Singapore

Pickpocketing and street theft is rare but can occur at the airport, tourist destinations, hotels and on public transport.

Watch your belongings, especially in tourist areas and on public transport.

Scams and fraud

Impersonation scams happen regularly.

Scammers are using automated voice calls or text messages or impersonating local government officials (e.g. from the Ministry of Health or Immigration & Checkpoints Authority), bank or telco staff. Calls ask for personal details and often use scare tactics (such as claiming you have committed an offence or have account issues). You should hang up immediately if the caller cannot identify themselves correctly. Always verify the information or request through official websites or call the company/department hotline before offering any personal information. Delete text messages immediately. 

Property rental scams happen. Book your rental through a reputable service. To protect yourself from property scams, research the property and landlord before agreeing to a property rental or purchase contract. See the Singapore Land Authority for information.

If anything is suspicious, check with Singapore's’ ScamShield helpline on 1799, or at scamshield.gov.sg. In additon, report scams to police.

If you live in Singapore, go to the Consumers Association of Singapore to lodge a complaint.

Kidnapping

Kidnapping can happen anywhere, anytime, including in destinations that are typically at lower risk.

The Australian Government’s longstanding policy is that it doesn’t make payments or concessions to kidnappers.

More information:

• Kidnapping

Cyber security

Drink spiking

Methanol poisoning

Terrorism is a threat worldwide. Terrorist attacks could occur anywhere and at any time. Be alert to possible threats, especially in public places. 

Singapore has enhanced security measures, including:

• strong border controls
• security and police surveillance
• restrictions on access to some public venues

Ministers have issued public warnings about the seriousness of the terrorist threat.

The Singapore government has developed the SG Secure app to alert people to security or other threats. 

Possible terrorist targets include businesses and public areas popular with travellers and places associated with the Singapore Government.

If there’s a terrorist incident, leave the area if it’s safe to do so and follow the instructions of local authorities. 

More information:

• Terrorism

Unauthorised public demonstrations are illegal.

You need a police permit for:

• a public gathering to which the public has been invited, even if you are the only person demonstrating or protesting
• a public procession of 2 or more people to which the public has been invited

Public demonstrations are only allowed at Speakers Corner in Hong Lim Park. As a foreigner, you also need a police permit to join these (unless you are a permanent resident). Penalties can be severe.

More information:

• Singapore Police Force
• Protests and civil unrest

Singapore is hot and humid year-round and can experience extreme weather, with commonly occurring heavy rain and lightning. 

The monsoon seasons are usually from December to March and June to September. 

Air quality is usually good, but smoke haze from regional fires can affect Singapore. 

Singapore isn't in an active earthquake zone, however tremors in neighbouring countries may be felt.

You can download the Singapore government's free myENV app to receive real-time alerts on lightning, heavy rain, flash flooding and air quality.

If there's a natural disaster:

• secure your passport in a safe, waterproof location
• keep in contact with your friends and family
• monitor local media, weather reports and the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System
• follow the advice of local authorities
• check with tour operators before travelling to affected areas

Singapore is a major flight hub. Natural disasters in other parts of the world may affect flights. These include volcanic ash plumes.

Contact your airline or travel agent for flight updates.

More information:

• National Environment Agency (NEA)
• Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)
• Public Utilities Board (PUB), Singapore’s National Water Agency

If you become mentally unwell and become a public nuisance or a danger to yourself or others, you could be detained and hospitalised to receive psychiatric treatment. You may not be able to leave treatment until you are well again or can have someone collect you from the hospital.

If you need emotional support during your visit, you can call:

• Singapore’s  National Care Hotline: 1800 202 6868
• Samaritans of Singapore: 1800 221 4444
• Mental Health Helpline (Institute of Mental Health, Singapore): +65 6389 2222

Singapore has strict rules that control the ingredients/composition of medication. Before travelling, check whether your medication is permitted and whether you need approval from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). Check the Singapore Health Sciences Authority for a list of controlled substances, including how to apply for approval at least 10 working days before you arrive.

Some medications, including ones for ADHD and prescription pain medication, need prior approval before being brought into Singapore.

Cannabis, products containing cannabis extracts and cannabis products are not permitted, even in transit. It's illegal to have cannabis or other illegal drugs in your system, even if consumed outside of Singapore. If you take prescribed medicinal cannabis, you should contact the Singapore Health Science Authority to review your situation and consider alternate travel arrangements before you travel.

