Singapore Changi International Airport is an award-winning international airport that provides travelers with the greatest services, shopping, and eating choices. As a result, it will supply many of the services you need for a Singapore trip, such as transportation, food, lodging, tour services, etc., and, of course, you can purchase a SIM card to remain in contact throughout your visit. Let’s check out this guide to find your own SIM card at Changi Airport.
Table of Contents
I. Where to buy a SIM card (or eSIM) at Changi Airport?
Singapore has 3 mobile network companies that provide prepaid services to travelers: Singtel, StarHub, and M1 Singapore. In the secure/transit area and the arrivals hall, many kiosks and businesses at Singapore Changi Airport offer Singtel, StarHub, and M1 Singapore tourist SIM cards.
Of course, the most convenient place to acquire your Singapore prepaid SIM card is at Singapore International Airport. There are three international arrival ports; however, you may get a prepaid SIM card for visitors regardless of where you arrive.
Various stores at Singapore Airport offer travelers SIM cards, which are fairly simple to locate. They are the first shops you notice when you enter the arrival hall. After retrieving your bags from the luggage belt, go through the glass sliding doors, and depending on which exit you choose, you will notice SIM card businesses and vehicle rentals on your left or right-hand side in front of you.
We will provide all the places you can find SIM cards of these 3 carriers, including Changi Airport. Let’s go into the specifics.
1. Starhub
StartHub is one of the top 3 mobile operators in Singapore. The conventional StarHub Prepaid SIM card and the StarHub Travel Prepaid SIM card are used by tourists. The prepaid SIM cards offered by StarHub are contrasted below.
- Changi Airport
- SingPost StarHub Counters (Terminal 1, 2, 3 and 4
- UOB Currency Exchange Counters at Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4.
- Traveler Counters (Terminal 2 and 3, Arrival Halls)
- $12 in advance for Starhub Happy Travel Prepaid, and pick up at Changi Airport in Singapore.
- SkyHub Stores
- Outlets run by StarHub’s Exclusive Partners
- StarHub Approved Stores
- 7-Eleven outlets
- Salutations, convenience shops
2. M1
M1 is also a popular option for SIM card at Changi Airport. The M1 Tourist SIM Card is the same as the M1 Prepaid SIM Card, which is the company’s standard prepaid SIM card. The comparison of all M1 prepaid cards can be seen below.
- Purchase a $12 M1 Tourist SIM in advance and pick it up at Changi Airport or nearby.
- $12/$30 for a tourist SIM at M1 Shops
- Changi Meet & Greet ($30/$50 Tourist SIM) at the arrival halls of Changi Airport’s Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4. (Public Area)
- Changi Recommends ($30/$50 Tourist SIM) at the Terminal 4 Arrival Hall of Changi Airport (Public Area)
- a few Cheers and 7-Eleven locations ($12 Tourist SIM)
3. Singtel
The conventional prepaid SIM card from Singtel is known as the hi! SIM card, whereas the tourist SIM card from Singtel is known as the hi!Tourist SIM card. The list of Singtel’s prepaid and tourist SIM cards can be found here.
- Travelex Currency Exchange Counters, Changi Recommends Counters in Singapore Changi Airport (Terminals 1, 2, and 3)
- Website of Singtel
- Singtel stores
- Selected Singtel Exclusive Retailers Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, HarbourFront Ferry Terminal, Causeway Points, and Sentosa FUN Shops are all authorized Singtel Prepaid Retailers.
- 7-Eleven and Cheers
II. How Much Does a SIM Card Cost at Changi Airport?
The cost of a Singapore SIM card at Changi International Airport varies depending on your chosen mobile network operator and plan. SIM cards typically cost between 15 and 70 SGD and contain some initial credit. The package’s data amount, calling length, and validity term may also affect the cost.
Tips: SIM cards at the airport is quite expensive. For more convenience in choosing plan prices, you can find some eSIM providers to pick a Singapore eSIM plan for your trip.
III. What We Need to Prepare for Getting a SIM Card (or eSIM) at Changi Airport?
There are a few items you should have ready when obtaining a SIM card for Singapore at Changi International Airport to help the procedure go more smoothly:
- Passport/Visa: When acquiring a SIM card, you must provide your passport. This is necessary for registration, and a copy of your passport may be requested.
- Cash: Because most stores that sell SIM cards at Singapore International Airport only take cash, it’s a good idea to have some SGD on hand.
- Phone: Bring your phone with you since the staff may need to verify that the SIM card in your device is operating correctly.
- Understanding of your phone: To guarantee that you acquire the proper size, you need to know the sort of SIM card your phone requires (regular, micro, or nano).
- Understanding of several packages: It is beneficial to know the kind of package you want, including data volume, calling length, and validity period. This will assist you in selecting the best plan for your requirements and budget.
IV. Should We Get a SIM Card (or eSIM) at Singapore Changi Airport?
It is advised to obtain a SIM card at Singapore Changi Airport because tourist SIM cards with sizable allowances are available here at affordable pricing. Although they will overcharge you by up to 35 SGD, Changi Recommends booths should not be used to purchase SIM cards.
V. Should We Get an eSIM Before Arriving at Changi Airport?
It is recommended that travelers purchase an eSIM before arriving at Changi Airport rather than purchasing one at the airport. An eSIM is a digital SIM card that may be activated on your mobile device without physically inserting the new sim card. So, you can purchase 1 Singapore eSIM plan and install it on your device 1 day before departure. Then, you can use it.
