What You Need to Know About Moving to Singapore
Documents Required
Copy of passport (photograph and personal information pages)
Declaration of facts form
Original bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
Copy of the owner of the goods’ employment pass / green card (both sides)
Goods and services tax relief form (GST)
Supplementary Customs declaration form
Wine and liquor declaration form
Exemption permit (diplomats)
Specific Information
A duty exemption will be given to goods if all documentation as requested above is in order.
Goods should be in the owner of the goods’ possession and used for more than 3 months.
Shipment must be imported into Singapore within 6 months of the owner of the goods’ first arrival into Singapore.
If shipment arrives more than 6 months after owner of the goods’ employment pass (EP) into Singapore, shipment is subject to 7% goods and services tax (GST) on the cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value.
Returning Singaporean residents should be away for more than 6 months to get 7% GST relief.
Embassy, high commission, Consulate or accredited trade organization in and owner of the goods who have been accorded diplomatic and consular privileges and immunities by the Singapore Government are eligible for duty exemption and GST relief on all goods that are for the personal or official use of the owner of the goods or organization; an exemption permit is required to cover the import of such goods but the organization and its authorized claimants have to be first registered with Customs.
A failure to declare all items or pay taxes due may result in prosecution, fines, and/or imprisonment.
Documents Required
Certificate of compliance
Original commercial invoice
Insurance papers
Vehicle registration certificate
Owner of the goods’ passport
Inward declaration permit
Customs in-payment permit
Customs duty payment receipt
Temporary certificate of entitlement
Temporary certificate of entitlement
Manufacturer’s letter confirming the date the automobile was manufactured
Specific Information
Certificate of compliance from exhaust emission control standard is required for all new and used vehicles.
Autos and motorcycles are subject to very high duty and registration fees; importation highly discouraged.
Must be registered in owner of the goods’ name for continued use and not for resale.
Left-hand drive vehicles are prohibited.
Vehicles more than three years old cannot be imported.
Boats are duty-free, but must be for the owner of the goods’ use and not for resale.
Dismantled vehicles are not permitted.
Documents Required
Import license from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)
Reservation for quarantine (if applicable) must be made prior to import
Specific Information
If ownership of an animal cannot be verified from birth to 6 months for that animal, it will be quarantined.
Intoxicating liquors
Tobacco products
Motor vehicles
Petroleum products
Liquors and cigarettes marked with the words “SINGAPORE DUTY NOT PAID” on the labels, cartons or packets
E-cigarettes
Chewing gum, chewing tobacco, and imitation tobacco products (except approved oral dental and medicated gum by the Health Sciences Authority)
Shisha
Smokeless cigars, smokeless cigarillos or smokeless cigarettes
Dissolvable tobacco or nicotine
Any product containing nicotine or tobacco that may be used topically for application, by implant or injected into any parts of the body
Any solution or substance, of which tobacco or nicotine is a constituent, that is intended to be used with an electronic nicotine delivery system or vaporizers
Nasal snuff (with effect from 1 August 2016)
Oral snuff (with effect from 1 August 2016)
Gutkha, khaini and zarda (with effect from 1 August 2016)
Weapons, gun, ammunition of any kind, cigarette lighters of pistol or revolver shape
Narcotics, controlled or non-branded drugs, and psychotropic substances
Endangered species of wildlife and their byproducts
Firecrackers or counterfeit currencies
Obscene articles, pornographic books, materials, publications on video tapes / discs and software
Reproduction of copyright publications, video tapes, video compact discs, laser discs, records or cassettes
Seditious and treasonable materials
Animals and birds and their by-products
Endangered species of wildlife and their by-products
Plants
nasal snuff
Arms and Explosives
Bullet-proof clothing
Weapons, Kris, spears and swords
Prerecorded cartridges and cassettes
Films, video tapes / discs, laser discs, CD-ROMS, and video games
Medicines, pharmaceuticals, and poisons
Telecommunications, radio communication equipment, and toy walkie-talkies
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