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General Infomation
Traveller's Essential
Information
ASEAN Visa-free facility
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.
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Changing Money
Banks and hotels can change money and most
shopping complexes have a licensed moneychanger. 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.
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Credit/Charge Cards
Credit cards are widely accepted in Singapore.
Hotels, retailers, restaurants, travel agents and even a taxi
company readily accept international credit cards.
1. American Express
Tel: 62998133
2. Diners Card
Tel: 62944222
3. Master Card
Tel: 65332888
4. Visa Card
Tel: 1-800-63451345 (Service Centre)
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Customs Formalities
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: 65459122 or 65427058 The Customs Officer
Singapore Changi Airport Tel: 65412572 or your nearest Singapore
Overseas Mission.
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Drinking Water
Singapore water is clean and safe to drink
from the tap, and need not be boiled.
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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.
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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.
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Entry Formalities
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.
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Exit Formalities Customs
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 65427058.
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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.
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Medical Facilities
Singapore's medical facilities are among
the finest in the world, with well-qualified doctors and dentists,
many are 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.
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Post Office/Telecommunications
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 Dialing 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.
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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.
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Tipping
Tipping is not a way of life in Singapore,
unless it is meant as a token of appreciation. It is prohibited
at the airport and discouraged in hotels and restaurants where
there is a 10% service charge.
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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.
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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.
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All information is correct at the time
of collation.
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