Singapore lets you declare and pay before you land.
Pay before you arrive
The Customs@SG web application lets you declare and pay any duty or GST in advance. Once you have, you use the green channel on arrival instead of queueing at the red one.
The red and green channels
If you have not declared in advance, the red and green channels are how you declare and pay duties and taxes on arrival.
You must declare goods on arrival. Know beforehand what falls under the duty-free concession and the GST import relief. Singapore’s two reliefs, and what its neighbours grant sets out both, one measured in litres and one in dollars, alongside the countries either side.
Check restrictions before you pack
Check the lists of prohibited and controlled goods before you enter Singapore. Some goods need a permit from the relevant authority, and finding that out on arrival is the expensive way.
Three situations that catch people
- Bringing something in temporarily. Hand carried personal goods can come in without duty or GST if you declare them appropriately on the way in.
- Investment precious metals. These may be exempt from GST where the qualifying criteria are met.
- Pets. Animals entering Singapore need documentation, agency permits and specific steps completed on arrival. Plan these ahead of the trip.