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| Q1 |
I will be visiting Singapore. Am I allowed to bring in liquors and cigarettes? |
| A |
A bona fide traveller not below 18 years of age, who arrives from a country other than Malaysia and has spent 48 hours or more outside Singapore is entitled to duty-free concessions of 1 litre spirits (brandy or whisky or gin or rum or vodka, etc), 1 litre wine and 1 litre beer (or stout or ale or porter).
There is NO duty-free concession on cigarettes.
If you have cigarettes or liquors exceeding your duty-free concessions, please declare them to the ICA officers at the Red Channel for payment of duty and Goods & Services Tax (GST). Please click here for more information on Customs formalities for arriving travellers. |
| Q2 |
I travel frequently overseas. If I were to bring in a few bottles of wine with me, how much duty will I have to pay on arrival at the Changi Airport or Budget Terminal? |
| A |
Specific rate of duty is applied on wines imported into Singapore regardless of the country of origin. Duty on still wine and sparkling wine is levied at prevailing duty rates. In addition, Goods & Services Tax (GST) is payable at 7% of the sum of duty and value of the wine. No Customs Permit is required if the total volume of the wines does not exceed 10 litres. Please approach the ICA officers at the Red Channel to declare the wine and pay the duty and GST. Please click here to see the duty rates. |
| Q3 |
I intend to import a consignment of wines for personal consumption. Can you advise me of the procedures for import? |
| A |
You may import up to 10 litres of wines for personal consumption by declaring them to the ICA officers at the Red Channel for payment of duty and Goods & Services Tax (GST). The import of wines exceeding 10 litres must be covered by the relevant Customs permit. Please click here for information on how to declare a Customs permit. |
| Q1 |
My friend who is a tourist bought a lot of things here in Singapore. Can you advise how my friend can get refund of the tax he had paid on his purchases? |
| A |
Visitors to Singapore can apply for a refund of the GST if he fulfills the conditions for eligibility including a total purchases of $300 or more at shop displaying Tax Refund logo, or $100 or more at shops displaying Tax Free Shopping or Premier Tax Free logo. All he has to do is to present a GST Claim Form or Global Refund Cheques (obtainable from the retailer) together with the goods and sale receipts for Customs inspection at the Tax Refund Counter at the Departure Hall at Changi Airport or Seletar Airport. Please click here for more information. |
| Q2 |
I am an Indonesian. My brother who is residing in US will be sending me a new laptop valued at US$2500 to my sister in Singapore by international courier service. I intend to bring my laptop back to Indonesia on my coming vacation in Singapore. Do I need to pay GST when the laptop arrived into Singapore? If GST is payable, can I claim the refund for GST at the airport when I depart from Singapore with my laptop? |
| A |
The laptop is subjected to 7% of Goods and Services Tax (GST). The GST paid is not refundable when you leave Singapore as GST refund for tourists is only applicable to goods purchased in Singapore from retail shops participating under the Tourist Refund Scheme. |
Three-Quarter Tank Rule
Q1 What is the three-quarter tank rule?
A Under the Customs Act, Singapore-registered cars must have at least
three- quarter tank of petrol when departing Singapore. Failure to do so
constitues an offence which carries a penalty of up to $500.
Q2 Do motorists driving Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cars to Malaysia
need to observe the three-quarter tank rule?
A Singapore-registered hybrid cars and those running on CNG that are fitted with
fuel supply tanks are also subject to compliance with the three-quarter tank
rule.
| Q1 |
I plan to visit Singapore but I am a diabetic and will have several prescription medications. Will I be allowed to bring my medicine into Singapore? |
| A |
As the import of medicine requires the approval of Health Sciences Authority (HSA), please forward your enquiry to HSA at hsa_info@hsa.gov.sg for them to reply to you direct. For additional information, you may wish to visit the HSA Homepage at http://www.hsa.gov.sg. |
| Q2 |
What Customs formalities must I go through to bring along some gifts for my relatives and friends when I go overseas to visit them? |
| A |
Outgoing passengers need not go through any Customs formalities at the Singapore exit checkpoint. You may wish to check with the Customs authority of the destination on their Customs requirements before visiting the country. |