hold a valid visa or entry permit for countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, or Switzerland. The visa must be valid for entry and have at least one month remaining before its expiry date upon arrival in Singapore.

What if you have a single-journey visa? Single-journey visa holders may also be eligible for VFTF on their return journey, provided they are traveling directly from the country that issued the visa, transiting through Singapore on their way home, and have not returned to India after the last use of the visa.

Travelers who remain within the airport and do not go through immigration are considered transit passengers and are not covered under the VFTF. However, passengers who need to collect their baggage, re-check it, or obtain a boarding pass and clear immigration are considered to have entered Singapore and must meet the requirements of the Visa-Free Transit Facility (VFTF).

Many low-cost airlines require immigration clearance even during transit. Passengers are advised to check with their airline in advance regarding the specific procedures at their transit airport.

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