Singapore Customs & Quarantine Prohibited Items

The following items are strictly prohibited items and will be seized upon entry by Singapore customs.

• Drugs

  All illegal drugs including heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and cannabis are strictly banned from entering Singapore. The death penalty is in place if you are found with large quantities of illegal drugs.

• Firearms and Weapons

  All firearms are banned from entering Singapore unless you have a valid license or special authorisation from the Singapore Police Force. This applies to handguns, pistols, machine guns, and semi and fully-automatic firearms. Explosives, grenades, bombs, switchblades, butterfly knives, balisongs, and daggers are also prohibited.

• Counterfeit Goods

  Under the Singapore Copyright Act, you cannot import any counterfeit goods including, fake designer items, electronics, software, DVDs, music, or any other items that infringe copyright rules.

• Certain Fruits

  Many fresh fruits and vegetables are strictly banned to avoid the spreading of disease or pests. Durian, papaya, mango, citrus fruit and certain berries are prohibited from certain counties at risk of fruit flies. You can however bring in a small amount for personal use during travel.

• Meat

  Fresh, frozen, and chilled meat from certain countries are strictly prohibited. This includes unprocessed beef, pork, and chicken, as well as wild game and any exotic meats. Generally, passengers from the UK are allowed to bring 5kg of mutton, pork or poultry You can find the full list of meats and approved countries on the Singapore Food Agency website.

• Eggs and Dairy

  Shelled eggs, free-range eggs, and processed eggs from the UK and many other countries are strictly banned from being imported into Singapore. These strict regulations are in place to meet health and safety standards and prevent the spreading of diseases like Salmonella. Uncertified or non-pasteurised dairy products such as raw milk or unpasteurised cheese are also banned.

• Chewing Gum

  Importing chewing gum is strictly banned in Singapore. Only therapeutic gum, such as nicotine, can be imported and you’ll need a specific permit from the Health Sciences Authority to do so.

The following items are accepted in Singapore customs and do not need to be declared.

• Personal Items

  You can bring personal items like shoes, clothes and toiletries without declaring them if they are for personal use. There isn’t a limit on personal items as long as they are not for commercial use.

• Electronics for Personal Use

  You can bring personal electronics such as laptops, cameras, and mobile phones provided they are not for commercial use. You can bring one of each item, any more and you will need to declare and pay any relevant customs duties and tax.

• Medicines

  Over-the-counter and prescription medicine is also allowed without having to declare if they are for personal use and the quantity is a reasonable size. If the prescription is classified as a controlled substance in Singapore, you will need to bring a doctor’s note or your prescription. Over-the-counter medicine should be in its original packaging.

• Processed Food

  Food items that are commercially packed and processed and don’t include meat or dairy do not need to be declared. You can bring up to 5kg or 5 litres and a total value of no more than SGD $100. This includes biscuits, ice cream, jam, kimchi, milk, mooncakes, nuts, and wine.

• Money

  You are allowed to bring up to SGD $20,000 or the equivalent in another currency without having to declare it. Any money brought higher than this amount needs to be declared and is subject to customs duties and taxes.

• Alcohol

  There is a duty-free allowance on alcohol which includes 1 litre of spirits, 1 litre of wine or spirits less than 24% alcohol content and 1 litre of beer. If you are bringing any more than this quantity, you will need to declare it and pay customs duties and taxes.

• Cigarettes and Tobacco

  You can also import either up to 19 cigarettes or 1 cigar or 25 grams of tobacco provided it’s for personal use. Any amount above this will need to be declared and you will need to pay the appropriate fees.