SingeSIM.com offers several eSIM plans, from Singapore eSIM 1 day plan to Singapore eSIM 30 days plan. You can base on your schedule plan for your trip to pick the most suitable eSIM plan.
The following are some advantages and disadvantages of utilizing an eSIM when visiting Singapore:
Pros:
- Personal information is not required to be registered.
- Purchase and activate the eSIM well in advance of the travel date.
- Maintain your connection as soon as you arrive at the airport.
- While utilizing the eSIM, keep your original SIM card in your phone.
- You may easily activate the eSIM on your mobile device without visiting a physical shop.
Cons:
- Requires a mobile handset that supports eSIM.
- If you lose or damage your phone or have technical problems, you may be unable to utilize the eSIM, which might be inconvenient when traveling.
VI. Are Singapore eSIMs and SIM Cards Compatible with All Phones?
Singapore phones use the GSM 900 and 1800 frequency bands. Whether you’re coming from a European or Asian nation, a Singapore SIM card should work, but verify the specs of your phone to see whether it supports Singapore’s GSM frequency band. That information is available from your phone service provider or the phone’s handbook.
You may as well make a fashion statement with those SIM cards you purchased if your phone isn’t designed to work on Singapore’s GSM frequency band.
However, if you are from the United States, Canada, or another Western Hemisphere country, things may get a little… complex. This is because many phone companies either employ CDMA technology (particularly US telcos such as Verizon, Sprint, and Alltel) or use alternative GSM frequency bands entirely. (800, 850, 1850, 1900, etc.).
If you possess a phone that has been “locked” by your phone service provider or operates on a different GSM frequency, you have three choices:
- Unlock and jailbreak your phone (if you don’t mind voiding the warranty and other technical hazards).
- Purchase a “world edition” phone with an unlocked SIM card slot (some phones are CDMA/GSM dual usage).
- Get a local GSM phone.
For eSIM, you need an unlocked and eSIM-compatible device. You should carefully check the eSIM-compatible device list and how to check unlocked devices first before choosing eSIM.
VII. Some Ideal SIM Cards for Tourists in Singapore
For your convenience, we will describe the most common Singapore SIM kinds and the specifics of each type for you to pick as follows.
7-days Tourist SIM card
| Starhub Travel Prepaid SIM | Singtel hi!Tourist EZ-Link SIM Card | M1 Prepaid Tourist SIM | |
| Validity | 7 days | 7 days | 7 days |
| Price | $12 | $18 (Included in the price is a $3 rail or bus EZ-link saved value) | $12 |
| Local data | 100 GB (unlimited for messaging apps) | 100 GB (unlimited for messaging apps) | 100 GB |
| Roaming data | 1 GB | 1 GB-Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand | – |
| Local calls | 500 mins | 500 mins | 500 mins |
| International calls | 30 mins | 30 mins | 20 mins |
| Local SMS | 100 | 100 | 100 |
12-days tourist SIM card
| Starhub Travel Prepaid SIM | Singtel hi!Tourist SIM Card | M1 Prepaid Tourist SIM | |
| Validity | 12 days | 12 days | 12 days |
| Price | $32 | $30 | $30 |
| Data | 100 GB (unlimited for messaging apps) | 100 GB (unlimited for messaging apps) | 100 GB |
| Roaming Data | 3 GB | 3 GB | 3 GB |
| Local calls | 3000 mins | 3000 mins | 3000 mins |
| International calls | 90 mins | 90 mins | 50 mins |
| Local SMS | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 |
Prepaid SIM card for data
| Prepaid SIM | Validity | Card value(Calls, SMS) | Local data |
| M1’s M Card $5 | 90 days | $5 | 500 MB for 20 days |
| StarHub’s Happy $8 | 90 days | $10 | 800 MB for 30 days |
| Singtel’s hi! $8 | 30 days | $10 | 1.5 GB for 30 days |
| Singtel hi! $15 | 120 days | $15 | 3 GB for 120 days |
| M1’s M Card $15 | 180 days | $15 | 4 GB for 120 days |
| StarHub’s Happy $15 | 180 days | $15 | 2.2 GB local data*free wechat, whatsapp, line |
| Singtel hi! $38 | 180 days | $38 | 3 GB local data and Malaysia data |
Singapore eSIM from singesim.com
You can refer to some Singapore eSIM plans from singesim.com as below:
VIII. How to Top Up Your SIM Card in Singapore
You’ll undoubtedly need to top up your SIM card at some time, depending on how long you want to remain. There are three methods to top up your account:
- Top up your Singtel, StarHub, or M1 account online via the relevant top-up websites or prepaid mobile applications.
- To top up your account electronically, visit a NETS Self-Service station, a Singapore Post SAM kiosk, an ATM (DBS, POSB, OCBC), or an AXS station.
- Fill up at a grocery shop, petrol station, or phone store. You have the option of having the cashier “top up” your phone for you or just taking the card and doing it yourself.
IX. Final Words
As soon as you land in Singapore, you may quickly get a SIM card at Changi Airport. Don’t be concerned about how to contact someone or where to get Sims. Please take the time to thoroughly prepare all paperwork to travel easily and to be completely informed about the best SIM type for you.
You may also save time and money by purchasing an eSIM before arriving by purchasing from trustworthy sources such as singesim.com, holafly.com, circles.life,… Have a pleasant and safe journey.
