United Nations Security Council Sanctions

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions impose sanctions including prohibitions on activities relating to certain countries, goods and services, and/or entities (persons, companies or organisations).

As a member of the United Nations, Singapore implements the resolutions adopted by the UNSC. Specifically, the import into, export from, transhipment and transit through Singapore of certain goods which contravene the UNSC sanctions are prohibited under Regulation 6(1)(b) of the Regulation of Imports and Exports Regulations (RIER). A comprehensive list of UNSC sanctions can be found on the UNSC Sanctions Committees website.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)

Permit Requirements

A permit is required if you intend to import, export, tranship and transit all goods through Singapore which are originating from or bound for the DPRK.

The import, export, transhipment or transit of any goods listed above are strictly prohibited under the Seventh Schedule of the RIER, read with Regulation 6(2)(c) of the RIER. This includes goods for the purposes of trade with any person in the DPRK.

For all non-prohibited goods arriving from or destined for the DPRK, you are required to apply for the permit at least 3 working days before the intended shipment date to or from Singapore. Please refer to the permit requirements for the import, export, transhipment and transit of goods through Singapore.

If your shipment is permitted under the exceptions outlined in the UNSC Resolutions, please also submit supporting documents to show that the shipment falls under the exceptions (e.g. a letter of authorisation issued by a United Nations programme).

Please submit the following supporting documents together with your permit application to Singapore Customs either via TradeNet® or via email to customs_stgc@customs.gov.sg for our verification:

Commercial invoice;
Bill of Lading/House Bill of Lading or Master Air Waybill/House Air Waybill;
Packing list;
Sales contract;
End-user certificate or statement; and
Other relevant supporting documents

You are also reminded to comply with any stipulated permit conditions.

Islamic Republic of Iran

Permit Requirements for UNSC Procurement Channel

Although nuclear-related items are prohibited from export or re-export to Iran, UNSC Resolution 2231(2015) endorsed the establishment of a dedicated “procurement channel” for the transfer of the nuclear-related items, materials, equipment, goods and technology to Iran. Through this procurement channel, the UNSC will allow certain exports of nuclear-related items to Iran if the UNSC has given their prior in-principle approval. The items which qualify for the procurement channel are:

Items listed under INFCIRC/254/Rev.13/Part 1; and
Items listed under INFCIRC/254/Rev.10/Part 2.

The documents can be accessed on the UNSC website at https://undocs.org/S/RES/2231(2015). The listed items are also controlled under the Strategic Goods (Control) Act, and require a strategic goods permit for the export, re-export, transhipment or transit from or via Singapore.

To seek the UNSC’s in-principle approval of such exports, you are required to submit a completed form and an end-user certification based on the templates provided by the UNSC to Customs. Customs will inform the UNSC of your request for in-principle approval. As the UNSC would take time to process your application, please submit them at least 2 months prior to the intended date of exportation.

For re-exports, transhipment, and transit of these items please ensure that approval has been obtained from the UNSC Procurement Channel. Proof of the UNSC Procurement Channel’s approval must be submitted together with your strategic goods permit application for the particular shipment.

The export, re-export, transhipment or transit of these items to Iran from Singapore without both a valid approval from the UNSC and a strategic goods permit from Singapore is an offence.

General Permit Requirements

With the exception of goods under the UNSC Procurement Channel, all other goods which are imported from, exported, re-exported, in transit or transhipment to Iran would require a permit to be applied for at least 3 working days before the intended shipment date to or from Singapore. Please refer to the permit requirements for the import, export, transhipment and transit of goods through Singapore.

If your shipment is permitted under the exceptions outlined in the UNSC Resolutions, please also submit supporting documents to show that the shipment falls under the exceptions (e.g. a letter of authorisation issued by a United Nations programme).

Please submit the following supporting documents together with your permit application to Singapore Customs either via TradeNet® or via email to customs_stgc@customs.gov.sg for our verification:

Commercial invoice;
Bill of Lading/House Bill of Lading or Master Air Waybill/House Air Waybill;
Packing list;
Sales contract;
End-user certificate; and
Other relevant supporting documents

You are also reminded to comply with any stipulated permit conditions.

While Singapore does not enforce unilateral sanctions imposed by other countries, you may wish to conduct proper due diligence checks to ensure that your business is not at risk. Where legal advice is required, please seek advice from your legal advisors.

Other Countries pursuant to UNSC Sanctions or Regulations

List of Prohibited Items to or from Other Countries pursuant to UNSC Sanctions or Regulations

Permit Requirements

To import, export, tranship or transit goods permitted under the exceptions or exclusions outlined in the UNSC Resolutions, you are required obtain for a permit via TradeNet before the intended shipment date from or to Singapore.

Please refer to the permit requirements for the import, export, transhipment and transit of goods through Singapore.

If your shipment is permitted under the exceptions outlined in the UNSC Resolutions, please also submit supporting documents to show that the shipment falls under the exceptions (e.g. a letter of authorisation issued by a United Nations programme).

You are required to apply for a permit at least 3 working days before the intended shipment date to or from Singapore. The permit requirements to import, export, tranship and transit goods through Singapore still apply.

Please submit the following supporting documents together with your permit application to Singapore Customs either via TradeNet® or via email to customs_stgc@customs.gov.sg for our verification:

Commercial invoice;
Bill of Lading/House Bill of Lading or Master Air Waybill/House Air Waybill;
Packing list;
Sales contract;
End-user certificate; and
Other relevant supporting documents

Please note that Singapore does not enforce unilateral sanctions imposed by other countries. You are advised to look out for red flags to ensure your trading activities comply with Singapore’s domestic laws and the UNSC Resolutions.