Singapore Visa for UAE Residents: Who Needs One and How to Apply

The short answer: whether you need a Singapore visa depends on your passport, not your UAE residence. Indian, Pakistani, Egyptian and Bangladeshi passport holders need one. You cannot apply at the embassy: from the UAE you apply through an authorised agent, such as VFS Global or Uranus Travel & Tours in Dubai, for an SGD 30 visa fee plus an AED 65 agent fee. Emiratis, Filipinos and British, European and American passport holders need no visa. Everyone fills in the free SG Arrival Card before landing.

Singapore is about seven hours from Dubai and works as a holiday on its own or as a stop on the way to Bali, Malaysia or Australia. Since January 2026, airlines check your eligibility before you board, so the paperwork has to be right before you fly.

Singapore entry rules for UAE residents at a glance

Your passport	What you need (October 2026)
India, Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh and other visa-required countries	Visa, applied for through an authorised agent in the UAE
UAE, Philippines, UK, EU, US and most others	No visa; stay as granted on arrival
Everyone	SG Arrival Card, free, within 3 days before arrival
Everyone	Passport valid for at least 6 months

Who needs a visa for Singapore

Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) publishes the list of nationalities that need a visa. As of its June 2026 update, it includes India, Pakistan, Egypt and Bangladesh, along with countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Yemen. UAE citizens do not need a visa.

If your passport is not on the list, you enter visa-free and the officer grants your stay on arrival. Check your own passport on the ICA visa requirements page before you book.

How to apply from the UAE

The Singapore Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate-General in Dubai do not take applications over the counter. You have three routes:

• Dubai: the consulate's authorised agents, VFS Global (Wafi Mall) and Uranus Travel & Tours
• Abu Dhabi: the embassy's authorised agent, Omeir Travel Agency
• A contact in Singapore, such as a friend, relative or company, can submit your application online through ICA's SAVE system

The fee

The consulate in Dubai lists an SGD 30 visa fee plus an AED 65 agent service fee. Both are non-refundable, even if the visa is refused.

Documents

• Passport valid for at least six months
• Form 14A, the visa application form
• A recent passport photo
• Your UAE residence visa or Emirates ID
• Flight and hotel bookings, and recent bank statements, which agents usually ask for

How long it takes

Neither the embassy nor the consulate publishes a processing time. Ask your agent when you apply, and allow at least two weeks before your flight.

The SG Arrival Card

Every visitor submits the SG Arrival Card online, free, through ICA's e-service or the MyICA app, up to three days before arrival. It is not a visa. ICA warns that paid look-alike sites exist; you never need to pay for it. If you forget, you fill it in on arrival and wait longer at immigration.

No visa, no boarding

Since 30 January 2026, ICA has screened passenger lists before departure and told airlines not to board travellers who are not eligible to enter: no valid visa, or a passport with less than six months left. If that happens at the Dubai check-in desk, there is no way to sort it out at the airport. Check your visa and passport validity a week before you fly.

Transiting Singapore without a visa

Indian nationals can use the 96-hour visa-free transit facility if they are flying on to a third country and hold a visa or residence permit, valid for at least a month, from Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK or the US. A UAE residence visa does not count. You must leave by air or sea within 96 hours.

Getting from Dubai to Singapore

Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly non-stop from Dubai to Singapore Changi in about seven to seven and a half hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do UAE residents need a visa for Singapore?

It depends on your passport. Indian, Pakistani, Egyptian and Bangladeshi passport holders need a visa; Emiratis, Filipinos and British, European and American passport holders do not. UAE residence does not change this.

How much is the Singapore visa from Dubai?

SGD 30 for the visa plus AED 65 for the authorised agent's service, both non-refundable.

Where do I apply for a Singapore visa in Dubai?

Through the consulate's authorised agents, VFS Global at Wafi Mall or Uranus Travel & Tours. In Abu Dhabi, the authorised agent is Omeir Travel Agency.

Do Indians in Dubai need a visa for Singapore?

Yes, unless they qualify for the 96-hour transit facility, which needs an onward flight and a visa from countries such as the US, UK or Australia.

Is the SG Arrival Card free?

Yes. Submit it on ICA's website or the MyICA app within three days before you arrive. Sites that charge for it are not official.

How long is the flight from Dubai to Singapore?

About seven to seven and a half hours non-stop.

Planning a trip to Singapore

Four days covers Marina Bay, Sentosa and the hawker centres; add Bali or Malaysia for a longer break. See Singapore visa services for help with the application, browse Asian holiday packages, or talk to us about flights and hotels.

Related guides

• Thailand visa for UAE residents
• Bali itinerary from Dubai
• Visa on arrival and visa-free countries for UAE residents
• UAE public holidays 2027 and the long weekends

Last checked 8 October 2026 against Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and the Singapore missions in the UAE. Visa lists, fees and agents change; this guide is general information, not immigration advice. Confirm the rules for your passport before you travel.