Most of us are familiar with the usual list of restricted items to never carry in your cabin baggage, including firearms, knives, scissors, flammable materials, and weapons of any kind. A reasonable list, according to most. But if you’re travelling to or via Singapore, you may be in trouble for carrying unassuming items that are part of your daily lifestyle. A harmless pack of chewing gum or a pet goldfish could lead to problems. Singapore’s immigration laws are notoriously stringent and it’s important to familiarise yourself with them when visiting the country. For official guidelines, check the updated list of rules and regulations. Here are the do’s and don’ts of packing for Singapore.
Things you shouldn’t carry while travelling to Singapore
Most of us are familiar with the usual list of restricted items to never carry in your cabin baggage, including firearms, knives, scissors, flammable materials, and weapons of any kind. A reasonable list, according to most. But if you’re travelling to or via Singapore, you may be in trouble for carrying unassuming items that are part of your daily lifestyle. A harmless pack of chewing gum or a pet goldfish could lead to problems. Singapore’s immigration laws are notoriously stringent and it’s important to familiarise yourself with them when visiting the country. For official guidelines, check the updated list of rules and regulations. Here are the do’s and don’ts of packing for Singapore.
Things you shouldn’t carry while travelling to Singapore
Chewing gum
Everywhere else, chewing gum means fresh breath, oral hygiene, or blowing bubbles for fun. But in Singapore, it means a S$100,000 fine and up to two years in prison. Singapore’s ban on the sale, import and manufacture of chewing gum has been in place since 1992, for a number of reasons including litter and vandalism. You cannot have any chewing gum on you even while transiting through the country.
Copyrighted material
If your planned in-flight entertainment includes TV shows and movies downloaded off of the internet illegally, you may want to stick to reading. Singapore enforces a strict ban on any reproduction of copyrighted material and the punishment could include fines up to S$100,000 and imprisonment of up to 5 years.
Nicotine and tobacco of any kind
Smoking isn’t illegal in Singapore, but is highly discouraged. Cigarettes are banned in a large number of public areas, and the country has the lowest rate of tobacco consumption in Southeast Asia. You will need to declare tobacco products when entering Singapore at the Red Channel at customs. You will also need to pay two sets of taxes-duty and GST-depending on the volume of tobacco you are carrying
If you are found in possession of tobacco or nicotine products, you need to declare them and pay two sets of taxes-duty and GST.
Live birds or fish
If you have a pet goldfish or a friendly parakeet you intend on travelling with to Singapore, you will need several licences and approvals beforehand. We suggest you go through the detailed guidelines.
Medicines
Some of your personal medication may contain prohibited ingredients, so before packing, do a quick check if yours checks all the right boxes. If you intend to bring in more than 3 months’ worth of personal medication, you will need prior approval.
More than 5kg of seafood or processed food
If you’re planning to fill your suitcase with frozen seafood or processed meals, think again. You are allowed to carry up to 5 kgs of seafood products, out of which a maximum of 2 kg of frozen cooked crabmeat and frozen cooked prawn meat is allowed. You are allowed a maximum of 30 eggs, no more than that, and only a handful of fruit and vegetables. Processed food cannot exceed 5 kgs or 5 litres. These regulations are designed keeping food safety guidelines in mind.