We don't provide a comprehensive list of health risks, diseases or outbreaks for every destination. Before you travel, check the latest health advice from the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO)..

Insect-borne diseases

Dengue fever is endemic.

There is some spread of Zika virus. There's no vaccination for it. If you’re pregnant, discuss your travel plans with your doctor and consider deferring non-essential travel to an affected area.

Outbreaks of other insect-borne illnesses can happen such as Chikugunya. 

The risk of insect-borne illnesses increases during the wetter months, usually from December to March and June to September. Follow the National Environment Agency's advice for preventing and identifying dengue and Zika infection.

To protect yourself against insect-borne illness:

• make sure your accommodation is insect-proof
• use insect repellent
• wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing

The use of pesticides for mosquito ‘fogging’ is common. It appears as large clouds of white smoke being sprayed along streets, parks and residential areas. If you see fogging in progress, avoid the area where possible, and close nearby windows and doors.

Ask your doctor about health risks and vaccines before you travel. 

More information:

• Infectious diseases

Air Quality

Smoke haze from regional fires can affect Singapore from June to October, and can sometimes last longer. Follow the advice of the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA). Children, older people, pregnant women and those with heart or lung conditions should take extra precautions and limit outdoor activity during periods of unhealthy or hazardous air quality. Seek medical advice if you feel unwell.

You can download the Singapore government's free myENV app to receive real-time alerts on air quality.

There’s no agreement between Australia and Singapore for free healthcare. Tourists must pay for all medical care, even if they need to stay in hospital or be evacuated. This can be very expensive. Make sure your travel insurance covers you. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

The standard of medical facilities and care is similar to or higher than Australia.

The cost of medical services is much higher. Get travel insurance before you travel and ensure it covers medical costs and medical repatriation.

You may need to provide up-front payment or a letter of guaranteed payment from your insurer before receiving treatment.

Death Penalty 

Serious offences including drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping and firearms offences can attract the death penalty, and Singapore carries out executions.

Corporal punishment

Corporal punishment involving caning is regularly practised. This is a penalty for crimes such as outrage of modesty (molestation), rape, rioting, extortion, visa offences, vandalism, robbery, unlawful possession of weapons, possession or trafficking of drug laced vapes, and scamming offences.

If you're arrested

Police may hold your passport if you're under investigation. There is no set timeline for investigations, which can take several weeks or months. For serious offences, investigations and court proceedings can take years. You may not be allowed to leave Singapore until the investigation is completed. You may not get a replacement passport until legal matters are settled. You must be able to support yourself financially during this time.

Lawyers are expensive in Singapore. There are some public defence lawyers but only for eligible low-income Singapore nationals and permanent residents.

Jail sentences may result in the cancellation of your visa/employment pass, and you could be deported from Singapore after you have served your sentence. Your travel insurance might not cover you.

If you commit a crime and leave before you're caught, you may be arrested and charged the next time you arrive in or transit through Singapore.

Drugs

Drugs are illegal. The penalties for use, possession or trafficking are severe, including the death penalty and caning. 

It's illegal to have drugs in your system. This includes traces being found in blood, urine and hair tests.

You can be charged for consuming drugs even if you took them outside Singapore and, regardless of if you took them in a country where it was legal to do so.

There have been reports of drug-laced vapes circulating in Singapore. Penalties for possession or trafficking of drug-laced vapes may include imprisonment and caning.

Do not bring medicinal cannabis to Singapore, even during transit. If you take prescribed medicinal cannabis, always carry a letter from your doctor, and you should contact the Singapore Health Science Authority to review your situation.

More information:

• Carrying or using drugs

Outrage of modesty

Singapore has strict laws regarding 'outrage of modesty' (also known as molestation) and 'insult of modesty.' It's important to avoid any actions that could be interpreted in this way.

• Outrage of modesty involves physical actions such as groping, rubbing, pinching, or grabbing.
• Insult of modesty pertains to non-physical acts, including inappropriate staring, leering, taking upskirt photos, or making lewd gestures.

Penalties include jail, fines, and caning.

Minor crimes

Singapore has strict laws and penalties for things that are legal or are minor offences in Australia.

These include:

• smoking in non-designated area or indoor restaurants
• spitting
• importing or chewing gum
• chewing tobacco
• littering
• jaywalking
• poor etiquette on public transport (e.g. playing music out loud, putting your feet on a seat)

You aren't allowed to bring in any chewing gum (including nicotine gum), including in the airport transit zones.

Shoplifting is a serious crime, including for low-value items. Australians have been jailed for shoplifting.

