A Chinese social media personality has alleged that she was detained for two days at Changi Airport after arriving in Singapore, claiming she was asked to pay more than S$500 before being deported.
The woman, known on Douyin as “Chen Xixi” (transliterated), uploaded a nearly nine-minute video detailing her experience. In the clip, she described being stopped during immigration clearance and taken aside for questioning shortly after landing.
However, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has firmly denied her claims, stating that no fees are imposed on travellers who are refused entry and emphasising that entry into Singapore is not automatic.
Allegations of Overnight Holding and Payment Demand
According to Chen, she had travelled to Singapore for the first time to visit her sister, who works locally as a teacher. She claimed immigration officers questioned her about her travel plans and examined her mobile phone, including her messages and banking information.
She further alleged that she was escorted to a waiting area with several rooms, where she had her fingerprints taken and headshots recorded. Chen said she was subsequently transferred to a holding facility where her phone and belongings were confiscated, and that she was made to sign an English-language document surrendering her device.
In her video, she described spending the night in a UV-lit room, receiving meals and basic necessities such as a pillow and blanket. She also claimed communication was largely conducted in English, which she said she struggled to understand.
Chen alleged that she was asked to pay around S$500 as “accommodation fees” before being deported the following afternoon, though she said she was eventually allowed to board her return flight without payment after stating she had no money.
ICA: No Fees Imposed, Entry Considered on Own Merits
Responding to media queries, ICA confirmed that Chen arrived in Singapore on Jan 31 and was referred for additional checks during immigration clearance. Such checks, the authority noted, are routine for travellers who require further assessment.
ICA stated that interviews were conducted in Mandarin and that Chen was unable to provide a clear travel itinerary or an onward air ticket. Officers also found messages on her phone suggesting she had been coached on how to answer potential immigration questions.
Following the assessment, she was refused entry and placed in a holding room pending her return flight the next day. ICA said she was provided meals and shower facilities, and that all occupants received the same food.
The authority categorically denied that any fees were collected, reiterating that “a foreigner’s entry into Singapore is neither a right nor automatic.” Each case, it stressed, is evaluated individually based on prevailing immigration requirements.
ICA also disclosed that police reports were lodged over unauthorised photographs and videos taken within restricted premises, an act that may constitute an offence under Singapore’s Infrastructure Protection laws.
The case has since drawn significant attention online, highlighting ongoing debates around border security, travel compliance, and the responsibilities of visitors entering Singapore.