As the mall is located landside (i.e. you have to pass through immigration to visit the mall), I had to fill in a landing card and pass through immigration. For those of you wishing to visit Jewel during a layover, make sure your layover is at least four hours long and that you don't need a visa to enter Singapore.

Whether you can visit Jewel Changi Airport without a visa depends on your nationality and whether you are eligible for the 90-day visa-free entry or the 96-hour Visa Free Transit Facility (VFTF). Because Jewel is located in the "public area" of the airport, you must physically clear Singapore Immigration and enter the country to visit it. If your passport requires a visa for Singapore (such as for nationals of India, China, or the CIS), you cannot simply walk into Jewel during a layover without first obtaining that visa or qualifying for the VFTF. The VFTF is available to certain nationalities who are in transit to or from a third country and hold a valid visa for countries like the US, UK, or Australia. For travelers with a layover of at least 5.5 hours, Singapore often offers free city tours that include a stop at Jewel, but even these require you to meet the entry requirements. If you do not have the proper documentation to "enter" Singapore, you will be restricted to the "transit area" of the terminals and will only be able to see the iconic Rain Vortex waterfall from the Skytrain that runs between terminals.