Singapore to India: Indian eVisa, Changi Direct Flights & SGD Travel Money Guide
Singapore passport holders need an Indian eVisa — the 1-year multiple-entry at $40 is the right choice for this corridor, where Singapore's Indian-origin community (over 350,000 people) drives some of the world's most frequent short-haul international travel. Changi Airport to Delhi or Mumbai takes just 5-6 hours, with Singapore Airlines offering arguably the world's best connectivity to Indian cities.
Visa requirements
Singapore passport holders apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in. 1-year multiple-entry Tourist eVisa ($40) recommended — Singapore is one of the most frequent-visit origins for India due to the strong Indian-origin community in Singapore (about 9% of population, 350,000+ people). Singapore Airlines operates one of the world's most comprehensive India networks from Changi.
Documents required
- ✓Valid Singapore passport (6+ months validity)
- ✓Passport photo (white background, face 80% of frame)
- ✓Return flight booking
- ✓Hotel/accommodation confirmation
Flights from Singapore to India
Money, cards & forex fees
Most practical Singapore card for AED→INR conversion — best rate available
Earns DBS miles on all India spending with zero forex markup
Weekday zero-fee spending in India
ATMs in India
Best ATMs: HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank ATMs are most reliable for international Visa/Mastercard cards. Axis Bank is also good. Avoid SBI ATMs for foreign cards — higher inconsistency. Avoid standalone ATMs at tourist sites (near Taj Mahal etc.) — often poorly stocked and unreliable for foreign cards.
Typical surcharge: ₹150-250 per foreign card withdrawal at major Indian banks
Withdrawal tip: Inform your home bank before traveling to India — several international banks flag Indian ATM transactions as potential fraud. Withdraw ₹10,000-15,000 per transaction to minimize the per-withdrawal fee. HDFC ATMs in major cities are most reliable. Many smaller towns and villages still prefer or require cash.
Top cities in India
Delhi
India's capital and gateway to the Golden Triangle. Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk is one of Asia's most sensory bazaars; New Delhi's Lutyens zone has sweeping Raj-era boulevards. Excellent metro system makes it easy to cover a lot of ground.
Mumbai
India's financial capital and maximum city. The Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves ferry, Marine Drive's Queen's Necklace at night, and Bollywood studio tours make this a city of contrasts. Efficient suburban rail gets you everywhere.
Agra (Taj Mahal)
Home to the Taj Mahal — the most photographed building on earth. Best experienced at sunrise before the crowds arrive. Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri make it worth a full day or overnight stop rather than just a day trip.
Rajasthan (Jaipur / Udaipur / Jodhpur)
The quintessential India experience. The Pink City of Jaipur, Blue City of Jodhpur, and romantic lake city of Udaipur each offer a different shade of Rajput heritage, desert landscape, and vibrant markets.
Goa
India's beach playground with a Portuguese colonial soul. Baga and Anjuna for lively beach scenes, Palolem for calm south Goa vibes, Old Goa's UNESCO churches, and coastal seafood shacks serving fish curry rice.
Kerala Backwaters (Kochi / Alleppey / Munnar)
God's Own Country. Houseboat cruises on the Alleppey backwaters, tea plantations in Munnar, ayurvedic treatments, and the colonial heritage of Fort Kochi make Kerala the most relaxing Indian destination.
Indian eVisa for Singapore passport holders
Singaporean citizens require an Indian eVisa before travel — there is no visa on arrival for Singapore passport holders. Apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in. Choose the 1-year multiple-entry Tourist eVisa ($40) — given Singapore's proximity to India and the frequency of travel between the two countries, the flexibility far outweighs the marginally higher cost versus the 30-day option. Complete the application with your passport details, Singapore address, India accommodation, and purpose of visit. Photo requirement: white background, face covering 80% of frame. Pay online. Processing is typically 24-72 hours. The approval PDF is emailed — save it to your phone. Present at check-in and at Indian immigration. Singapore passport holders of Indian origin traveling to visit family: the eVisa is valid for both leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travel. If you are a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) or hold an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, you do not need a separate eVisa — your OCI card and Singapore passport together provide visa-free, unlimited-stay access to India.
