To enter Singapore, you must have a passport valid for at least six months from your entry date. To acquire a visa, contact one of the following Passport Offices:

1. Customs
2. Prohibited Items
3. Singapore’s Drug Policy
4. Visas
5. Medical Requirements

• United States — To find your regional passport office, check the U.S. State Department website (http://travel.state.gov/passport) or call the National Passport Information Center (tel. 877/487-2778) for automated information.
• United Kingdom — Visit your nearest passport office, central post office, travel agency, or contact the Identity and Passport Service (IPS), 89 Eccleston Square, London, SW1V 1PN (tel. 0300/222-0000; www.ips.gov.uk).
• Australia – Australian Passport Information Service (tel. 131-232, or visit www.passports.gov.au).
• Canada — Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca).
• Ireland — Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.foreignaffairs.gov.ie).
• New Zealand — Passports Office, Department of Internal Affairs, 47 Boulcott St., Wellington, 6011 (tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/474-8100; www.passports.govt.nz).

Customs

There’s no restriction on the amount of currency you can bring into Singapore. For those over 18 years of age who have arrived from countries other than Malaysia and have spent more than 48 hours outside Singapore, allowable duty-free concessions are 1 liter of spirits; 1 liter of wine; and 1 liter of either port, sherry, or beer, all of which must be intended for personal consumption only. There are no duty-free concessions on cigarettes or other tobacco items. If you exceed the duty-free limitations, you can bring your excess items upon payment of goods and services tax (GST) and Customs duty.

Prohibited Items

It is important to note that Singapore has some very unique prohibitions on the import of certain items. While pretty much every country in the world, including Singapore, prohibits travelers from bringing items like plutonium, explosives, and firearms through Customs — the same goes with agricultural products such as live plants and animals, controlled substances, and poisons — Singapore adds to the list any printed or recorded pornography; pirated movies, music, or software; and a toy or decorative guns, knives, or swords. A detailed rundown of prohibited items can be found on the Net at the Ministry of Home Affairs home page: www.mha.gov.sg.

Singapore’s Drug Policy

With all of the publicity surrounding the issue, Singapore’s strict drug policy shouldn’t need recapitulation. Still, here it is: Importing, selling, or using illegal narcotics is forbidden. Punishments are severe, up to and including the death penalty (automatic for morphine quantities exceeding 30 grams, heroin exceeding 15 grams, cocaine 30 grams, marijuana 500 grams, hashish 200 grams, opium 1.2 kilograms, or methamphetamines 250 grams). Suppose you’re carrying smaller sums (anything above morphine 3 grams, heroin 2 grams, cocaine 3 grams, marijuana 15 grams, hashish 10 grams, opium 100 grams, or methamphetamines 25 grams). In that case, you’ll still be considered to have intent to traffic and may face the death penalty if you can’t prove otherwise. If you’re crazy enough to try to bring these things into the country and you are caught, no measure of appeal to your home consulate will grant you any special attention.

Visas

Leisure travelers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are not required to obtain a visa before arrival. A Social Visit Pass (with combined social and business status) suitable for up to 30 days (up to 90 days for U.S. visitors) will be awarded upon entry for travelers arriving by plane, or for 14 days if your trip is by ship or overland from Malaysia or Indonesia. Children traveling with parents from countries that qualify for a Social Visit Pass upon arrival can obtain entry with their passport (provided it’s valid for at least six months). Infants can enter on their parents’ passports. For details, check out the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore website at www.ica.gov.sg.

Medical Requirements

Singapore does not require any vaccinations to enter the country unless you’ve been traveling in Africa or South America within six days of arrival, in which case you’ll need a certificate that shows you’ve been vaccinated against yellow fever.