Immigration
Visitors entering Singapore must have passports valid for six months from the time of their arrival. Visas are not required for stays of up to 14 days for Commonwealth citizens, British passport holders, and citizens of the Republic of Ireland. For inquiries about visa requirements, call:
Singapore Immigration Department
10 Kallang Road
Tel: +65 391-6100
If you lose your passport, the first thing to do is to make a police report, then head to the Singapore Immigration office to get a temporary visa. Finally, inform your embassy so you can be issued a new passport.
If business detains you in Singapore until after your visa expires, you need only go to the Immigration department at Kallang Road. Bring your passport and ticket, which must be dated. The process should take no longer than a day as long as you complete and return the Visa Extension form (form 14) before 3 p.m..
Applicants for a working visa require sponsorship by a Singapore registered-company, as well as a copies of the appropriate form (form 8), the applicant's resume and supporting documents (e.g., university degree) and a S$50-application fee of. If there is no sponsoring company, a bond of S$3,000 is required.
Customs
For arriving passengers, the usual rules apply whether you go through a Green (nothing to declare) or Red (something to declare) channel. Even going through the Green channel, you may be asked by a Customs official to open your luggage. So if you're in any doubt, please go through the Red channel.
One liter of liquor, wine, and beer is allowed duty-free for visitors aged 18 years and above arriving from a country other than Malaysia. There are no concessions on cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Items that cannot be brought into Singapore by arriving passengers include: chewing gum, controlled drugs and psychotropic substances, explosives, firearms, firecrackers, unauthorized reproductions of copyright publications, video tapes or disks/diskettes, endangered wildlife species and their by-products, as well as obscene articles and publications.
Drug trafficking is punishable by death in Singapore.
There is no export duty for departing passengers. However, export permits are required for items including firearms, explosives, animals, precious metals, poisons, and drugs.
Currency
There is no restriction on the amount of currency you can bring in.
Dutiable Goods
Intoxicating liquors including wine, beer, ale, stout and port
Tobacco including cigarettes and cigars
Non-Dutiable Goods
Electronic and electrical goods
Cosmetics
Cameras, clocks and watches
Jewelry, precious metals and precious stones
Footwear
Arts and Crafts
Toys
Goods and Services Tax (GST)
There is a 3% Goods and Services Tax levied on all goods imported into Singapore.
GST-Free/Duty-Free Concessions
New articles, souvenirs, gifts and food preparations up to values below:
- S$200 if traveler has been away from Singapore for less than 48 hrs
- S$400 if traveler has been away from Singapore for 48 hrs or more
The following duty-free concessions are granted to travelers arriving from countries other than Malaysia and who have been away from Singapore for 48 hrs or more:
- 1 liter spirits (brandy, whisky, gin, rum, vodka, etc.)
- 1 liter wine
- 1 liter beer, stout, ale or port
Duty-free concessions are granted for personal consumption only. It is an offence to sell or give them away.
Excess Goods
Goods exceeding the GST/duty-free concessions can be brought in only on payment of GST and Customs Duty. Transit passengers may keep excess items in the Custom Bond. A warehouse rent is chargeable.
Prohibited Items
Liquors and Cigarettes
Liquor, cigarettes and tobacco specially marked for export with the label 'Singapore Duty Not Paid' and cigarettes with the prefix 'E' are restricted to consumption outside Singapore. Re-importation is not permitted.
Controlled drugs and psychotropic substances
Firecrackers
Cigarette lighters of pistol or revolver shape
Toy coins and toy currency notes
Reproduction of copyright publications, video tapes and disks, records or cassettes
Endangered species of wildlife and their by-products
Obscene articles, publications, video tapes and software
Seditious and treasonable materials
Chewing gum
Controlled and restricted Items
Entry for any of the items listed in the table below will only be allowed on production of import permit or other authorization from the relevant authority.
|
Item |
Authority |
|
Animals, birds and their by-products, plants with soil |
Primary Production Department
5 Maxwell Road #03-00 Tower Block MND Complex, Singapore 069110
Tel: +65 325-7625
Fax: +65 220-6068 |
|
Arms & explosives, bullet-proof clothing, toy-guns, pistols, revolvers, weapons, kris, spears, swords |
Singapore Police Force, Arms & Explosives Branch
Block J, 3 Ladyhill Road, Singapore 258672
Tel: +65 838-1764/5
Fax: +65 734-0531 |
|
Pre-recorded cartridges and cassettes, newspapers, books, and magazines |
Ministry of Information and the Arts (Censorship)
460 Alexandra Road #02-07 PSA Building, Singapore 119963
Tel: +65 735-7844
Fax: +65 375-7878 |
|
Films, video tapes, and video disks |
Board of Film Censors
31C Exeter Road #06-01 Comcentre III, Singapore 239734
Tel: +65 734-7348
Fax: +65 738-7332 |
|
Medicines, pharmaceuticals and poisons |
Director of Medical Services
Drug Administrative Division
2 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 169547
Tel: +65 325-5637
Fax: +65 224-2352 |
|
Telecommunication and radio communication equipment, toy walkie-talkies
|
Telecommunication Authority of Singapore
Dealers Licensing Department
TAS Building, 35 Robinson Road #02-00, Singapore 068876
Tel: 1-800-323-6538 (toll free in Singapore only)
Fax: +65 538-0402 |
Travelers with medicine that may only be obtained through prescription under Singapore law—especially sleeping pills, depressants and stimulants—must possess a prescription from a physician confirming that the medicine is used solely for the traveler's physical well-being.
The list of dutiable, non-dutiable, controlled and restricted goods is not exhaustive and is subject to change without notice. For clarification or further information, contact:
The Customs Duty Officer
Duty Office Terminal 1
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore 819642
Tel: +65 542-7058 or 545-9122
