Singapore

Singapore

Regulations on the items taken into and out of Singapore

Tips on the changes to the immigration regulations

Cross border movements of physical currency and bearer negotiable instruments:

From 1 November 2007, any person who enters or leaves Singapore is required to give a report if he carries with him cash exceeding SGD 30,000 (the prescribed amount) or its equivalent in a foreign currency. Such person shall hand the report to any immigration officer at the Customs Red Channel on arrival in Singapore, and at the immigration counter on departure from Singapore. The prescribed form to be used is the Physical Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments Report (Traveler) or NP727 form.

The forms are available at all major checkpoints, Police Neighborhood Centers, Police Neighborhood Posts and branches of Singapore Post. The forms can also be downloaded from the website of Singapore Police Force (SPF) www.spf.gov.sg or from the website of Commercial Affairs Department www.cad.gov.sg. In addition, the NP727 form is available at all Singapore Visitor Centers and is supplied to commercial transport operators for distribution to their customers.

At the Singapore immigration checkpoint, two kinds of channels are available: Red Channel and Green Channel. According to Singapore Customs regulations, any visitor to Singapore who carries items that exceed the prescribed consumer tax-exempt limit or customs duty-exempt limit or other taxable items, controlled or restricted items and prohibited items must use the Red Channel. A visitor who does not carry the above three types of item can use the Green Channel. The officers at the checkpoint have the right to do inspections on a selective basis. Those who use the wrong channel or illegal visitors can face a fine of up to SDG 10,000 or imprisonment. According to Singapore customs regulations, the upper limit of foreign currency carried by any visitor is SGD 30,000.

Taxable items: Alcohol, including spirits, wine and beer; tobacco products, including cigarettes (marked SDPC) and cigars; engine fuel.

Controlled items (including but not limited to): Animals, birds, fish or products thereof; CD, DVD, movies, video games; weapons, ammunition, explosives; medication and pharmaceutical products; telecommunications and radio communications equipment; handcuffs and police batons.

Prohibited items (including but not limited to): Chewing tobacco and tobacco substitution (electronic cigarettes); chewing gum; pistol- or revolver-shaped lighter; controlled drugs and psychotropic substances; endangered species of wildlife and products thereof; firecrackers; pornographic publications , videotapes, CDs and software and other types of obscenities; pirated publications and audiovisual products; subversive material and treasonous material.

Visa

Visa types:

1. Short-term visa (like tourist visa, visa for visiting relatives and friends, business visa), which allow visitors to stay in Singapore for 4-30 days;

2. Long-term visa (like long-term tourist visa, student permit, employment permit), which allow visitors to stay in Singapore for 3 months to years;

3. Multiple-entry visa.

Visa application:

Passport and a photocopy of the applicant's passport bio-data page must be furnished. The passport must have a validity period of at least 6 months (calculated from the date of arrival in Singapore) and one blank visa page.

Two sets of duly completed Form 14A (in English) should be provided. Each box on the 1st page and 2nd page must be filled in. The 3rd page must be signed by the applicant in person and indicate the date of application. Each set of the application forms must carry one passport-sized colored photograph (two photographs needed). The photographs must meet the following requirements:

2 inches, colored, against white background and taken within the last 4 months;

Taken full face without headgear in 4 months (unless the applicant habitually wears a headgear in accordance with his/her religious or racial custom but the headgear must not hide the applicant's features); face measuring 25mm*35mm.

Tourist visa is valid within 5 weeks from the date of issuance. Visa holders can enter or leave Singapore many times within 5 weeks. The period of stay, which is decided by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers, is at most 30 days.

The visa processing time is 3 days.

If the applicant is unemployed, he/she must provide proof of sufficient funds for the period of stay, for example, the original and photocopy of the certificate of bank deposit.

If the applicant is introduced by a local contact (Singapore Citizen and Singapore Permanent Resident), the local contact should complete Form V39A and produce a photocopy and original copy of the Singapore Identity Card or Singapore Passport bio-data page. The local contact must be present to submit the application in person at the Singapore Consulate.

Note: Whether or not visa is issued is decided by Singapore Consulate. No other organization or individual has the right to confirm whether a visa application has been approved nor not.

Customs

Major festivals:

       Chinese New Year: Spring Festival of China

       Eid al-fitr: Celebrating the appearance of the new moon in October of Islamic calendar

       Tamil New Year: falling between April and May

       Vesak: falling on a full moon Uposatha day in May

       National Day: August 9

       Christmas: December 25

Embassy and Consulates General

Embassy of Singapore in China

Add: 1 Silk Road North, Jianguomenwai, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

Postal code: 100600

Tel: +86-10-65321115

Fax: +86-10-65329405

E-mail: Singemb_bej@sgmfa.gov.sg

Hours: 8:30 -12:00, 13:00-17:00, Monday-Friday.

Consulate General of Singapore in Guangzhou

Add: R2418, CITIC Plaza, 233 Tianhe North Road, Guangzhou, Guagndong

Postal code: 510613

Tel: +86-20-38912345

Fax: +86-20-38912933 (consular), +86-20-38912123 (visa)

E-mail: sin_consulargz@yahoo.com.cn

Consulate General of Singapore in Shanghai

Address: 90 Wanshan Road, Shanghai

PostalcCode: 200336

Tel: +86-21-62785566

Fax: +86-21-62956038 (consular), +86-21-62956099 (visa)

E-mail: singcg_sha@sgmfa.gov.sg

Consulate General of Singapore in Xiamen

Add: 05-07, 08, Bank Center, 189 Xiahe Road, Xiamen, Fujian

Postal code: 361003

Tel: +86-592-2684691

Fax: +86-592-2684694

E-mail: singcg_xmn@sgmfa.gov.sg

Consulate General of Singapore in Chengdu

Add: 30-01 Yanlord Landmark Office, 1 Renmin South Road, Jinjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan

Tel: +86-28-86527222

Fax: +86-28-86528005

E-mail: sing_cgu@sgmfa.gov.sg

Consulate General of Singapore in Hong Kong, China

Address: Unit 901, F9, Admiralty Centre Tower I, 18 Harcourt Road, Hong Kong, China

Tel: +852-25272212

Fax: +852-28661239

E-mail: singcg_hkg@sgmfa.gov.sg

Voltage and Plugs

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* The above information is for reference only. For more, contact the embassy.

* For more information on visa, head to the Star Alliance website.