Your First Week in Singapore: A 7-Day Checklist for International Students

Moving to Singapore to study is an exciting milestone, but navigating your first seven days—from clearing immigration at Changi Airport to securing your digital Student's Pass—requires a clear plan. This complete day-by-day checklist walks international students through essential arrival tasks, including SG Arrival Card (SGAC) submission, medical screenings, ICA formalities, setting up Singpass, and opening a local bank account. Known for its world-class education, efficient public transit via SimplyGo, and safe environment, Singapore offers a seamless transition for university students. Follow this guide to ensure your arrival, campus registration, and orientation week run smoothly without administrative delays.

Before You Leave: Documents & Pre-Arrival Tasks

Keep these documents in your carry-on bag and complete your pre-entry portal requirements before boarding your flight.

• Passport: valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay.
• In-Principle Approval (IPA) Letter: issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) once your Student's Pass application is approved. It functions as your entry pass — not the Student's Pass itself.
• SG Arrival Card (SGAC) with Electronic Health Declaration: mandatory for essentially all travellers (narrow exceptions apply for transit passengers and residents entering via land checkpoints). Submit it free of charge via the official ICA e-Service or the MyICA app within 3 days before arrival.
• Letter of Acceptance & School Certification Letter: needed for immigration verification and opening a local bank account.
• Academic Documents & Proof of Accommodation: transcripts, certificates, and confirmed housing for your first nights.
• Sufficient travel funds: cash or a travel card for initial expenses.

Day 1: Arriving at Changi Airport

Present your passport and IPA letter at immigration. The officer verifies your SGAC submission digitally and clears your entry.

Connectivity & Transport

• Pick up a SIM card: buy a prepaid SIM at airport arrival counters (Singtel, StarHub, or M1). Keep your passport handy — local SIM registration requires it, and you'll update the registration with your Foreign Identification Number (FIN)/passport once it's issued.
• Public transit via SimplyGo: you don't need a physical EZ-Link card to get started. Singapore's SimplyGo system lets you tap a contactless foreign credit/debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay directly at MRT gantries and on buses at standard adult fares. If you'd rather have a physical card, a SimplyGo EZ-Link card is available at airport transit counters for around S$10 (roughly S$5 card cost plus S$5 stored value) — pricing can vary slightly by vendor.
• Taxis & rideshares: Grab, Gojek, Tada, and Zig are the most widely used ride-hailing apps.

Day 2: Report to Campus & Undergo Medical Screening

Before ICA can issue your digital Student's Pass, most full-time international students at approved institutions must complete a medical examination.

• Medical examination: conducted at a campus clinic or registered medical provider. For students required to take it, this typically includes a general physical exam, a chest X-ray (pregnant students are exempted), and an HIV test. Results are usually processed within a few working days, and lab reports are generally valid for submission to ICA for up to three months from issue.
• Where it can be done: some universities require this to be done in Singapore only; others accept results from your home country if completed close to your travel date. Check your specific institution's instructions — requirements vary by school and, in some cases, by nationality.
• Notify your institution: confirm your arrival with the international student office, submit your medical clinic receipt/report, and check whether your school runs an on-campus ICA formalities session (many do, especially during orientation week).

Day 3: Settle In & Explore Your Neighbourhood

Use this day to rest, unpack, and get your bearings while you wait for medical results to clear.

• Hawker centres: a local hawker centre is the easiest way into affordable, high-quality food — chicken rice, laksa, or roti prata typically run about S$4–S$8 a plate.
• Daily essentials: supermarket chains like FairPrice, Cold Storage, Giant, and Sheng Siong cover groceries and household basics.

Day 4: Complete Your Student's Pass Formalities at ICA

Once your medical results (if required) are cleared and your school confirms your paperwork is in order, you complete formalities to receive your digital Student's Pass and Foreign Identification Number (FIN).

How to Complete Formalities

• On-campus / offsite sessions: many universities arrange dedicated ICA biometrics enrolment sessions on campus, usually during orientation week. If your school schedules one, you must attend at the assigned date, time, and venue.
• ICA Services Centre appointment: if your school does not arrange an offsite session, you must book an appointment through the ICA e-Service appointment portal and attend in person at:
  • ICA Services Centre
  • 2 Crawford Street, Level 3
  • Singapore 207218

Your Foreign Identification Number (FIN)

After your Student's Pass is issued, you will receive a Foreign Identification Number (FIN). This is a unique reference number used across Singapore's government services. You will need it to register for SingPass and to open a bank account. Keep it secure.

Day 5: Register for SingPass & Open a Bank Account

How to Register for Singpass

Once your digital Student's Pass is active and you have your FIN, register for Singpass at singpass.gov.sg. Singpass is Singapore's national digital identity system, used for everything from banking to government e-services. Make sure your local mobile number is registered under your own name and FIN — you'll need it for the one-time password (OTP) and face verification steps during setup.

Open a Local Bank Account

A local bank account makes it much easier to pay rent, receive money from home, and manage daily expenses in Singapore. Several banks offer accounts that suit international students well.

What to Bring to the Bank

Most banks require these documents for international students:

• Your passport
• Your digital Student's Pass (or IPA letter if your Student's Pass has not yet been issued)
• A school certification letter from your institution
• Proof of your residential address in Singapore

Day 6: Attend University Orientation

Most Singapore institutions hold orientation programmes during the first week or two of term. Orientation is where you register for classes, meet other students, and learn about campus life.

What Orientation Covers

• Course registration and timetable setup
• Campus tours and introduction to facilities
• Meeting your academic advisor or programme coordinator
• Introduction to the library, counselling, and student support services
• Student's Pass formalities session (at many institutions, ICA biometrics happen here)
• Health insurance registration and student club sign-ups

Health Insurance in Singapore

Major government-funded universities in Singapore, include compulsory health insurance in your student fees. Coverage typically includes hospitalisation, personal accidents, and some outpatient treatment. You are enrolled automatically from your first day as a full-time student.

Students at private education institutions (PEIs) should confirm their institution's insurance arrangements directly with their student services office. Always ask what your policy covers and how to make a claim.

Day 7: Explore Singapore and Prepare for Classes

Use your seventh day to explore your neighbourhood, buy any remaining supplies, and mentally prepare for the academic term ahead. You have completed the hardest administrative tasks. This day is for you.

Getting Around Singapore

Use your EZ-Link card to ride the MRT, buses, and light rail across the island. The MyTransport.SG app and Google Maps both provide accurate, real-time journey planning. Singapore's network is one of the best in the world for students on a budget.

Your First Week in Singapore: Complete Checklist

Use this table to track everything you need to do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your first week in Singapore will be busy, but every task you complete brings you closer to a settled and enjoyable study experience. Take it one day at a time, lean on your institution's international student team, and remember that thousands of students have made this transition successfully before you. Singapore is a fantastic place to study, and your adventure is just beginning.