Flights from Singapore Changi to India
Singapore operates one of the world's most comprehensive air networks to India. Singapore Airlines alone serves Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Kochi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad from Changi — multiple daily frequencies on the busiest routes. At 5-6 hours, these are comfortably medium-haul flights. Economy round-trip fares from $260-$350 USD (SGD $350-$475) booked 2-4 weeks ahead. Business class from $1,400-$1,800 USD. IndiGo offers budget fares on many of the same routes from $200-$280 USD round trip. Air India is a strong mid-tier option. For Scoot (Singapore Airlines' budget arm), check SIN-DEL and SIN-BOM routes for sub-$200 options. This proximity makes India one of Singapore's most popular holiday destinations — and the route network reflects that. If you are traveling to a tier-2 Indian city not served nonstop from Changi, Delhi or Mumbai as a transit hub works well — IndiGo and Air India connect domestically to hundreds of Indian cities.
Money in India for Singapore travelers: SGD to INR
The SGD→INR rate is approximately ₹62-64 per Singapore dollar. Standard Singapore bank cards (DBS, OCBC, UOB, Standard Chartered SG) carry foreign transaction fees of 2.5-3.5% on overseas purchases. On a 10-day India trip spending SGD 1,500, this is SGD 40-55 in avoidable fees. The Wise Multi-Currency Card at 0.35% gives the closest to the mid-market rate available for individual travelers — significantly better than any Singapore bank's advertised rate. DBS Altitude Visa Signature is an excellent option if you want to earn miles — it charges zero forex on overseas spending and accumulates DBS miles (redeemable on Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer). At Indian ATMs: HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank are the most reliable for Singapore Visa and Mastercard. The Indian bank charges ₹150-250 per withdrawal — Wise and DBS Altitude do not add to this for card purchases, but ATM cash withdrawals with DBS will incur DBS's cash advance fee. Best practice: use Wise or Revolut for ATM cash withdrawals; use DBS Altitude for card payments at restaurants and hotels. DCC reminder: select INR at all Indian ATMs, not SGD.
On-arrival tips
- 1Indian eVisa is email-only — save the approval email PDF on your phone or print it. No physical visa sticker.
- 2Both DEL (IGI) and BOM (CSIA) have official pre-paid taxi counters in arrivals — use these to avoid price disputes
- 3Install Ola and Uber before landing — both work reliably in Indian cities
- 4Inform your home bank before travel — Indian ATM transactions are frequently flagged as potential fraud
- 5HDFC and ICICI ATMs are most reliable for foreign Visa/Mastercard cards — use bank-branch ATMs rather than standalone machines
- 6Bargaining is expected at markets, auto-rickshaws without meters, and souvenir shops — initial price is often 2-3x the fair price
Key takeaways
- ✓Singapore passport holders need an Indian eVisa — $40 for 1-year multiple-entry; OCI cardholders do not need eVisa
- ✓Singapore Airlines offers the most comprehensive India network from Changi — 8+ Indian cities served daily; economy from $260-$320
- ✓Wise Multi-Currency Card gives the best SGD→INR rate; DBS Altitude earns KrisFlyer miles with zero forex on purchases
- ✓Use HDFC or ICICI Bank ATMs in India — most reliable for Singapore Visa/Mastercard
- ✓Always select INR at Indian ATMs — never SGD; DCC adds 3-5% above Wise or Revolut rates
- ✓5-6 hour flights make India one of Singapore's closest major holiday destinations — proximity makes last-minute travel feasible
Related visa guides
Visa information is based on publicly available government sources and official embassy data. Entry requirements, fees, and procedures change frequently — always verify with the official embassy or consulate of India before travelling. ForexFee is not a legal adviser.