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Singapore has strict laws for locals and visitors, and there are also rules governing what visitors can take into the country. Our safety expert shares his tips on what you should know before you pack your bags.
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Be aware of Singapore's restrictions on the importation of various goods, such as chewing gum which is prohibited.
Customs officers in Singapore don't go through all the luggage that comes in. For you to get stung, they would have to pick your bags for scanning or for a manual search. But, you should always abide by the local rules of the countries you travel to.
Here's what you need to know about Singapore's local laws.
Drug trafficking
Singapore has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drug use and importation. There's a mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking, or for carrying explosives and firearms without a license.
Prescription drugs may also raise a flag, so always carry your prescriptions with you, maybe even a letter from your doctor explaining why it is required. Any medication that contains strong narcotics, such as Diazepam or codeine, needs prior approval from the Health Sciences Authority.
Objects that look like weapons
Even something as innocuous as novelty cigarette lighters and toy guns can be considered a violation of customs laws. Even non-lethal items, such as kitchen knives, diving blades, empty cartridge shells and handcuffs, could get you into trouble. In one famous case, a woman was arrested because the little missiles on a toy plane she carried were mistaken for bullets.
If you want to transport a weapon or military souvenirs into Singapore, even if on transit, you'll need prior permission.
Pirated material
Pirated material, such as movies, CDs, videotapes, laser discs, and software is illegal and carries a 1000 SGD fine per disk.
Pornography is outlawed. Even what might be simply considered risque in your country could be treated as porn in Singapore, so it's best to not take chances.
Alcohol
Travelers are entitled to duty-free concession for liquors if you meet all of the following:
- You are at least 18 years old
- You have spent a minimum of 48 hours outside Singapore immediately before arrival
- You are not arriving from Malaysia
- The liquor is for your own consumption
- The liquor is not prohibited from import into Singapore.
E-cigarettes and smoking
There are no duty-free allowances for tobacco in Singapore. All cigarettes legally sold in the country must be stamped "SDPC". Although one open pack will likely be tolerated, you could be fined 500 SDG per sealed pack. You cannot bring vaporizers, such as e-cigarettes, e-pipes, e-cigars, and refills into Singapore. These items are likely to be confiscated, and you could be fined or sent to prison.
The minimum age for the purchase, use, possession, sale and supply of all tobacco products in Singapore is 21 years old. Failure to comply carries fines. Along Orchard Road, smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas.
Chewing gum (except dental and medical) is also prohibited.
Religion
There is a total ban on Jehovah's Witnesses and the Unification Church because of the refusal of its members to carry weapons or taking part in war. Singapore has mandatory military service. Any publication from these two faiths is considered illegal.
To find out more about prohibited goods, the Singaporean Government has produced a Customs Guide for Travellers.
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43 Comments
You can,as long as you remove any batteries and make sure its small enough to fit(and make sure it is not a fake)
hi.. can i bring ballons with pump in air one from malaysia to singapore by bus or ktm train?
Can I bring little koala key rings in to Singapore
Can I bring my 2 to hard disk with me into Singapore?
will be in transit in singapore on our way to bali
can i bring my personal prescribed anitbiotics with me
Hi dear, please kindly tell me if I can bring in Singapore home dried mint leaves for tea? any specific quantity? I can't find anywhere if this is allowed or not :(. Thanks
I have a pain condition from a ruptured hamstring 7 years ago I am currently on morphine 20 mlgms a day. Will this be a problem with my travelling to Singapore for 7 days.
Thankyou
Andrea
Can I bring ps4 to and fro the Singapore and Malaysia custom?
ill be flying tomorrow in SG ...im planning to bring like only 15 tabs of antibiotics is there going to be any problem?
Hi, just to enquire, can i bring Some Fruits ,Coconut, Garland n prayers staff(mixture or prayer items) for prayers in Marshiling. Thank you
can I bring: Goldsource STU-1000 Step Up/Down Voltage Transformer Converter - AC 110/220 V - 1000 Watt for american appliances?
my son takes clonezapam, gabapentin and amatriptolene for back pain. can he take these into singapore?
Hi. can i bring 5 unopened packs of cigarettes from Malaysia to Singapore via flight? Do i have to declare it? Should i go through the Red or the Green Channel?
can i bring 6 packs of cigarettes already open to prove that this is my personal use from manila to singapore
Can I bring into Singapore hand tools, such as a voltage meter, screwdrivers, crinmping tools, etc. ?
hi I want to buy a tank shell, with no bullet just the casing (why not) and the seller is shipping it in from the US, would this cause any problems?
Can I bring in 3 echevaria succulent leaves and a prickless cactus without soil? Filled with perlite (Horti)? not exceeding 100 grams.
Can i bring back my opened cigarettes from vietnam to singapore.? Its only 1 packed of cigarette
Can i bring new shoes or electric items from jb?
Can you import saw logs into Singapore
can I take a blood glucose monitor into Singapore
Hi i m Malaysian, i purchase an iphone X in Malaysia is for personal use, can i bring in Singapore? Will i still need to pay tax?
I have heard a lot of good and positive things about the country, and my conclusion is that it would only be difficult for criminal minded travelers and not for someone that went for legal purposes.
can i bring 6 plastic bottles of hair grower shampoo to sg?
can i bring bouquet of flowers into singapore by jb custom??
Can I bring cod Liver oil 1000mg capsules, Also Glucosamine Sulphate 400 mg capsules, Tablets ordered by UK Doctors Finasteride 5mg one Daily
Vitamin D3 50ng Would any or all be allowed into Singapore there for 4 Day s
Thank you
Can I import magnets, carbon fibre sheets, electric motors, torchlights, blinking light earrings, touch sensors, the lego EV3 bricks, gyro sensors, switches and boost converter modules into Singapore?
what if I bought a weapon like a baton but it has torchlight would be considered as weapons
I have. 7 tablets of Diazepam from my doctor to help me on the plane and with claustrophobia is to
His allowed please
i am renting in Singapore. i want to bring my pots and pans and my electric cooker 1L size. is it allowed? i am from Johor
Pots, pans and electric cooker no problem
Hi, can I bring in vehicle’s sport rim from Malaysia to Singapore ?
I am coming to Singapore and will have my medication as prescribed by my Doctor and one of them includes Codeine for extreme pain. Will this be allowed please??
Can i bring in or courier over a homemade detox and herbal drinks for own consumption to singapore?
I an flying in to Changi on 2nd May at 6pm from Vientaine Laos. Flying out 3rd may at 10 pm to Australia. Will this be allowed.
can i post ginseng for my friend in singapore? will it be any problem if i post by courier service?
can i bring in perfume that i bought in Malaysia?
Similarities of <a href=”https://www.cottoncare.com.sg/services/laundry-and-dry-cleaning/">laundry and dry cleaning</a> The laundry cleaning services include plenty of water for washing clothes with soap. Dry cleaning, on the other hand, includes original water and soap washing…!"
Can I bring a plant into Singapore (more specifically a cutting of a plant) from South Africa
Can I bring cans food (sardines/tuna) product of Scotland/Italy, dry packages of rice vermicelle from Thailand and instant noodle from Japan into Singapore . Thanks.
Can i bring the weight lost medicine malaysia to singapore coz i stay in Singapore
Can I bring 3 kilo’s of heroine in to Singapore?
How many cigarettes can i bring from U.S. to Singapore