Singapore Introduces No‑Boarding Directives for Pre-Screened Inbound Travelers

December 16, 2025

By: Paul Buckley

Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has announced that from January 30, 2026, it will begin issuing No‑Boarding Directive (NBD) notices to airline operators for travelers identified as prohibited, undesirable, or otherwise ineligible for entry into Singapore. This upstream measure uses advance traveler information to strengthen border security by preventing certain travelers from boarding flights before they reach Singapore’s immigration checkpoints. 

What the NBD Means for Business Travelers 

The core purpose of the NBD regime is pre‑departure screening. Using advance passenger information, ICA will identify individuals who: 

• Are flagged as prohibited or undesirable persons, based on security or immigration risk indicators. 

• Do not meet Singapore’s entry requirements, such as lacking a valid visa or holding a travel document with less than six months’ validity. 

If a traveler falls into one of these categories, an NBD notice will be issued to the carrier, and that traveler will not be permitted to board the flight bound for Singapore. 

For business travelers, this change highlights the importance of thorough pre‑trip documentation review. Missing or invalid paperwork can result in denied boarding before departure, leading to schedule disruption, missed meetings, and additional costs. 

Why This Change Matters 

Advance passenger information — such as data submitted through systems like the SG Arrival Card and airline manifests — will be used by ICA to conduct pre‑flight screening. This means that compliance with Singapore’s entry requirements must be verified well before departure. 

Typical requirements include: 

• A passport valid for the duration required by Singapore (commonly minimum six months validity beyond intended stay). 

• A valid visa or entry pass, where applicable, for the traveler’s nationality. 

Failure to satisfy these requirements may result in an NBD, preventing boarding even if the traveler believed they were compliant. 

What Happens if You’re Denied Boarding 

If a business traveler is issued an NBD and denied boarding, Singapore’s ICA guidance indicates that the traveler must contact ICA through the official ICA Feedback Channel to seek approval before arranging a new flight to Singapore. 

Because this process can take time, travel managers and mobility teams should build extra lead time into travel plans to account for possible documentation issues. 

Actions for Corporate Travel and Mobility Teams 

To mitigate risk under the new NBD regime, global mobility managers and travel arrangers should: 

• Verify document validity early — confirm passport validity and visa eligibility before booking travel. 

• Use advance traveler information checks to pre‑screen travelers against Singapore’s entry requirements. 

• Implement automated alerts and compliance checkpoints in the travel planning process to reduce last‑minute denials. 

• Educate travelers on the need for proper documentation and the implications of the NBD system. 

Proactive planning reduces the risk of denied boarding, improves traveler experience, and supports duty‑of‑care obligations. 

With the support of CIBTvisas, you can simplify the journey and ensure your teams cross borders with confidence — especially under evolving pre‑departure screening standards. 

This update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to CIBTvisas for any case- or company-specific assessments.

Read next: UK to Enforce ETA Requirement from February 2026.

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