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Singapore Changi Airport.
SINGAPORE—The Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will begin issuing No-Boarding Directive (NBD) notices to airline operators at Changi and Seletar airports from Jan. 30, 2026.
The directive aims to prevent “undesirable or prohibited” immigrants and travelers who do not meet Singapore’s entry requirements from boarding flights bound for the country.
ICA says the measure will strengthen upstream border security by stopping such individuals before they reach Singapore’s shores.
The agency currently uses electronic arrival cards, passenger manifests and other data sources to identify high-risk travelers. Under the new regime, airlines issued an NBD must deny the affected travelers boarding during check-in.
Travelers who are denied boarding but still wish to enter Singapore will need to write to ICA to seek entry approval before arranging a new flight.
ICA did not specify what constitutes “undesirable” passengers. The move will likely be the first in the region, although China and India have similar rules for passengers marked with unruly behavior.
ICA says it has briefed airline operators and will continue working with them to ensure smooth implementation of the NBD regime.
Airline operators that fail to comply with an NBD notice will be guilty of a strict-liability offense and face fines of up to S$10,000 ($7,746). Pilots or airline employees who, by act or omission, allow an NBD-subjected person to board may face the same S$10,000 fine or imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
IATA welcomed the move, saying that it is aligned with international standards and best practices. Sheldon Hee, IATA’s regional vice president for Asia-Pacific, explained that the policy will be implemented through the Interactive Advance Passenger Information (IAPI) system, which is already in use with over 20 countries globally.
Hee said: “The benefits are significant—authorities can resolve immigration-related issues early and minimize the number of inadmissible passengers. This ultimately improves facilitation and enhances the travel experience with faster clearance of low-risk passengers. Airlines also reduce the risk of penalties and costs associated with transporting an inadmissible passenger.”
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