Asia and Oceania

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

Travel Summary

• You should not become involved with drugs of any kind:  possession of even very small quantities can lead to imprisonment or the death penalty.
  
  
• There is an underlying threat from terrorism.  Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• The offences of “outrage of modesty” (molestation) can result in a fine, jail or corporal punishment (the rattan cane). Travellers are advised to avoid any action that could be interpreted as molestation. Scams involving false claims of molest are thought to exist.
  
  
• Around 450,000 British tourists visit Singapore every year (Source: Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority).  Most visits to Singapore are trouble-free.  43 British nationals required consular assistance in Singapore in the period 01  January 2009 – 31 December 2009 for the following types of incident: deaths (2 cases); hospitalisations (12 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (29 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (120 cases).
  
  
• There is a risk from Dengue fever in Singapore.  You should take normal precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes.  See the Health section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  See the General (Insurance) of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• You should ensure that your passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months after the conclusion of any trip to Singapore and other countries within South East Asia.
  

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is an underlying threat from terrorism.  Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. The Singaporean Government has put in place extensive measures to combat terrorism and has arrested a number of terrorist suspects. For further information see Terrorism Abroad.

Crime

Violent crime is rare.  You should be aware of the dangers of street crime, particularly bag‑snatching. 

You should:

• take particular care of your passport;
• leave tickets and unneeded cash/travellers cheques in the hotel safe or at (hosts') home;
• when going out, avoid carrying valuables with you, and be aware of your surroundings;
• not leave possessions in unattended vehicles.

Police permission is required for certain kinds of public gatherings in Singapore.  You should therefore avoid street gatherings and public demonstrations, which might place you at risk. For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

Political Situation

Singapore Country Profile

Local Travel

Road Travel

Road conditions in Singapore are generally good.  If you are involved in an accident, you should not leave the scene until the police have attended.

A foreign driving licence can be used in Singapore for as long as it is valid.  But if you are staying in Singapore for longer than one year or become a Permanent Resident you should get a Singaporean driving licence.  These are more readily recognised by the Singaporean authorities. For further information see http://driving-in-singapore.spf.gov.sg/services/Driving_in_Singapore/Information/drivinglicence/conversion.htm.

For further information see Driving Abroad. 

Air Travel

The restrictions on the carriage of liquids, aerosols and gels in aircraft cabins, implemented across the EU in 2006, also apply in Singapore and is rigorously enforced.  For more general information see Airline Security.

Sea Travel

There have been attacks against ships in and around the waters of Singapore and the Malacca Straits.  Mariners are advised to be vigilant and take appropriate precautions; reduce opportunities for theft; establish secure areas onboard; and report all incidents to the coastal and flag state authorities. For more general information see River and Sea Safety

Local laws and customs

The mandatory death penalty exists in Singapore for certain capital offences, including murder and drug trafficking.  There are severe penalties for all drug offences in Singapore.  Trafficking is defined by possession of drugs above a certain amount (e.g. 500g in the case of cannabis).

Penalties for visa overstayers include fines, imprisonment and corporal punishment (the rattan cane) and deportation depending on the length of overstay. A wide range of lesser offences such as “outrage of modesty” (inappropriate behaviour by men towards women) carries corporal punishment (the rattan cane).  Travellers are advised to avoid any action that could be interpreted as molestation. Scams involving false claims of molest are thought to exist.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offence in Singapore, and the traffic police regularly carry out breath tests.  Sentences for driving whilst under the influence of alcohol can include a fine or imprisonment. The Singaporean authorities will prosecute cases of air rage within their jurisdiction.  

On-the-spot fines are common, and can be given for a wide range of behaviours which are tolerated in the UK You will be fined for smoking in any public place or indoor restaurant, for chewing gum on the Mass Rapid Transit (MTR) system or littering and in the past measures have been taken to ensure the cleanliness of public toilets.  

You should be aware that thorough checks may be conducted on departing travellers' vehicles and fingerprints may be scanned at border exit points.

Dual nationals and Permanent Residents

Singapore does not recognise dual nationality beyond the age of 21.  If you are male and a citizen of Singapore, or you hold Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) status you are liable for national service from the age of 16 up to 50.  Male children granted Permanent Resident status as part of their parents’ SPR applications are also liable for national service.  For further information see the following websites for Singapore  - Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

For more general information for different types of travellers see Your Trip.

Entry requirements

Visas

You do not normally need visas to enter Singapore for up to 30 days stay for tourism, business discussions or social visits. Women who are more than six months pregnant no longer need to obtain permission before travelling; however the final decision on the length of stay permitted rests with the immigration officer on arrival. Prior entry clearance is required for women intending to give birth in Singapore.  Pregnant women do not need to apply for permission to travel to Singapore. However, the final decision on entry clearance rests with the immigration officer on arrival. Applications can be made at the nearest Singapore visa issuing office. For further information contact the High Commission for the Republic of Singapore in London.

Passport validity

Singaporean immigration authorities require that you have at least six months' validity on your passport beyond your departure date from Singapore.  Likewise, if you are intending to transit Singapore to neighbouring countries, you should ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months.  You may be refused entry or be turned away by airlines if your passport does not meet this requirement.  Check departure tax is included in the cost of your airfare.

Customs Regulations

You should be careful to comply with Singaporean customs regulations.  Importation of controlled drugs and pirated copyright material is prohibited and there are restrictions on entering with items such as replica guns, radio communications equipment, and weapons and ammunition (including empty cartridge cases).  For more information we recommend that you visit the travellers section of Singapore Customs government website before arrival.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.  They may want to see birth certificates, a letter of consent from the other parent or some evidence as to your responsibility for the child.  For further information contact the High Commission for the Republic of Singapore in London.

Health

There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on this website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk.

Healthcare in Singapore is of a high quality and expensive.   Local hygiene standards are high.  You should take enough medication to cover your stay and carry it in your hand baggage.  Not all UK prescribed drugs are available in Singapore.  Some over-the-counter medications (e.g. Ibuprofen) need a prescription.

For entry into Singapore a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers (over one year of age) who, within the preceding six days, have been in or have passed through any country where yellow fever is endemic (most tropical African and South American countries - please see http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=95&secid=94 for details).

Singapore periodically suffers from smoke haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia.

Dengue occurs in Singapore and clusters of chikungunya cases have also been reported. Dengue and chikungunya are transmitted by mosquitoes. There are no vaccinations against these diseases but there are preventative measures that you can take, as advised on the National Travel Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website. For up to date information on the local dengue hotspots please see the website of Singapore’s National Environment Agency at: http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/category_sub.asp?cid=239

Outbreaks of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) occasionally occur and young children have been particularly at risk of being infected . The World Health Organisation has advised that there is no cause for alarm and that you should take normal precautions and be vigilant about washing hands.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 4,100 adults aged 15 or over in Singapore were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.2% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see the HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Singapore and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see the Travel Health and for food/drink hygiene see Eat and Drink Safely.

General

Insurance We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see When Things Go Wrong.

Money

The local currency is the Singapore Dollar.  Major credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and department stores.  Credit card fraud is not a major problem in Singapore, but check your statements carefully.  Keep your credit card company’s telephone number to hand: your card may be stopped if they think it has been stolen or cloned.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found on the here.