Singapore has implemented a stringent new pre-boarding security measure starting January 30, 2026, under which the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) now issues "No-Boarding Directives" to airlines operating flights into Changi and Seletar airports, effectively blocking travelers from even boarding planes if they are deemed inadmissible or undesirable.
The directive mandates that airlines deny boarding to individuals who are barred from entry, classified as undesirable, lack valid visas, or hold travel documents with less than six months' validity — shifting immigration screening upstream from arrival counters to the point of departure.
Under the system, airlines must submit advance traveler information before departure, which ICA screens in real time to identify individuals who do not meet Singapore's entry requirements, issuing no-boarding instructions where necessary and requiring airlines to refuse them passage.
Travelers denied boarding who still wish to appeal their case must submit a written request through ICA's feedback channel and can only rebook their flights after receiving official approval from authorities.
Airlines that fail to comply with the directive face penalties under the Immigration Act, including fines of up to S$10,000 upon conviction, while pilots or airline staff who knowingly or negligently allow barred passengers to board may face fines of up to S$10,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.
