By Double H Concierge
December in Singapore means gold lights down Orchard Road, fireworks over Marina Bay and some of the best food you will eat anywhere. It also means paperwork, because Nigerian passport holders cannot just show up. This guide covers the visa, the documents to carry, where to stay, where to eat and what is on. At the end, we turn it all into our upcoming group trip.
The Quick Answers
| Question | Answer |
| Visa free for Nigerians? | No. You need a visa before you travel. |
| Visa fee | S$30, non-refundable |
| a time | Mostly 3 working days, sometimes longer |
| When to apply | Within 30 days before arrival |
| Yellow fever card | Yes, carry it |
| Arrival card | SG Arrival Card, free, within 3 days before landing |
| December weather | Warm and wet, around 24 to 31°C |
| Currency | Singapore dollar (SGD) |
| Plugs | Type G, three-pin |
| Flight from Lagos is data | One stop, roughly 17 to 20 hours in total |
Is Singapore Visa Free for Nigerians?
No. Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) lists Nigeria among the countries that need a visa. Only holders of diplomatic, official and service passports are exempt. A visa also does not guarantee entry. Border officers make the final call when you land, so keep your papers in order.
What you need to apply
- A completed and signed Form 14A (the entry visa application form)
- A recent colour passport photo, taken within the last three months
- A copy of your passport bio page, valid for at least six months from your date of entry into Singapore
- Form V39A (Letter of Introduction), where applicable. A local contact in Singapore can issue it.
How to apply
Applications go through ICA’s online e-Service. From Nigeria, that means an ICA-authorised visa agent, or a contact in Singapore who submits for you. The S$30 fee is paid online by Visa or Mastercard and is not refunded if the visa is refused. Most applications are processed within three working days, but some take longer, so do not leave it to the last week.
ICA encourages you to apply within 30 days before you arrive. For a trip starting 18 December, that means applying from around 18 November. Apply early in that window.
Rules change, so confirm on the ICA website before you pay anyone. Our concierge team supports guests with visa documents and can walk you through it.
Documents to Carry
Keep these in your hand luggage, printed and saved on your phone:
- Passport, valid for at least six months from your entry date
- Approved Singapore visa
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate (the yellow card)
- SG Arrival Card confirmation
- Return or onward flight ticket
- Hotel booking with the full address
- Proof that you can fund your stay, such as a bank statement or working card
- Travel insurance
- A few spare passport photos
Do not skip the yellow card
Nigeria is a yellow fever risk country, and Singapore checks. Anyone who has been in a risk country in the six days before arriving must show a valid certificate. Without it, you can be quarantined for six days, and non-residents who refuse quarantine are denied entry. The certificate only becomes valid 10 days after the vaccine, then lasts for life. Book your jab now, not the week before you fly.
SG Arrival Card
Every visitor must submit the SG Arrival Card within three days before arrival (the day you land counts). Use the official ICA site (eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard) or the MyICA Mobile app. It is free, so do not pay any website that charges you for it. You will need the address of your first night.
Getting There From Lagos
There is no nonstop flight, so expect one stop through a hub such as Dubai, Doha, Addis Ababa or Istanbul. Plan on roughly 17 to 20 hours of travel in total, depending on your layover. December is peak season, so book flights and hotels early. Before you buy non-refundable tickets, ask your visa agent whether they need your flight and hotel details for the application.
Also tell your bank you are travelling and check that your card works for international payments.
Weather and Packing
December falls in the northeast monsoon, so expect warm days, humidity and regular rain. Pack light, breathable clothes, a compact umbrella and a thin layer, because malls, trains and restaurants run their air conditioning cold. Comfortable walking shoes matter more than a third outfit.
What Is On This December
- Orchard Road, Christmas on A Great Street (17 November 2026 to 3 January 2027): 3.1 km of gold lights from Tanglin Road to Dhoby Ghaut, a 13-metre Avengers-themed Christmas tree, the Great Christmas Village and a nightly projection show on the Hilton Singapore Orchard facade (7pm to 10pm).
- Great Christmas Eve Street Party (24 December):Orchard Road closes to traffic for live music, DJs and food trucks, and the party runs past midnight. It has drawn close to 300,000 people a year, so go early.
