Declarant

Declarant Registration

The Key Personnel or Authorised Personnel of A Declaring Agent (DA) can register an individual as a Declarant (opens in new tab) during the DA Account application or at a later time.

After registration, the individual will receive an email to review and acknowledge the Terms and Conditions for Declarants (opens in new tab). The Declarant must read and understand his roles and responsibilities before signing.

Processing typically takes 3 working days for straightforward cases once all supporting documents are received. Complex cases may take longer.

Customs Competency Test (SC 401)

All Declarants must enrol and pass the Customs Competency Test for Declarants (SC 401) (opens in new tab) to ensure that they have the required knowledge to advise clients and apply Customs procedures correctly.

After registering for the test and the session has closed, an invoice will be emailed to the address provided in the application form.

• Payment must be made via AXS / e-AXS before the due date.

• After successful payment, a confirmation email will be sent to the same address.

How to Prepare for the SC 401 Test

To prepare for the test, declarants should:

• Familiarise themselves with the permit types and procedures on the Singapore Customs website.

• Review information on Customs Schemes, Licences and Frameworks (e.g. TradeFIRST, Overseas Vendor Registration Regime on Low-Value Goods).

• Look out for compliance best practices published on our website.

• Complete the available e-learning modules.

• (Optional) Attend courses such as SC101 and SC102 at Nanyang Polytechnic (opens in new tab) or Republic Polytechnic (opens in new tab).

  • Signing up for these courses is optional and not a requirement before taking the SC 401 test.

If a Declarant changes employment and needs to be registered under another DA, he does not need to retake the test. However, Declarants with poor compliance records may be required to re-take and pass the SC 401 test to maintain their status.

SC 401 Test Details

• Format: 50 multiple-choice questions

• Venue: Singapore Customs Academy

• Duration: 1.5 hours (weekdays)

• Style: Open-book

• Passing mark: 70% (35 out of 50 questions)

• Test Scope

  1. Introduction to Customs Procedures

     • Overview of import, export and transhipment procedures

     • Registration procedures

     • Controlled, prohibited and dutiable items

     • Customs duty, excise duty and GST

     • Duty and tax rates and calculations

  2. Permit Application

     • Types of permit applications

     • Permit conditions

     • Amendments and cancellations

     • Refunds

  3. Valuation

     • WTO Valuation Agreement

     • Valuation methods

     • International Commercial Terms (Incoterms)

     • Common valuation issues

  4.  Classification

     • Purpose of the Harmonized System (HS)

     • HS structure

     • General Interpretation Rules

  5. Rules of Origin (ROO)

     • Purpose of ROO and Certificates of Origin

     • ROO methodology

     • CO application procedures

     • Free Trade Agreements

  6. Specialised Procedures

     • Temporary import/export procedures

     • ATA Carnets

     • Manifest procedures

     • Duty exemption and GST relief

     • Strategic Goods and Chemical Weapons Convention

     • Licensed Warehouse Scheme

     • Zero-GST Warehouse Scheme

     • Other Customs Schemes and Licences

     • Overseas Vendor Registration Regime on Low-Value Goods

• Things to bring

  • Stationery (e.g. calculator, pens)

  • An internet-enabled device (laptop, tablet or mobile phone) to access the online answer sheet and the Customs website

• Results

  • Results will be emailed about 2 weeks after the test date.

  • Participants who pass will receive an e-certificate.

• Fee payable: $29.96

• Refund policy

  • Refunds are not available for:

    1. Participants who cancel their registration

    2. Participants who do not attend or fail to show up

    3. If you miss your test date, you must make a new booking.

Renew, Update or Terminate Declarant Records

Updating Work Pass Details

If a Declarant is a Work Pass holder, both the DA’s Key Personnel and the Declarant will receive an email reminder to update the new Work Pass expiry date before the Work Pass expires. 

The DA must first renew the Work Pass with the Ministry of Manpower.

Key Personnel, Authorised Personnel or the Declarant may log in to:

• Upload the new Work Pass

• Update (opens in new tab) the Declarant’s Work Pass expiry date

Updating Declarant Particulars

Key Personnel or Authorised Personnel may update (opens in new tab) the Declarant’s:

• Contact details

• Particulars

• Employment status

Termination of Declarants

If a Declarant leaves the company or no longer applies for permits, the Key Personnel or Authorised Personnel of the DA should terminate the registration.

When a Declarant is terminated:

• The Declarant’s registration is deactivated

• All associated TradeNet® IDs will be terminated