Motorists driving foreign-registered cars into Singapore will face a new pre-arrival requirement from Oct 6, 2026: their vehicles must have a valid Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) before they can successfully submit the Singapore Arrival Card.
The new requirement applies to foreign-registered cars entering through the Woodlands and Tuas land checkpoints. When travellers submit their Singapore Arrival Card, the system will check the vehicle’s VEP status. Those whose vehicles do not have a valid permit will be prompted to apply for one before travelling.
The change is intended to give motorists an opportunity to resolve VEP issues before reaching the border, rather than discovering the problem only at the checkpoint. Authorities said vehicles without valid VEPs may be turned back to Malaysia, while foreign-registered vehicles found without a valid VEP in Singapore may face enforcement action, including seizure.
A valid VEP also confirms that the vehicle has the required motor insurance coverage for its stay in Singapore. Vehicles cannot be issued a VEP without valid insurance coverage. For foreign-registered cars and motorcycles, the Autopass card functions as the electronic VEP and is tied specifically to the registered vehicle.
Motorists should therefore check their VEP, vehicle insurance and road-tax validity before travelling. The Land Transport Authority recommends applying for the necessary permit and Autopass card in advance, with Malaysia- and Thailand-registered cars and motorcycles advised to register for an Autopass account at least two weeks before travelling.
There is another VEP change coming later this year. From Nov 2, foreign-registered vehicles with outstanding Singapore traffic, parking or vehicular-emissions fines will not be allowed to apply for or renew their VEP until the fines are settled.
The Singapore Arrival Card remains a mandatory pre-arrival declaration for most travellers entering Singapore, although Singapore residents travelling through land checkpoints are exempt from submitting it. The SGAC can be submitted online or through the official MyICA Mobile application, and the submission itself is free.
With the new VEP verification being integrated into the arrival-card process, foreign motorists will need to make sure their vehicle documentation is in order before heading for Singapore’s land borders. The authorities also said the VEP verification requirement will progressively be extended to other types of vehicles at the land checkpoints.
