(Singapore, 30th) The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) of Singapore will implement a new “No Board Order” at Changi and Seletar airports starting January 30, 2026, to prevent air passengers who do not meet Singapore's entry requirements or are considered unwelcome from boarding flights to Singapore, thereby strengthening border security.
On the 28th, the ICA issued a statement saying that this new measure will intercept potential threats outside the country’s borders.
Currently, the ICA utilizes advance passenger information, including details provided through the Singapore arrival card, flight manifests, and other data sources, to identify high-risk travelers before they arrive at checkpoints. Upon arrival, these travelers are flagged during clearance for stricter scrutiny.
Starting from January 30 next year, the ICA will issue advance no board order notifications to airlines for passengers identified as prohibited or unwelcome. Upon receipt of such notification, airlines must not allow these passengers to board flights bound for Singapore. The ICA may also issue no board orders to travelers who do not meet Singapore’s entry requirements, such as not holding a valid visa or a travel document with at least six months’ validity.
The no board order enables the ICA to use advance passenger information to prohibit identified prohibited or unwelcome travelers from boarding flights to Singapore ahead of time, blocking potential threats at the source and thereby strengthening Singapore’s border security.
The ICA has already briefed airlines and will continue to work with them to ensure the smooth implementation of the no board order. Upon receiving advance passenger information from airlines, the ICA will screen the list of travelers about to enter Singapore. Prohibited or unwelcome immigrants, as well as those not eligible to enter Singapore, will be subject to the no board order. These individuals will be refused boarding by the airline, which will have already received the no board order notification, when checking in for flights to Singapore. In certain cases, airlines may be required to conduct additional checks, such as verifying visa or submission of the Singapore arrival card, before allowing passengers or crew to board.
Passengers who are denied boarding but still wish to travel to Singapore will be required to contact the ICA through its feedback channel to seek entry approval before arrangements can be made for a new flight to Singapore.
According to the 1959 Immigration Act, airlines that fail to comply with an issued no board order by the ICA will commit a strict liability offense that does not require proof of criminal intent. Upon conviction, they may be fined up to S$10,000 (RM31,800).
If the pilot or airline staff, whether intentionally assisting or negligently allowing a prohibited person to board, are convicted, they may face a fine of up to S$10,000, up to six months' imprisonment, or both.
