If you do not have any controlled, prohibited or restricted items, or taxable/dutiable items exceeding your GST relief/duty-free concession, proceed to the Green Channel.

If in doubt, go through the Red Channel.


Duty Free Allowances

Travellers entering Singapore (whether returning home or visiting from overseas) can make use of their trip with the following limits:

Alcohol Allowance

a) 18 years and above;
b) Have Spent 48 Hours or more outside Singapore before arrival;
c) Have not arrived from Malaysia; and
d) The liquors are for your personal consumption and not prohibited for import into Singapore

With effect from 01 April 2019, travellers will be given duty-free concession for liquors on one of the following options (updated November 2021):

Option Spirits Wine Beer
A 1 Litre 1 Litre
B 1 Litre 1 Litre
C 1 Litres 1 Litre
D
E 2 Litres

As a crew member, you will be granted duty-free concession on 0.25 litre of spirits, and either 1 litre of wine or 1 litre of beer.


Cigarettes and Tobacco Products

There is no duty-free concession and Goods and Services Tax (GST) relief for cigarettes and tobacco products in Singapore. All cigarettes and tobacco products, including those purchased in Singapore with the ‘SDPC’ mark, are subject to duty and GST when brought into Singapore. With effect from 1 July 2020, all cigarettes and other tobacco products imported into, sold, offered for sale or distributed in Singapore must comply with the new Standardised Packaging (SP) requirements.

For further information, you may refer to Health Sciences Authority (HSA)’s website or contact Ministry of Health (MOH) through email at [email protected]. Importation of cigarettes and / or tobacco products that do not comply with the SP requirements is not allowed, and these cigarettes and / or tobacco products will be disposed of at the checkpoints.


Cash Allowance

As of 1 November 2007, the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crime (Confiscation of Benefits) Act requires that a person who moves into or out of Singapore with Physical Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments (CBNI) must give a report to an Immigration Officer or to the Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office.

From 1 September 2014, the threshold for any person entering or leaving Singapore with CBNI has been revised from SGD30,000.00 to SGD 20,000.00 (or its equivalent in foreign currency) is required to fill up the Physical Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments Report (Traveller) or NP727 form.


Goods & Services Tax (GST) Relief on Imported Goods

All goods brought into Singapore are subject to Goods & Services Tax (GST) at the prevailing rate, levied on the value of the goods, which may include the cost, insurance and freight (CIF) plus other chargeable costs and the duty payable (if applicable). Travellers are granted GST import relief on new goods that are purchased overseas and brought into Singapore for their personal use. The relief amount is based on the duration that the traveller has spent outside Singapore:

Period away from Singapore Value of Goods
48 hours or more $500
less than 48 hours $100

The above relief is granted on an individual basis and is not applicable if the goods are brought in for trade, commercial or business purposes, or carried on behalf of other persons. For goods exceeding the eligible GST relief, travellers are required to make payment for the taxes at the Customs Tax Counter before exiting the Green/Red Channel.

Further information on Customs clearance and procedures can be found here.


For your convenience, we encourage you to make an advance declaration and payment of duty/GST for your overseas purchases using the Customs@SG web portal. Alternatively, you may declare and make payment at our Customs Tax Payment Office. Only e-payments (major credit cards, mobile wallets, NETS and Cashcard) are accepted at Customs Office.