Misuse of boarding pass

It's illegal to enter the transit area of Singapore’s Changi Airport for any purpose other than departing Singapore on a flight.

• Entering the transit area with a valid boarding pass but without planning to travel, such as for shopping, meeting people or seeing off loved ones, is an offence. Individuals who do so may be arrested upon re-entry into Singapore.
• Offenders may be fined up to SGD 20,000 and/or jailed for up to two years.

Racial crimes

Penalties are severe for crimes that affect social, racial or ethnic harmony. These include racial insults and promoting ill-will and hostility between different races or classes. This applies online and in person.

If you want to speak publicly on racial, communal, religious or political topics, you must apply for a Miscellaneous Work Pass from the Ministry of Manpower.

Alcohol and vaporiser (vape) laws

Serious penalties, including detention or jail, apply for these illegal activities: 

• drunk and disorderly conduct in public 
• using, possessing, importing and selling of vapes, e-cigarettes or associated paraphernalia is illegal. Even if they are for personal use. Do not bring any vaping products into Singapore (even during transit) or attempt to purchase them locally. Devices are routinely detected in checked and cabin baggage at Changi, including for transit passengers.
• driving under the influence of alcohol
• drinking alcohol in public places between 10.30pm and 7am
• drinking alcohol in a Liquor Control Zone

Liquor control zones include specified areas in Geylang and Little India. Additional restrictions apply on weekends and public holidays.

Copyrighted and prohibited material

Material that is legal in Australia may be illegal. Serious penalties apply, including detention or jail, for bringing:

• pirated copyright material
• printed and recorded material considered obscene or prohibited

National Service

If you are or have been a male Singaporean permanent resident or a dual Australian-Singaporean national, or either of your parents are or have been Singaporean permanent residents or Singaporean nationals when you were a child, know your obligations regarding national service requirements before deciding to travel to, transit through or live in Singapore. 

Renouncing your citizenship or permanent residency may not waive your national service requirements.

There have been instances of people visiting Singapore years after living overseas, being arrested on arrival for not completing national service requirements. Failure to complete national service may result in penalties, including jail time. 

Understand your obligations before traveling to Singapore.

See Central Manpower Base (CMPB) National Service and OneNS - National Service for further information or seek legal advice before you travel.

LGBTQIA+ information

Same-sex relationships have been decriminalised, however the law doesn't recognise same sex partners or marriage. This extends to how same-sex partners are treated under Singapore's visa and immigration policies. 

You should be aware of local sensitivities. Behaviour standards are conservative, and public displays of affection may offend.

More information:

• Advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers

Relationships, children and family law

De facto and common-law relationships aren't recognised. You may be asked to prove your relationship through a marriage certificate or registered relationship certificate issued by a state or territory government for official purposes. 

The Australian High Commission in Singapore doesn't issue letters verifying de facto relationships. However, you may wish to use DFAT's generic De Facto Relationship Letter.

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction applies between Australia and Singapore. If your child is wrongfully taken to or kept in Singapore, you can get legal advice in both countries. 

Surrogacy is illegal and access to assisted reproductive technology is restricted.

Other laws

Serious penalties, including detention or imprisonment, apply for these illegal activities:

• offensive language
• illegal immigration
• overstaying your visa
• being caught with weapons, military souvenirs, replica weapons or ammunition, including empty cartridges
• working without a valid work pass (see 'Travel')
• taking photos of official buildings where there are signs banning photos
• fighting and becoming a nuisance in public
• resisting arrest, assaulting, or hurting a public servant (this includes police and taxi drivers)

If you're working in Singapore, your work pass may be cancelled if you break the law.

More information:

• Ministry of Home Affairs
• Singapore Customs

Behaviour standards are conservative.

Public displays of affection may offend.

When eating at food stalls, known as ‘hawker centres’, locals will "chope" a table by placing an item such as a tissue packet or an umbrella to reserve the table while they are collecting their food. After eating, tidy your table and return your food tray to a return station. If you don't, you might be fined as it is an offence under local law.

Take care not to offend. If in doubt, seek local advice.

Singapore doesn't recognise dual nationality for people aged over 21 years. If a Singaporean national voluntarily acquires citizenship of another country, they must renounce their Singaporean nationality. Failure to do so can lead to penalties such as fines and imprisonment. 

If you're an Australian-Singaporean dual national, our ability to give you consular assistance in Singapore may be limited.

