Driving a Malaysian car into Singapore: the VEP now decides your SG Arrival Card
From 6 October 2026: no valid VEP, no SG Arrival Card
From 6 October 2026, the SG Arrival Card will check whether the foreign-registered car you are travelling in has a valid Vehicle Entry Permit. If it does not, the card cannot be submitted — for the driver or the passengers — and you cannot enter Singapore in that car.
Who it affects
- Applies to
- Everyone entering Singapore at Woodlands or Tuas in a foreign-registered car — driver and passengers
- Starts
- 6 October 2026
- Vehicles
- Cars first; ICA says it will be extended to other vehicle types progressively
- Not affected
- Singapore-registered cars, and people crossing by bus, train or on foot
- Without a valid VEP
- The SG Arrival Card will not go through and the car is turned back; a foreign car found in Singapore without one can be seized
Before you drive in
Everything the car needs is the same as before; what is new is that a missing VEP now stops you at the arrival-card stage instead of at the booth.
- Apply for the VEP on LTA's OneMotoring VEP portal at least 2 weeks before you travel.
- Keep LTA's VEP approval email; you need it at the checkpoint.
- Get an Autopass card for the car — it is tied to that vehicle and cannot be transferred.
- Have valid Singapore-accepted motor insurance for the whole stay and valid road tax. A VEP is only issued to a car with the required insurance.
- Submit the SG Arrival Card before you set off. From 6 October, if it is refused because of the car, sort out the VEP first — at home, not at the booth.
VEP fees and free days
- VEP fees are S$35 a day, and the first 10 chargeable days each calendar year are waived.
- No VEP fee is charged on Saturdays, Sundays and Singapore public holidays, or for entries after 5 pm that leave by 2 am the next day (from 12 noon during the June and December school holidays).
- For Social Visit Pass holders a VEP covers up to 14 days from the car's entry into Singapore.
On the day
Check the queue before you set off: the JB to Singapore traffic page shows the live Woodlands and Tuas cameras for traffic coming into Singapore, and the dashboard has both crossings side by side.
Common questions
What changes on 6 October 2026?+
The SG Arrival Card starts checking the VEP status of foreign-registered cars arriving at Woodlands and Tuas. If the car has no valid Vehicle Entry Permit, the arrival card cannot be submitted and you will be prompted to apply for a VEP before travelling. ICA says this starts with cars and will be extended to other vehicle types progressively.
I am a passenger. Does this affect me?+
Yes. The check is made on the car, so passengers in a foreign-registered car without a valid VEP cannot submit their SG Arrival Card either. If you are crossing by bus, train or on foot, nothing changes.
How do I apply for a VEP?+
On LTA's OneMotoring VEP portal, at least 2 weeks before you travel. You will also need an Autopass card, valid insurance and road tax. Keep LTA's approval email for the checkpoint.
How much does a VEP cost?+
VEP fees are S$35 a day, with the first 10 chargeable days each calendar year waived. Weekends, Singapore public holidays and evening entries after 5 pm that leave by 2 am are free of VEP fees.
What happens if I drive to the checkpoint without a valid VEP?+
From 6 October your SG Arrival Card will not go through, and LTA already turns back foreign-registered cars at Woodlands or Tuas without a valid VEP approval. A foreign car found in Singapore without one can be seized.
Sources
- The Star — Those entering Singapore in foreign-registered cars must have valid VEP to submit SG Arrival Card from Oct 6 (22 Sep 2026)
- Malay Mail — Driving to Singapore? No SG Arrival Card without valid VEP starting Oct 6 (23 Sep 2026)
- LTA OneMotoring — Cars and motorcycles registered in Malaysia (VEP, Autopass, fees)
- LTA OneMotoring — VEP application portal