There is no limit on the amount of currency you can bring into
Singapore.
If you are 18 years old or above and are arriving from a country other
than Malaysia and have spent no less than 48 hours outside Singapore
immediately before your arrival, you may use the following duty free
concessions for personal consumption:
Spirits
: 1 litre
Wine or port
: 1 litre
Beer, Stout or ale
: 1 litre
There are no concessions on
cigarettes and other tobacco products. This is in line with the
government's campaign to discourage smoking.
Excess dutiable items
may be left in Customs Bond until your departure, provided this is from
the same point of entry. Storage costs are chargeable.
There is a 5% Goods and
Services Tax (GST) levied on all goods imported into Singapore. A bona
fide traveller, other than holders of work permit, employment pass,
student pass, dependent pass or long term pass, will be given relief on
GST on new purchases, gifts, souvenirs and food preparations, excluding
liquor and tobacco, up to the value of:
-S$200 if you have been
away from Singapore for less than 48 hours.
-S$400 if you have been
away form Singapore for 48 hours or more.
In line with most other
countries, Singapore prohibits the entry of some items, while others are
subject to controls and restrictions.
Other prohibited items
include:
- Chewing gum
- Chewing tobacco and imitation tobacco products
- Cigarette lighters of
pistol/revolver shape
- Controlled drugs and psychotropic
substances
- Endangered species of wildlife and their by-products.
This list of controlled
and restricted items is by no means exhaustive. Please contact the
following authorities for further information. These items can be
allowed into Singapore by applying for an import permit or authorisation
from the relevant authorities.
ITEM
AUTHORITY
Animals, birds and
their Primary Production
Department
by-products and plants
Tel: 1800 226 2250
with soil.
Arms
and
explosives,
Singapore Police Force
bullet proof clothing,
toy Tel:(65) 6734 4162
guns, pistols,
revolvers,
weapons, kris, spears
and swords.
Cartridges,
cassettes (pre- Ministry of Information & the Arts
recorded),
newspapers, Tel: 1800 375 7080
books and magazines.
Films,
video tapes and Board of
Film Censors
discs.
Medicines, poisons
and Drug Administration Division
pharmaceuticals. Tel:(65)
6325 5639
Telecommunication
and Telecommunication Authority of
radio equipment,
toy Singapore
walkie
talkies. Tel:(65)
63221948 / 6322 1857
Toy
Singapore coins and Board of Commissioners of
Currency
Effective from 1 January 2008, all new
products must comply with the ACD requirements and notify HSA prior to
sale.
All existing products that are currently
sold in the local market will be given 12 months to notify HSA and to
fully comply with the requirements by 1 Jan 2011...
Clause 11
of the Bill makes it mandatory for anyone physically
carrying currency and bearer negotiable instruments or
CBNI, above S$30,000, into or out of Singapore, to
declare this to the authorities at the checkpoints...
The threshold amount of
S$30,000 is based on the recommendation by the FATF,
and includes not only currency in circulation, but
also bearer negotiable instruments such as travellers
cheques, money orders, cheques, bonds and promissory
notes...
Hence, for clarity, a crossed cheque
made payable to a specific person with the word “bearer” deleted
is not considered a bearer negotiable instrument because only the
person named on the cheque can receive the amount stated on it.
The new measure would be
non-discriminatory and will be imposed on all travellers,
including citizens, residents and foreigners, entering and exiting
the country.
The penalties for non-declaration and false
declaration are a maximum fine of S$50,000 or a term of imprisonment of
up to 3 years or both...
"This large scale exercise will involve over
1,000 personnel from MOH, the Ministry of Education (MOE), home-front
and related agencies such as the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS),
Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA), Maritime Port Authority (MPA)
and the People's Association..."
"If we let off a convicted courier because of
age, financial difficulties or distressed family background, it will
only make it easier for drug traffickers to recruit more "mules", with
the assurance that they will escape the death penalty..."
"Mdm Tan had returned to Singapore from China
on 30th September 2005 at about 7.40 pm through the Changi International
Airport Terminal 2. ICA officers noticed that she had brought two roast
geese from China with her to Singapore.
"Mdm Tan was informed she had to surrender
the two roast geese for disposal, as she did not have a licence to bring
them in. She hindered the ICA officers in the execution of their duties
by refusing to surrender the roast geese brought from China and
subsequently throwing the roast geese onto the floor..."
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