🇸🇬 Singapore Customs Guide
What customs allows you to bring into Singapore — duty-free caps, banned and restricted goods, and medication rules, from official sources.
Fully verified · Authority: Singapore Customs · Last verified
Every section below carries verbatim quotes from official customs sources captured on the verification date.
Two different questions. Airport security screening (TSA/CATSA — can it go through the checkpoint?) is separate from customs (may it enter the country at all?). This page covers customs after arrival in Singapore; for checkpoint rules, see the item guides.
Duty-free allowances
LIQUOR — pick ONE option (18+, ≥48 h outside Singapore, NOT arriving from Malaysia, personal consumption): A: 1 L spirits + 1 L wine · B: 1 L spirits + 1 L beer · C: 1 L wine + 1 L beer · D: 2 L wine · E: 2 L beer; >10 L needs a Customs permit. TOBACCO — zero: every cigarette/gram is dutiable, no concession, no GST relief (Singapore is the outlier here).
“Option Spirits Wine Beer A 1 Litre 1 Litre - B 1 Litre - 1 Litre C - 1 Litre 1 Litre D - 2 Litre - E - - 2 Litres”
“There is no duty-free concession or GST import relief for cigarettes and tobacco products. All cigarettes and tobacco products, including those purchased in Singapore with the Singapore Duty-Paid Cigarette (SDPC) mark, are subject to duty and GST when brought into Singapore.”
“You may bring in duty-free liquor only if you meet all these conditions: You are 18 years old or above. You spent at least 48 hours outside Singapore before arrival. You are not arriving from Malaysia. The liquor is for your personal consumption.”
Prohibited & restricted goods
Prohibited goods cannot be brought in at all; controlled goods need a permit from the Competent Authority BEFORE arrival and must go through the Red Channel. (Canonical examples — chewing gum, e-cigarettes — are asserted on official aviation authority publications; direct customs.gov.sg item-list verbatim pending.)
“Controlled goods require an import permit or authorisation from the relevant CAs before they can be brought into Singapore. If you are carrying controlled goods, you must: Obtain the required permit or authorisation before arrival. Present the goods and approval documents to the checking officer at the Red Channel or Customs Examination Area …”
Medication & prescription drugs
Import of medicinal products/health supplements is regulated by HSA (official Customs answer). Exact traveller quantity rules (≤3-month supply; controlled-drug pre-approval ≥2 weeks) attributed to HSA — HSA page verbatim pending.
“The importation of health supplements and medicinal products into Singapore is regulated by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).”
“You may bring in common medications such as those for treatment of diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and contraception, if the quantity is not more than 3 months' supply. No approval from us is required in such cases.”
Still being verified — nothing guessed
Accuracy beats completeness here. The following are confirmed gaps in our verified coverage for Singapore; each line names the official source we are re-checking, not a third-party answer:
- Pending customs/ICA prohibited-item list verbatim (chewing gum, e-cigarette classes)
- Pending controlled-medication pre-approval flow verbatim (HSA application step text pending)
Singapore customs FAQs
What is the duty-free allowance for Singapore?
LIQUOR — pick ONE option (18+, ≥48 h outside Singapore, NOT arriving from Malaysia, personal consumption): A: 1 L spirits + 1 L wine · B: 1 L spirits + 1 L beer · C: 1 L wine + 1 L beer · D: 2 L wine · E: 2 L beer; >10 L needs a Customs permit.
What items are prohibited or restricted at Singapore customs?
Prohibited goods cannot be brought in at all; controlled goods need a permit from the Competent Authority BEFORE arrival and must go through the Red Channel. (Canonical examples — chewing gum, e-cigarettes — are asserted on official aviation authority publications; direct customs.gov.sg item-list verbatim pending.)
Can I bring medication into Singapore?
Import of medicinal products/health supplements is regulated by HSA (official Customs answer). Exact traveller quantity rules (≤3-month supply; controlled-drug pre-approval ≥2 weeks) attributed to HSA — HSA page verbatim pending.
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