Entry fees for Singaporeans are small next to the cost of a trip, but they are easy to forget and easy to overpay. Some destinations need an electronic travel authorisation with an official fee, such as the UK’s £20 ETA and the US’s US$40 ESTA. Others need a free arrival card, and some add a tourist levy or departure tax. The rule that saves the most money is simple: apply only on the official government site.
Here is what applies to popular destinations as at November 2026, from each government’s own page.
Entry Fees for Singaporeans at a Glance
| Destination | What you need | Official cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | £20 | GOV.UK warns other websites may charge more |
| United States | ESTA | US$40 | Fee rose from US$21 on 30 September 2025 |
| South Korea | K-ETA | Exempt until 31 December 2026 | Check the official site for 2027 trips |
| New Zealand | NZeTA | From NZ$17 | Immigration NZ says the app is cheaper than the website |
| Schengen Europe | ETIAS | Not yet in operation | Now planned for 2027 |
| Japan | Departure tax | JPY 3,000 per departure | Usually added to your ticket |
| Bali | Foreign tourist levy | IDR 150,000 per person | Paid through the provincial Love Bali system |
| Malaysia | Digital Arrival Card | Singaporeans exempt | Submit only if enrolling for e-gates |
| Singapore (returning) | SG Arrival Card | Free | Residents by land are exempt |
Fees change, and the official page is always the final word.
Travel Authorisations: UK, US, Korea, New Zealand, Europe
United Kingdom. GOV.UK’s eligibility checker lists Singapore among the nationalities that need an ETA to visit. It states that an ETA costs £20 and lets you travel to the UK for up to six months. Each traveller needs their own, including children.
United States. A CBP notice in its September 2025 Customs Bulletin says the ESTA fee is US$40, up from US$21. CBP advises applying as soon as you start planning, ideally before you buy tickets.
South Korea. Korea’s embassy in Singapore states: “Singapore passport holders are exempted from K-ETA till 31 December 2026.” Korea has extended this exemption before, but there is no guarantee. If you are travelling in early 2027, check the official K-ETA website before you book.
New Zealand. Immigration New Zealand lists the NZeTA fee as from NZ$17, with the app cheaper than the online form, and says to allow 72 hours for processing.
Europe. ETIAS is not yet required. A September 2026 notice from Poland’s government says launch is planned for 2027, with the date still to be announced. See our ETIAS news story.
The short version: Budget for the official fee, not a “service” fee. Search for the government’s own site, check the address, and never pay a third party to fill in a free form.
Arrival Cards: Usually Free
- Singapore. ICA says submitting the SG Arrival Card is free and lists 63 websites that charge for it. See our SG Arrival Card story.
- Malaysia. MFA says Singapore passport holders are exempt from the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card at all entry points. Those who want to enrol fingerprints for Malaysia’s e-gates should submit it three days before arrival.
Other countries have their own free digital arrival forms. Search for the immigration department’s own site; look-alike sites are common.
Levies and Taxes Added to Your Trip
- Japan. The International Tourist Tax is JPY 3,000 per departure from 1 July 2026, up from JPY 1,000. Airlines usually add it to the fare. Children under two are exempt.
- Bali. The Bali Provincial Government’s Love Bali site describes a foreign tourist levy of IDR 150,000 per person.
- Singapore. For tickets sold from 1 October 2026, the SAF levy adds S$1 to $10.40 per economy ticket, depending on the destination. See our SAF levy explainer.
A Worked Example: What a Family Pays
Illustration only. A family of four flying to London in economy on tickets sold after 1 October 2026:
- UK ETAs: 4 × £20 = £80
- SAF levy from Singapore: 4 × $6.40 = $25.60
Neither is large next to the airfare, but four ETAs bought through a third-party site that adds a service fee could cost several times the official price.
What To Do Next
- Check each destination’s official page a few weeks before you fly; processing can take days.
- Make sure your passport has enough validity; Malaysia, for example, requires more than six months at entry for Singapore passports, according to MFA.
- Add entry fees and levies to your trip plan in our family holiday budget guide.
- Read how to avoid card skimming and travel scams for more on look-alike websites.
