Customs and Immigration

Singapore visa / Entry regulations

All visitors to Singapore should hold a passport that is valid for at least six months after their planned departure date from Singapore.

Nationals of EU countries, USA, Canada, most Latin America countries, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel and Japan are not required to obtain visas in advance and will be given a social visit pass upon arrival, that allows them to stay in Singapore for a period of up to thirty days (extendable).

For the exact list, please visit the Visa Requirements page at ICA website.

Visas can be extended through the Immigration's online service (known as e-xtend) or at the Visitor's Services Centre: 4^th floor, ICA building, 10 Kallang Rd. (next to Lavender MRT station).

As a principal, all visitors are required to have an onward ticket and sufficient funds to support themselves, while in Singapore.

Women in an advanced stage of pregnancy (six months or more) intending to visit Singapore should make prior application with the nearest Singapore overseas mission.

Visitors are not allowed to work in Singapore (whether in paid or unpaid jobs), to establish or join in any business, or to enter school as students. 

Changing your immigration status, after entering, might be possible.

If you wish to apply for a different type of visa (work permit, for example) you should contact the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), preferably before traveling, in order to obtain all the necessary details: 

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For those of you who consider to take employment, or to engage in a business, Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) website might be another valuable source of information.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are not required unless you have come from, or visited a yellow fever infected country or zone (mostly Africa & South America) within six days before arrival at Singapore.  

If you need to have a FEVER VACCINATION CERTIFICATE but you are unable to produce the document, you will be required to go for the necessary vaccination, which is chargeable.   

No other health certificate is required to enter Singapore                    

Call the Airport Medical Centre at (+65) 6543 1118  , 8 am - 12 midnight (Singapore time) for more information. 

Customs

Customs in Singapore is quite simple and hassle-free.  If you have nothing special to declare you may just proceed.

The duty-free concession per person is: 1 liter of alcoholic liquor, 1 liter of beer (or ale or stout) and 1 liter of wine.  There is no concession for cigarettes, cigars or other manufactured tobacco.  You basically have to declare them and pay duty !

There are hardly any products, other then alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, which are dutiable in Singapore.

Meat and poultry (weather frozen or chilled) and plants (or plant produce) must not be brought into the country, unless specific permit is granted by the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (http://www.ava.gov.sg).

Please note, the following products are not allowed into Singapore : Chewing gum (except dental gum or nicotine substitute), Chewing tobacco, pistol shaped lighters, controlled drugs, firecrackers, any type and form of pornography, any type or form of radical political literature (including CDs, video cassettes and so on...), endangered species (and their by-products) and, of course, weapons and narcotics.

Please note that security checks for departing and transit passengers at Changi International Airport are slightly thorough.   Don't carry any sharp objects with a point or blade such as knives, cutters, scissors, razor blades, or household cutlery in carry-on luggage. Put them in your check-in baggage or they will be confiscated.  Restrictions also apply to carry-on liquids, gels and aerosols, which must be in containers no bigger than 100ml and placed in a single (maximum one per passenger) transparent re-sealable bag with a capacity not exceeding one liter. 

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You may also want to read about...

When to come? What to wear? What to bring? 

Visiting neighboring countries

Money, Communications, Time and other small daily stuff

Emergency - what to do in case of a problem

Health & Hygiene