【Entry】
When entering Singapore for the first time, you must present your completed disembarkation card and passport to the immigration officer.
The entry procedure is completed once the passport is stamped with a stay permit of up to 14 days and the other half of the disembarkation card is returned to you. Sometimes, the immigration officer may ask to see your outbound flight ticket and inquire about the purpose of your visit and the duration of your stay; as long as you answer truthfully, you will be cleared.
After the entry inspection is completed, you will arrive at the duty-free shop for arriving passengers. Usually, duty-free shops are only for departing passengers, but since Singapore is a free port, arriving passengers can also purchase duty-free goods. Then, proceed to the baggage claim area in the central hall to collect your luggage.
Before passing through customs, you may occasionally encounter random checks. If you are found to be carrying prohibited items such as pirated discs or excessive cigarettes, you will be fined according to the severity of the offense.
【Departure】
Check-in procedures are handled at the departure hall on the 2nd floor of Changi International Airport. Usually, check-in begins 1 to 2 hours before the flight departure. When checking in, you may request your preferred seat. Boarding generally begins 30 minutes before the flight departure.
【Regulations on Items Carried During Entry and Exit】
Currency: Singapore Customs does not impose a maximum limit on the amount of foreign currency brought into the country.
Taxable Goods: Alcoholic beverages (including wine, beer, ale, and stout), tobacco (including cigarettes and cigars), handbags and wallets, imitation jewelry, chocolate and confectionery, bread, biscuits, and cakes.
Duty-Free Goods: Electrical appliances, cosmetics, cameras and watches, jewelry, gemstones and precious metals, footwear, works of art, and toys.
Scope of Duty-Free Allowance
Tourists are not required to pay tax on the following items brought into the country:
Personal effects
Food items such as chocolate, biscuits, cakes, etc., provided the value does not exceed SGD 50.
For individuals aged 18 or older who are not arriving from Malaysia, the following items are duty-free:
One liter of spirits
One liter of beer, ale, or stout
The aforementioned duty-free items are for personal consumption only; resale or gifting is prohibited. If the items brought into the country exceed the duty-free allowance, the excess portion will be taxed. Transit passengers carrying excessive items must store the items exceeding the duty-free allowance with customs and bear the storage fees themselves.
Additionally, the labels, boxes, and packaging of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes brought into the country must not bear the words "Singapore Duty Not Paid". Cigarettes with an "E" mark on the packaging are also prohibited. All cartons of cigarettes entering the country via air, land, or sea must be taxed; duty-free cigarettes are sold only to departing passengers.
Other Prohibited, Controlled, and Restricted Items
Controlled drugs and psychotropic substances
Firecrackers
Pistol or revolver-shaped lighters
Toy coins and banknotes
Pirated publications, video tapes, discs, and audio tapes
Endangered wildlife and their products
Obscene articles and publications
Dangerous and treasonous materials
Medicines brought into the country must be items permitted by Singapore law. In particular, sleeping pills and tranquilizers must be accompanied by a doctor's prescription to prove that the medication is essential for the traveler's personal use.