- Christmas Wonderland, Gardens by the Bay: Usually runs from late November to 1 January, with rides, snow effects and light displays. It is ticketed separately from general garden entry. The 2026 dates were not confirmed when we wrote this, so check the Gardens by the Bay website.
- Marina Bay New Year’s Eve countdown: Usually a big fireworks show over the bay at midnight on 31 December. Check the 2026 line-up closer to the date.
- Jewel Changi: The Rain Vortex and festive displays, a good last stop before your flight.
Where to Stay
Pick your base by what you want from the trip. The MRT connects all of these areas.
Marina Bay: Best for first-timers. Skyline views, Gardens by the Bay close by and a front-row spot for the New Year’s Eve fireworks. Examples: Marina Bay Sands, The Fullerton Bay Hotel, Raffles Singapore.
Orchard Road: Best for Christmas lights, shopping and easy food courts. Example: Hilton Singapore Orchard, which sits right under the projection show.
Kampong Glam and Bugis: Best for cafes, boutique stays, Sultan Mosque, Haji Lane and plenty of halal food.
Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar: Best for food lovers and nightlife, with hawker centres and bars within walking distance.
Sentosa: Best for a resort feel, beaches, Universal Studios Singapore and families.
Changi: Best for very early flights or a short stopover, with Jewel next to the terminals.
Christmas is one of Singapore’s busiest periods, so book early for the best rooms.
Where to Eat
Food in Singapore starts at the hawker centre, where a plate is usually a few dollars.
Hawker centres to know
- Maxwell Food Centre (Chinatown): Famous for chicken rice.
- Lau Pa Sat (Marina Bay): A historic market hall, with a satay street outside after dark.
- Chinatown Complex Food Centre: Huge, with hundreds of stalls.
- Tekka Centre (Little India): Indian and Muslim stalls, good for biryani and prata.
Michelin without the fine-dining bill
The 2026 Michelin Guide Singapore has 97 Bib Gourmand picks. Some to know: Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle (the only hawker stall with a Michelin star), Lagnaa (Indian, on the Bib list every year since 2016), A Noodle Story, Alliance Seafood and newcomer Rajarani Thosai. For a splurge, the three-star restaurants are Les Amis, Odette and Zen. Book those weeks ahead.
Dishes to try
Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, chilli crab, satay, char kway teow, roti prata, kaya toast with soft-boiled eggs and ice kachang to finish. If you are craving something rice-heavy and saucy, nasi lemak and claypot rice will do the job.
Halal and dietary needs
Many stalls are halal certified, so look for the MUIS halal sign. Kampong Glam, Little India and the Arab Street area have plenty. Pork is common at Chinese stalls, so guests who avoid it should ask before ordering. Tell us in advance and we will plan around it.
Restaurants usually add service charge and GST to the bill, so tipping is not expected.
Getting Around
The MRT is fast, clean and cheap. Most contactless Visa and Mastercard cards work at the gate, but test yours before you rely on it, or buy a tourist pass. Grab and taxis are everywhere, and Changi Airport connects to the city by MRT. With us, airport transfers are arranged for you.
Rules Worth Knowing
Singapore is strict and fines are real. Drug laws are severe, with zero tolerance. E-cigarettes and vapes are banned. Chewing gum is not sold in shops. Littering and smoking in the wrong place can mean a fine.
Our Singapore Trip
Reading all this and thinking you would rather someone else handled it? That is what we do. Double H Concierge is taking guests to Singapore this December.
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Includes: Singapore e-visa, return flights, 5 nights’ accommodation, daily breakfast, return airport transfers, Gardens by the Bay (Flower Dome and Jurassic World) and a city tour.
Single occupancy
Lagos: ₦4.5M
Abuja: ₦4.3MDouble occupancy (per person)
Lagos: ₦3.9M
Abuja: ₦3.8MValid now till 27th Dec. Pay in 3 instalments. T&Cs apply.
Package Includes
- Singapore e-visa
- 5 nights’ accommodation
- Daily breakfast
- Return flight tickets
- Gardens by the Bay (2 Domes): Flower Dome & Jurassic World
- Singapore city tour
Ready to go?
Spots are limited. Message our concierge on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/2349155544518
Spots are limited and this rate ends 27th December. Send us a DM today to lock in your place.
