Singapore begins ban on ‘undesirable’ visitors as airline boarding rules take effect

Among such visitors barred from entering are those with a criminal record in Singapore or who pose a threat to public safety

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Travellers walk through a transit hall of Changi International Airport in Singapore. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:07pm, 30 Jan 2026Updated: 3:48pm, 2 Feb 2026

Singapore’s move to bar undesirable visitors from boarding planes to the city state began on Friday, with airlines flying into its airports required to deny access to passengers flagged as risks.

The new directive is aimed at preventing “undesirable or prohibited immigrants, and those who do not meet Singapore’s entry requirements, from boarding flights bound for Singapore”, according to an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) statement released on November 28 last year.

Airlines flying into Seletar and Changi airports would be issued no-boarding directive (NBD) notices from Friday, the ICA said.

Foreigners subject to NBDs include those with previous records in Singapore of having committed crimes, attempting to enter under a different identity, overstaying their visa or working illegally. In addition, those who are assessed as posing a threat or risk to public safety are barred from the city state.

Singapore can also refuse entry to those without a valid visa or travel document with at least six months’ validity, according to the ICA.

Singapore begins ban on ‘undesirable’ visitors as airline boarding rules take effect

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Among such visitors barred from entering are those with a criminal record in Singapore or who pose a threat to public safety

Among such visitors barred from entering are those with a criminal record in Singapore or who pose a threat to public safety