Moving
to Singapore Guide
Goods
and Services Taxes (GST)
Documents Required
Customs Duty
Prohibited Items
Controlled Items
Importing
Household and Personal Effects into Singapore
With Vanpac International, you can
be confident that you have chosen the best moving
company to handle your move into Singapore. On your
behalf, Vanpac International will handle all the
import documents, arrange clearance of your household
& personal effects through customs and movement
from the seaport or airport to your home.
Free Port
Singapore is essentially a free
port. Used household goods and personal effects
(ie: furniture, electrical items such as TV, fridge,
Hi-Fi and etc) are not subject to customs duty.
Go ahead and ship to Singapore. It’s easier
for you to settle down and cheaper as you do not
have to buy new ones and pay storage charges.
Items that are dutiable on import
include alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and
motor vehicles. It is best not to include these
items.
Goods
& Services Tax (GST)
All importations are currently
subjected to 5%
Goods
& Services Tax (GST). However, returning
Singaporeans, permanent residents as well as foreigners,
who are transferring residence to Singapore may
be granted GST relief on his/her used household
and personal effects (excluding liquors, tobacco
products and motor vehicles), subject to the following
conditions.
i) that such person satisfies Customs that -
• he is changing his place of residence from
outside Singapore.
• he is the owner of the household & personal
effects imported; and have in his possession and
used for a period of not less than 3 months
ii) that the household and personal
effects are imported within 6 months of the first
arrival in Singapore
iii) that such person gives an undertaking not to
dispose of the household and personal effects within
3 months from the date of importation such household
and personal effects..
For returning Singaporeans, they must have resided
in a foreign country for not less then 6 months
to quality for GST relief on their used household
and personal effects. Please take note that you
will need to provide proof of your stay.
Documents Required
To prove your transfer of residence
to Singapore, the owner should submit a completed
Declaration
of Facts Form together with photo copies
of the following supporting documents to Vanpac
International at least seven days before the
vessel's arrival.
• Passport showing personal particulars and
photo page (copy)
• Employment pass (copy)
• Completed & signed "Declaration
of Facts" form.
However, if your employment pass
is still processed by the Manpower
Ministry, Customs will accept a copy of the
application pass duly receipted by the Manpower
Ministry Department. Alternatively, you may
furnish a letter from your employer confirming your
employment together with the undertaking from your
employer to pay GST involved in the event that the
employment pass is not approved or that your employment
is not taken up.
In the event that you are not in
Singapore, and have not provide Vanpac International
the above supporting documents for submission to
Customs, you may have to pay GST and port storage
charges, if any. It is recommended that you inform
our Import Department about one week or more in
advance prior to the vessel’s arrival.
Note: Generally, customs in Singapore
is a quick and painless process. Custom officials
are reasonable, but do expect a stiff penalty if
you are caught for evading duties.
Duty
for Alcoholic beverages and tobacco
No Customs permit is required as
part of household & personal effects shipment,
provided that they are in reasonable quantity. Full
itemised list stating brand, number of bottles,
type of alcohol, size, country made, and cost price
of all bottles must be provided for computation
of GST. Please click
here for your Alcohol Listing Declaration.
If you are including alcohol or tobacco,
you must be prepared to pay high customs duty and
(GST) tax upon request. These are naturally not
included in the quotation you received from your
mover. Due to high customs duty, we always discourage
any liquor to be included in the household goods
shipment.
|
SUMMARY
OF DUTIABLE GOODS & RATES
| INTOXICATING LIQUORS |
Liquor and Spirits:
cognac, whisky, vodka, gin, rum, brandy
(not exceeding 46% vol)
|
$ 30.00 per litre
|
| Sparking Wine
|
$ 10.40 per litre |
| Still Wine (
red, white & etc ) |
$ 9.50 per litre |
| Beer |
$ 3.90 per litre |
| Stout
|
$ 5.40 per litre |
Opened bottles are also subject to custom
duty. Duty above excludes GST.
Note : GST relief is not extended
to liquors, tobacco products and motor vehicles.
If liquors are included in the shipment, you
must declare it to the Customs’ attention
to avoid stiff penalty. Please also note that
if wines/spirits are not listed with the Singapore
Customs, a test/analysis may be carried out
by the Department of Scientific Services and
the duty levied according to the alcohol content.
The testing, documentation and handling charges
will be charged to the owner (approx: $80.00
per bottle ) It may take up to 2 months to
clear alcohol.
|
Tobacco
Please check with us.
Video Tapes /Video Disks
& Films
All recorded tapes, laser disc/films, for
ballet, opera, classical, jazz, country folk,
instrument, music, sports, documentary; cartoons
for children can be shipped to Singapore,
as censorship exemption for such, can be arranged
by owner in person.
All others types of tapes,
laser disc and films will be subject to strict
censorship before allowing into Singapore.
The censorship fee of about $6.50 per hour
is payable.
Dry Food
No restriction so long as quantity is reasonable
and imported with household and personal effects
shipment.
Prohibited
Items
The following items are prohibited from entry into
Singapore.
• The intoxicating liquors and cigarettes
must not be marked with the words 'SINGAPORE DUTY
NOT PAID' on the labels, cartons or packets. Cigarettes
with the prefix 'E' printed on the packets.