Male Singapore citizens and permanent residents must complete national service (see 'Local laws'). Know your obligations before you travel if you are, or have been, a Singaporean citizen or permanent resident, or if either of your parents was one while you were a child. 

More information:

• Advice for dual nationals
• Central Manpower Base (CMPB) National Service
• OneNS - National Service

Australian passport holders do not require a visa for stays up to 90 days if travelling for tourism, business meetings or conferences. Other passport holders should check with the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoint Authority if they need a visa to enter Singapore.

At immigration, you may have to show:

• a completed Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) (there's no charge for the SGAC). This can be completed within three days of your arrival. There are scam websites that ask for payment. Make sure you use the official ICA website.
• a passport with at least 6 months validity
• evidence of enough funds for your intended stay
• a confirmed onward or return flight ticket
• a valid visa to enter your next destination
• yellow fever vaccination certificate, if required 

You may need to scan your fingerprints, facial image and/or iris biometric each time you arrive and depart Singapore. Children aged under 6 years may not need to do so.

All visitors who clear immigration and enter Singapore will receive an electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) by email, showing their permitted length of stay and last day of stay. Visitors can retrieve their e-Pass from the ePass Enquiry Portal.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest high commission, embassy or consulate of Singapore for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.

If you breach your visa conditions or overstay your visa, authorities may fine, detain, cane and/or deport you.

Employment/Study Visa

You'll need to apply for a visa to be employed or study in Singapore. Check work visa information with the Ministry of Manpower.

Transit through Singapore

Expect to be screened during your transit. You may be security screened when disembarking your flight in Singapore and before boarding your connecting flight.

Check flight schedules directly with your airline. Confirm your arrangements with your airline or travel agent before travelling.

Do not bring medicinal cannabis to Singapore, even during transit (see 'Local laws').

More Information: 

• ICA - Entering, Transiting and Departing website 
• Changi Airport 

Validity

Singapore requires foreign passports to have at least 6 months validity from date of entry to Singapore. For fully entry requirements see Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

Lost or stolen passport

Passport with ‘X’ gender identifier

The official currency is the Singapore Dollar (SGD).

You can easily exchange Australian dollars for SGD in Singapore.

You must declare amounts over SGD 20,000 or the same amount in foreign currency on arrival. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.

ATMs are available across the country. Hotels, restaurants and shops accept international credit cards.

Food stalls known as 'hawker centres' and small retailers may not accept credit cards. You may need cash.

More information:

• The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)
• Scams that affect travellers

Driving permit

To drive, you must be at least 18 years old and have an Australian driver's licence (digital driver's licences may not be accepted) and an International Driving Permit (IDP).

If you stay longer than 12 months, you'll need a Singaporean licence.

If you're a permanent resident, get a Singaporean licence within 3 months of getting residency.

More information:

• Singapore Government
• Apply for Singapore Qualified Driving Licence (New, Renewal and Replacement)

Road travel

Road conditions and driving practices are similar to those found in Australian capital cities.

More information:

• Driving or riding

Motorcycles

You need a licence to drive a motorcycle.

Check if your travel insurance policy covers you when riding a motorcycle.

Always wear a helmet.

Taxis and rideshares

Safe, metered taxis are available from official taxi ranks.

Rideshare services are legal and widely used. Ride sharing services like Grab, Gojek, and TADA are popular and can be booked through mobile apps.

Always be respectful to taxi drivers. Penalties for swearing or assaulting drivers can be severe.

Public transport

Singapore's efficient rail network Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT/MRT) runs throughout the island between 5:30am and midnight.

There's also a large network of public and private bus services.

More information:

• SBS Transit
• Transport and getting around safely

Sea travel

Piracy occurs in the coastal areas around Singapore.

If you're travelling by boat, take safety precautions.

More information:

• Going on a cruise
• International Maritime Bureau

Air travel

Check Singapore's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.

More information:

• Air travel​​

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider
• employer
• airline

Fire and rescue services

Call 995.

Medical emergencies

Call 995 or go to the hospital.

Police

Call 999.

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

The Australian Government aims to provide high quality consular assistance. There are limits to what we can do. Read the Consular Services Charter to understand how we can assist you overseas.

For consular assistance, contact the Australian High Commission in Singapore.

Australian High Commission, Singapore

25 Napier Road
Singapore 258507 

Phone: +65 6836 4100 
Website: singapore.highcommission.gov.au
Email: consular.singapore@dfat.gov.au
Facebook: Australia in Singapore
X: @AusHCSG 

Check the High Commission website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia