Renowned worldwide as a thriving, dynamic centre for commerce and
industry, Singapore's central location, excellent facilities, cleanliness,
fascinating cultural contrasts and tourist attractions draw an ever
increasing number of visitors. It is a place of many interesting
sights, from historic ethnic areas like Little India and Chinatown
to tourist attractions like Sentosa, the Zoological Gardens, Jurong
Bird Park, Haw Par Villa (Chinese mythological theme park), the
Empress Place and Raffles Hotel.
Airport Tax
For your convenience you can buy $15 airport tax coupons in advance
at most hotels, travel agencies and airline offices. The coupon
must be attached to your airline ticket.
Citizens of the ASEAN countries holding valid passports can visit
Malaysia and Thailand for 14 days without a visa. The Philippines
only requires a visa for a stay exceeding 21 days. Indonesia offers
two months visa-free entry for bona fide tourists, provided they
have an onward ticket and use designated ports of entry and exit.
Banks and hotels can change money and most shopping complexes have
a licensed money changer. Visitors are advised not to change money
with an unlicensed operator. Most banks open from 9.30am to 3pm
on weekdays and 9.30am to 11.30am on Saturdays.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are widely accepted in Singapore. Hotels, retailers,
restaurants, travel agents and even a taxi company readily accept
international credit cards.
There is no limit on the amount of currency you may bring into
Singapore.If you are 18 years old or above and are arriving from
a country other than Malaysia, 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 Singapore government's campaign to discourage
smoking. If you are carrying excess dutiable items, you may leave
these in Customs Bond until your departure, provided this is from
the same point of entry. Storage costs are chargeable.
Dutiable items include garments and clothing accessories, leather
bags, wallets, imitation jewellery, chocolate and sugar confectionery,
pastries, biscuits and cakes. Restricted amounts of these items
may be brought in duty-free, provided they are meant for personal
consumption.
In line with most other countries, Singapore prohibits the entry
of some items, while others are subject to controls and restrictions.
Prohibited items include:
Controlled drugs and psychotropic substances
Firecrackers
Cigarette lighters of pistol/revolver shape
Toy coins and toy currency notes
Reproductions of copyright publications,
video tapes or disks, records or cassettes
Endangered species of wildlife and their
by- products
Obscene articles and publications
Seditious and treasonable materials
If you have any of the articles listed, entry will only be allowed
when you produce the import permit or authorisation from the relevant
authorities.
A traveller who has medicines which may only be obtained through
prescription under Singapore law, especially sleeping pills, depressants,
stimulants, etc, must possess a prescription from a physician confirming
that the medicines are used for the traveller's physical wellbeing
while travelling.
The above lists of dutiable, non-dutiable, prohibited, controlled
and restricted goods are not exhaustive. If you need clarification
or further information, please contact:
Head, Terminal Section Airports Branch Customs & Excise Department
Singapore Changi Airport Changi Airport P.O. Box 5 Singapore 9181
Tel: 5459122 or 5427058
The Customs Officer Singapore Changi Airport Tel: 5412572 or your
nearest Singapore Overseas Mission.
Visas are not generally required for social visits of under 14
days, and visitors arriving as tourists are given a 14-day social
visit pass on arrival. If you want to stay longer, you may apply
to the Immigration Department after your arrival.
You should have an onward/return ticket and sufficient funds for
your stay. Entry visas are required for visitors from the People's
Republic of China, the Russian Federation, India, Cambodia, Laos,
Vietnam, Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Jordan, Syria,
Tunisia and Yemen. Visa- free entry is available to citizens of
Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the
United States of America.
Visa- free entry is permitted to citizens of other countries for
stays ranging from 14-90 days. As regulations may change from time
to time, check with your nearest Singapore Embassy or Singapore
Tourist Promotion Board office before departure.
There is no export duty. Export permits are required for firearms,
ammunition, explosives, animals, gold in form, platinum, precious
stones and jewellery (except reasonable personal effects), poisons
and drugs. Any goods in excess of reasonable personal effects should
be declared at exit points and an Outward Declaration form prepared,
if need be. For inquiries, call the Airport Customs Department at
5427058.
Weather and Climate
Located just 2° north of the equator, Singapore enjoys a warm
tropical weather that is relatively calm and consistent throughout
the year. The average daily temperature is 26.7'C with a mean temperature
of 30.8°C occurring in the afternoons and a minimum of 23.8°C
just before dawn.
Relative humidity often exceeds 90 percent at night and in the
early hours of the morning shortly before sunrise. On dry afternoons
it is usually between 60 and 70 percent.
Rainfall is most abundant during the Northeast Monsoon season
from November to January. Much of the rain falls in sudden showers.
February is usually the sunniest month while December is often the
wettest. However, July and August are the hottest months when average
temperatures are at their peak.
Singapore water is clean and safe to drink from the tap, and need
not be boiled.
Drug Abuse
The death penalty is mandatory for those convicted of trafficking,
manufacturing, importing or exporting more than 15g of heroin, 30g
of morphine, 30g of cocaine, 500g of cannabis, 200g of cannabis
resin and 1.2kg of opium. Possession of such quantities is deemed
as prima facie evidence of trafficking. For unauthorised consumption,
there is a maximum of 10 years imprisonment or fine of $20,000,
or both.
Electricity
Singapore's voltage is 220-240 volts AC, 50 cycles per second.
Most hotels can provide visitors with a transformer which can convert
the voltage to 110-120 volts, 60 cycles per second.
Littering
Singapore's clean and green image is the result of more than two
decades of public education campaigns and strict laws against littering.
Littering of any kind is subject up to S$1,000 fine for first offenders,
and up to S$2,000 fine and a stint of corrective work order cleaning
a public place for repeat offenders. As an extension of the law
against littering, the import, sale and possession of chewing gum
is prohibited. The high costs and difficulty in removing indiscriminately
discarded chewing gum were the reasons for the prohibition.
Medical Facilities
Singapore's medical facilities are among the finest in the world,
with well qualified doctors and dentists, many trained overseas.
Pharmaceuticals are available from numerous outlets including supermarkets,
department stores, hotels and shopping centres. Registered pharmacists
work from 9am till 6pm, with some shops open until 10pm. Most hotels
have their own doctor on 24-hour call. Contact the Front Office
or Room Service for assistance. For an ambulance, dial 995.
Post Office/Telecoms
Most hotels provide postal services at the front desk. The Changi
Airport Post Office is open from 8am to 8pm daily from Monday to
Saturday. Basic postal services are available round the clock at
the General Post Office and the Comcentre branch.
International Direct Dialling is available at the General Post
Office and Comcentre. IDD calls can also be made from the numerous
phonecard and credit card phones located at post offices and round
the city area. Phonecards come in five denominations of $2, $5,
$10, $20 and $50 and are sold at Singapore Telecom service outlets,
post offices, convenience stores and some retail shops. A 20% levy
is normally imposed on IDD calls made from hotels.
Smoking
Smoking in public buses, taxis, lifts, theatres, cinemas, government
offices and air-conditioned restaurants and shopping centres is
against the law. First offenders may be fined up to a maximum of
S$1,000. While it is an offence to smoke in air-conditioned eating
places, smoking is not prohibited in air-conditioned pubs, discos,
karaoke bars and nightspots.
Tipping
Tipping is not a way of life in Singapore. It is prohibited at
the airport and discouraged in hotels and restaurants where there
is a 10% service charge.
What to Wear
Singapore's tropical weather makes light summer clothing (preferably
of natural fabrics) most practical, especially for outdoor activities
like sightseeing. Most restaurants and nightspots are not restrictive
on the dress code - polo shirts, t-shirts, jeans, slacks, blouses
and skirts, sun dresses and sneakers are acceptable at most places.
Although some establishments require formal wear for the evening,
suits and evening dresses will never be out of place in Singapore's
trendy night-spots. It is always advisable to ring up beforehand
to check on dress regulations, if any.
