ICA Singapore to block high-risk travellers from boarding in-bound flights/ships bound from 2026

From 2026, air and sea operators must comply with new directives to stop undesirable individuals from even getting on board.

Singapore is stepping up its border security measures with a new system that will stop certain travellers from boarding a flight or ship bound for the country.

Starting from 2026, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will begin issuing no-boarding directives (NBDs) to transport operators to prevent high-risk or undesirable individuals from travelling to Singapore. As reported by The Straits Times, this includes individuals who pose a health, security, or immigration threat.

Transport operators who fail to comply with an NBD may be fined up to S$10,000.

Identifying threats before arrival

The new measure is part of the Immigration (Amendment) Act, which came into effect on 31 December 2024. NBDs will first be implemented at air checkpoints in 2026, followed by sea checkpoints in 2028.

Unlike air and sea operators, bus operators do not typically collect passenger information in advance. ICA had initially proposed a similar system for land checkpoints but encountered practical challenges. In 2023, cross-border bus operators had shared concerns with The Straits Times that the requirement to submit passenger details ahead of time would be difficult to implement and could hurt their operations.

Despite these limitations, ICA has ramped up its use of profiling tools and detection technology to assess risk more accurately. This has led to a 43% increase in the number of foreigners turned away at Singapore’s borders in the first half of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.

These include individuals who have been convicted of certain offences and were previously barred from entering Singapore.

Meeting demand with technology

Speaking at the opening of the ICA Services Centre, and as quoted by The Straits Times, K. Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Coordinating Minister for National Security noted that the number of travellers entering Singapore has continued to grow. In 2024, Singapore recorded 230mn crossings at its borders, up from 197mn in 2015.

He added that numbers are likely to increase further with the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System, scheduled to open in December 2026, the future Changi Airport Terminal 5, and the long-term expansion of Woodlands Checkpoint.

As further cited, Minister Shanmugam said that ICA cannot continue expanding its manpower to meet growing demands, and therefore technology has become a key enabler in managing both efficiency and security.

A move towards seamless clearance

In recent years, ICA has adopted a tech-forward approach to transform its checkpoint operations. As of 2025, it has become one of the first border agencies globally to introduce passport-less immigration clearance.

Under ICA’s New Clearance Concept, announced in 2019, travellers at air and sea checkpoints now use facial or iris scans to clear immigration. At land checkpoints, clearance is done using QR codes.

These advancements reflect ICA’s ongoing efforts to stay ahead of evolving risks while keeping clearance fast, secure and user-friendly.

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Lead image / ICA Facebook