Singapore to Bar High-Risk Travelers as Border Security tightens
Singapore will begin denying entry to foreign tourists deemed to pose a risk to national health, safety, or immigration, officials announced. The move, enabled by the recently enacted Immigration (Amendment) Act on December 31, 2024, will utilize a “No-Boarding Direction” (NBD) issued to airlines and shipping companies to prevent problematic passengers from traveling to the city-state.
The policy targets individuals previously prohibited from entering Singapore due to criminal convictions, among other potential risk factors. Implementation will begin January 30, 2026, at Changi Airport, expanding to all ports of entry by 2028. Transport operators failing to comply with NBD directives face fines of up to SGD 10,000 (approximately Rp. 115 million).
The tightening of entry rules comes as Singapore experiences a surge in cross-border travel.The number of travelers passing through Singapore’s checkpoints rose from 197 million in 2015 to 230 million in 2024.
“Though, the limitation is that the number of ICA personnel cannot increase indefinitely, so we are relying more on technology to meet this demand and to really navigate a more complex security environment,” stated Home Minister K. Shanmugam during the inauguration of the new ICA Service Center (ISC) on July 31. The ISC, operational since April, is located at Crawford Street, adjacent to the previous ICA building.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will administer the NBD system as part of a broader change aimed at managing increased traveler volume while maintaining security.
