Malaysians travelling to Singapore by car through the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints will need to ensure their vehicles have a valid Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) before submitting their SG Arrival Card (SGAC), under a new verification requirement taking effect on Oct 6, 2026.
Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the SGAC system will automatically verify the VEP status of foreign-registered cars during submission.
Travellers using vehicles without a valid VEP will be unable to complete their SGAC submission and will instead be prompted to apply for the permit before travelling to Singapore.
The new measure is intended to help motorists identify permit issues before departing for Singapore, reducing the likelihood of being turned back at the land checkpoints.
“All foreign-registered vehicles entering Singapore must have a valid Vehicle Entry Permit. Vehicles without a valid VEP will be turned back to Malaysia,” ICA said in a social media announcement.
ICA said the advance verification will also alert passengers travelling in foreign-registered vehicles if the car does not have a valid VEP.
This will allow travellers to resolve permit issues before their journey rather than discovering the problem upon reaching the Singapore border.
The authority also reminded motorists that valid motor insurance covering the entire duration of a vehicle’s stay in Singapore is mandatory for obtaining a VEP.
A vehicle without the required motor insurance cannot be issued a valid permit.
Motorists must therefore ensure that both their VEP and insurance remain valid throughout their stay in Singapore.
The new verification requirement will initially apply to foreign-registered cars entering through Woodlands and Tuas, before being progressively extended to other vehicle types at Singapore’s land checkpoints.