• Chewing gum
• Chewing tobacco and imitation tobacco products
• Cigarette lighters of pistol or revolver
shape
• Controlled drugs and psychotropic substances
• Endangered species of wildlife and their
by-products
• Firecrackers
• Obscene articles, publications, video tapes/discs
and software
• Reproduction of copyright publications,
video tapes, video compact discs, laser discs, records
or cassettes
• Seditious and treasonable materials
Controlled
Items
Import of the following items is
under control. Approval must be obtained from the
respective controlling authorities before the items
are allowed entry into Singapore. It is highly recommended
that you do not include any such items in your consignment
prior to approval.
|
Items |
Authority |
|
Live animals and their
by-products |
AVA - Regulatory Branch Service
5 Maxwell Road #02-00
Tower Block MND Complex
Singapore 069110
Tel: (65) 6227 0670
Fax: (65) 6227 6403/6305
|
|
Plants with soil
|
Phytosanitary and Plant Quarantine Section
Lorong Chencharu Sembawang 17km
Sembawang Research Station
Singapore 769193
Tel: (65) 6751 9843
Fax: (65) 6752 0170
|
Arms & explosives
Bullet-proof clothing
Toy-guns
Pistols & revolvers
Weapons
Kris
Spears & swords |
Singapore
Police Force
Arms & Explosives Branch
391 New Bridge Road #02-701
Police Cantonment Complex
Singapore 088762
Tel: (65) 6557 5803/09/22
Fax: (65) 6223 4704
|
Pre-recorded cartridges
& cassettes
Printed publications
Films
Videotapes
Disks
|
Ministry
of Information and the Arts
Film and Publications Department
45 Maxwell Road #07/11-12
URA Centre East Wing
Singapore 069118
Tel: (65) 6372 2848/9
Fax: (65) 6222 0956
|
Medicines
Pharmaceuticals
Poisons
|
Director of Medical Services
Drug Administrative Division
2 Jalan Bukit Merah
Singapore 169547
Tel: (65) 6325 5637
Fax: (65) 6224 2352
|
Motor Vehicles
Customs duty & related fees are
extremely high. Cars over three years old are not
allowed to be imported into Singapore. Please check
with Vanpac International before you consign any
motor vehicle to us.
Moving your
Pets
If you are moving your pets to Singapore,
Vanpac can take care of the necessary arrangements
for your pets.
All dogs & cats may be brought
into Singapore, provided an import permit is issued
by the Agri -food and Veterinary Authority (AVA)
prior the arrival.
|
The following breeds of dogs
are being banned from imported into Singapore:
• Pit Bull (which includes the American
Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier,
Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Bulldog.
• Neapolitan Mastiff.
• Tosa.
• Akita.
• Dogo Argentino.
• Fila Braziliero.
• Crosses of these breeds.
Import Pre-requisites
Veterinary health certificate
Original copy (in English) issued by a
registered veterinarian of the country of
export, certifying that “the pet is healthy
and free from any contagious or infectious
diseases at the time of inspection”. The date
of inspection must not be more than 7 days
from the date of entry into Singapore.
Vaccination Card (for dogs
only)
All dogs entering Singapore must be vaccinated
against canine distemper, canine hepatitis and
canine parvovious infection not more than two
weeks, but less than one year prior to entry.
|
Quarantine
Space
If you live in a country other than
Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Ireland,
you must have official notification of a quarantine
space for your pet before your import permit application
can be processed.
Quarantine space is limited and must
be booked months ahead. To apply for quarantine
space, approach the Jurong Animal Quarantine Station
(JAQS) at the address below:
53, Jalan Buroh
Tel: (65) 6268-0658
Singapore 619495 Fax: (65) 6266-2985
|
30-day quarantine
Except for pets from Australia, New Zealand
& United Kingdom, all pets must be vaccinated
& quarantined for one month upon arrival.
Getting the Import License
We can arrange for the import license from
AVA at least two weeks prior the date of import.
|
Consignment Information
Please consign all sea and air shipments to
Singapore port/airport terminal.
Port of entry: Singapore
|
Consignee (on OBL & AWB): |
|
Vanpac International Pte Ltd
Jurong Point P O Box 301
Singapore 916411
Phone : (65) 6262 1300
Fax : (65) 6262 1290
For : Shipper's name (same as passport)
|
Documentation
Required
Sea Shipment
We need BL, packing
list, and other supporting documents immediately
once vessel leaves the port to avoid any port charges.
Please advice client to contact our Import Dept
at least one week prior vessel’s arriving
Singapore. We require the following documents:
1) Declaration of Fact form (duly completed &
signed)
2) Passport (copy) showing personal particulars
and photo page
3) Employment Pass (copy)
For returning
Singaporeans, he/she must also provide proof of
stay in country.
Air Freight
All required documents for airfreight are the same
as sea shipment. Due to the short transit time,
prior shipment, we need a 72 hours pre-alert, along
with all details and documents. Airlines & forwarders
allow up to 48 hours free. Without the documents,
storage will incur, consignment cannot be uplifted
and as such additional charges will incur.
Contact
Ms Patricia Lim, Senior Manager
Tel : + (65) 6262 1300
Fax : +(65) 6262 1290
Email: pat@vanpac.com.sg
Company's Email: vanpacsg@vanpac.com.sg
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General Information About Singapore
