Arriving at Changi: what you need to know
By LINDA JAMES | Updated February 16, 2025 | PLAN
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Changi Airport has 4 terminals but arriving at Changi Airport is straightforward because the signage is frequent, clear and in English, which makes it easy to find your way to immigration, baggage and transport.
Terminals
T1, T2 and T3 are all connected so you can walk between terminals – although it takes a bit of time. To get to T4, you need to take a bus, which is not that much trouble but is a bit of an inconvenience if you want to spend time at Jewel shopping centre.
Immigration process
Make sure you fill in the online arrival declaration, the SG Arrival Card (SGAC) before you arrive. You can do this anytime up to 3 days before you arrive.
It’s a game changer. The arrivals hall is full of people who didn’t do it beforehand madly trying to do it. Those who have, sail through.
Once you disembark, follow the Arrivals signs to the immigration halls on the ground floor.
At Changi, both departures and arrivals mix so the corridors are reasonably crowded but just keep following the “Arrivals” signs and you won’t have any problems.
If you do, there are well-signposted Information desks and the staff are very helpful.
Travellers from many countries do not require visas and will just need to show their passports (the electronic SGAC will be attached digitally to your passport).
If you want to buy SIM cards or get Singapore currency, you can do this at the Changi Recommends booth within the transit area before clearing immigration.
Once you clear immigration, follow the signs to the baggage claim hall to collect your luggage.
Look at the Arrivals screens for your flight to find out which carousel your bags will be on.
Baggage collection/duty-free
If you don’t have any goods to declare, you can exit through the Green Channel. The Red Channel is for those with goods to declare.
If you’re 18 years old or above, spent 48 hours or more outside Singapore before arrival (and are not arriving from Malaysia) and the alcohol is for your own consumption, you can take in:
- 1 litre spirits and 1 litre wine
- 1 litre spirits and 1 litre beer
- 1 litre wine and 1 litre beer
- 2 litres wine
- 2 litres beer
If you exceed the duty-free allowance, you’ll need to pay tax on the excess.
Alcohol is on the expensive side in Singapore so it’s a good idea to use your duty-free allowance. If you didn’t buy some before you left your departure airport, now is the time to pick some up.
Skytrains between terminals
The Skytrain only links Terminals 1, 2 and 3. If you’re arriving or departing from T4, you’ll need to take a bus.
The Skytrain runs between 5am and 2am every day. It’s a free service and operates in both the public and transit areas.
Just look for the signs wherever you are.
Clear signage
Don’t forget your duty free
How to get from Terminals 1/2 to Terminal 4
There is a complimentary shuttle bus that goes to Terminal 4 from the public and transit areas.
The public bus takes about 10 minutes and the transit area bus takes about 10 to 18 minutes. If in the transit area, you need to make sure you have a boarding pass for your next flight.
The public shuttle bus does two direct services to T4 between 6am and midnight – one from T1/Jewel and the other from T2/MRT – every 10 to 26 minutes depending on demand.
From midnight to 6am, the bus does a loop from T2-T1-T4 every 31 minutes.
- At T1/Jewel, the bus picks up kerbside at the T1 departure hall.
- At T2/MRT, you can board at the arrival hall, door 1.
- At T4, the bus will collect from the arrival bus lounge.
If you’re transiting, the bus runs 24 hours a day, every 13 minutes, from T1 Gate C21, T3 Arrival Immigration Hall A and the T4 transfer lounge.
It takes roughly 18 minutes to get from T4 to T1, 6 minutes from T1 to T3 and 12 minutes from T3 to T4.
How to get to the MRT
The MRT station is in the basement of T2. If you land at T1, you will see signs that lead you to the MRT.
Generally, they will take you via the Skytrain and this would have to be the easiest way. You can access it in both the public and transit areas.
If you’re transiting, you can use travellators to get from one to the other.
If you’re on the public side, you can also walk via the link bridge at Jewel Level 3.
Once you reach T2, follow the signs to the Changi Airport MRT Station.
How to get to Jewel
Jewel is connected to T1 between T2 and T3. It is NOT airside. You can’t access Jewel unless you clear immigration.
Again, the signs to Jewel are everywhere so it’s really not hard to find.
In T1, Jewel’s north entrance is right outside the Level 1 Arrival Hall.
From T2, you can walk to Jewel using the link bridge at Level 3 (near the MRT station). It will take you about 5 to 10 minutes.
It’s the same from T3 – use the link bridge for a 5 to 10 minute walk.
Getting to the city
You have a few different ways to get into the city. The MRT is cheap and convenient but takes about 40 minutes.
Public buses take about an hour. Taxis and rideshares are generally the quickest and, depending on the time of day, can be quite reasonable.
Conclusion
The process of arriving at Changi is one of the easiest I’ve encountered. The clear and frequent signage makes it easy to find your way through immigration, collect your baggage and find transport.
Jewel is one of the highlights of flying through Changi airport. There are many ways to spend your time at Jewel.
For information on what to do once you’re in the CBD, check out my guides on getting around Singapore and everything you need to know before you go.