Travellers heading into Singapore in foreign-registered cars will face an additional check before they even reach the Woodlands or Tuas checkpoints from 6 October 2026.
The SG Arrival Card system will verify whether the foreign-registered car they intend to enter Singapore in has a valid Vehicle Entry Permit, or VEP. If the car does not, travellers who are required to submit an SG Arrival Card will not be able to successfully complete their submission.
Instead, they will be prompted to sort out the vehicle’s VEP before making the trip to Singapore.
VEP Will Be Checked When SG Arrival Card Is Submitted
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority said in a Facebook post on 22 September that the advance check is intended to flag VEP problems before motorists arrive at the land checkpoints.
Currently, foreign-registered vehicles must already have a valid VEP to enter Singapore. Vehicles arriving at Woodlands or Tuas without the required VEP approval, Autopass card, insurance or other applicable requirements can be turned back.
The change from 6 October effectively moves part of that verification earlier in the journey.
Initially, the SG Arrival Card check will apply to foreign-registered cars. ICA said the requirement will subsequently be expanded to other types of vehicles using the land checkpoints.
Not everyone travelling through the land checkpoints has to submit an SG Arrival Card. Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders entering through Woodlands or Tuas are exempt from SG Arrival Card submission under ICA’s current rules. Other travellers who need to submit one generally have to do so within three days, including the day they arrive.
A Valid VEP Also Means the Car Needs Valid Insurance
The VEP is not simply another online form.
For Malaysia-registered cars, LTA requires a valid Autopass card, road tax, motor insurance and VEP approval, among other requirements, before the vehicle can enter Singapore.
The vehicle must also remain insured for the entire period it is in Singapore. LTA says foreign-registered vehicles found in Singapore with an expired VEP or insurance may face enforcement action, including seizure.
Motorists applying for an Autopass card or updating their vehicle’s road tax and insurance validity are advised by LTA to do so at least two weeks before travelling to Singapore.
Outstanding Fines Can Block VEP Applications From 2 Nov
There is another important date for drivers of foreign vehicles: 2 November 2026.
From that day, foreign-registered vehicles with outstanding Singapore fines for traffic, parking or vehicular emissions offences will not be able to apply for or renew their VEP.
Previously, a foreign vehicle with outstanding fines could instead be denied entry when it reached the land checkpoint.
LTA and the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the change in May, advising motorists to check for unpaid fines and settle them before applying for or renewing a VEP and before travelling to Singapore.
So for those planning to drive a foreign-registered car into Singapore, the practical checklist is increasingly one to settle before reaching the Causeway: make sure the VEP, Autopass, road tax and insurance are in order, and from November, make sure there are no outstanding fines holding up the permit either.
