Changi Airport and Jewel Changi Guide for Thai Travellers: Arrival Steps, Getting Into the City and Long Layovers

Changi Airport at a glance

Changi Airport has Terminals 1 to 4, plus Jewel Changi Airport attached to Terminal 1. Thai travellers use different terminals depending on the airline, so check the terminal number on your ticket or in the Changi App before you travel. Terminal 5 is under construction for the mid-2030s.

The Skytrain is a driverless train that links terminals inside the transit area and makes changing buildings easy. Terminal 4 sits apart, with walking links or a shuttle as signed, so follow the airport signs and the latest app information.

Jewel: free Rain Vortex and Forest Valley, ticketed Canopy Park

At the heart of Jewel is the HSBC Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall, surrounded by the Shiseido Forest Valley, a multi-level garden you can walk through. These public areas are free, and there are evening light and sound shows whose times change with the programme.

Canopy Park is on the top level and bundles attractions such as mazes, a bridge walk and slides, each needing a separate ticket. If you are short on time, walking around the waterfall and garden is enough. Check prices and hours on the Jewel website.

Arrival steps at Changi

1. 1Submit the SG Arrival Card firstFill it in free on the ICA website or the MyICA Mobile app within 3 days before arrival. Beware look-alike sites that charge, and use an email address you can open.
2. 2Use the automated lanesSince 2024 foreign visitors can use the automated lanes without prior enrolment: scan your passport, then confirm face or iris biometrics.
3. 3Receive the e-Pass by emailThe Visit Pass (e-Pass) is emailed to the address in your SGAC instead of a passport stamp. Keep it on your phone in case you are asked to show it.
4. 4Collect bags and surrender banned itemsVapes and e-cigarettes are illegal to bring in, buy or use, so drop them in the disposal bins at the airport before customs.

At immigration an officer may ask about your accommodation and onward travel, so keep your return ticket and hotel name on your phone. Your passport should have at least 6 months of validity and you need an onward or return ticket. Entry rules can change, so confirm with ICA before you travel.

Free Wi-Fi and your SIM

Changi has its own free Wi-Fi, fine for checking messages, gate information and calling a Grab. It is a public network, so stick to HTTPS sites and avoid banking on it. If you installed an eSIM before flying, turn on data roaming for it as soon as you land and you are online straight away; keep your Thai SIM for OTP texts.

For the wider SIM and eSIM choice, see “Singapore Trip Prep and Internet: eSIM or SIM, Plus a Checklist”.

Useful tools and services

• The Changi App shows flight status, terminal maps and shops. Installing it before you fly helps you find gates and change terminals easily.
• There are charging points and rest seating throughout the terminals, but carry a power bank anyway.
• Restrooms, drinking water and food outlets are available both before and after immigration, so plan meals to suit the time you have.
• Eating and drinking are banned on the MRT, so finish snacks before boarding after you leave.

Getting into the city

• MRT: Changi Airport station is on the East-West line, with a change at Tanah Merah for the city. You can tap a Visa or Mastercard through SimplyGo.
• Taxi and Grab: convenient with large bags or a group, and useful late at night when the MRT has stopped.
• Fares and airport surcharges: check in the app or on the signs at the taxi stand.
• Thomson-East Coast line extension works are ongoing, so check the latest MRT map.

Long layovers

With several hours to spare, decide first whether to leave the airport. Leaving means clearing immigration and coming back for check-in again, so allow generous time for both. If you stay inside, walking Jewel to see the waterfall or riding the Skytrain around the terminals fills time well. Free transit tours depend on the current programme, so check the Changi website.

Plany — Check the Singapore eSIM