Singapore - IMPORT REGULATIONS

SINGAPORE – IMPORT REGULATIONS

At the time of compiling this information sheet the following documentation is required to import household effects in Singapore:

You will be required to supply the following, prior to the departure of your effects from our depot, which should be submitted either before, or upon completion of packing at residence:

Returning National:

· Inventory in English
· Copy of Passport Particulars
· Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
· Declaration of Facts
· Employment Pass (for GST exemption only)/ Letter from Employer confirming the Shipper is returning to Singapore

NB:

GST Exemption must be claimed within 6 months of owner’s arrival in Singapore. GST, id applied is 3% of Shippers declared value of goods. (Used value NOT insured value).

The owner of the goods needs to be in Singapore in order to clear the goods and have paperwork completed in advance with a copy of the passport.

Immigrant

· That the articles and effects have been in your possession and use for a period of not less than 3 months

That the articles are imported within 6 months of your first arrival in Singapore
That you give an undertaking not to dispose of the articles and effects within 3 months from the date of importation
If you are Singaporean, you must have been resident in a foreign country for not less than 6 months to qualify for GST relief
If you fulfill the above requirements, you will need to submit the following documents:
If you are an employment pass holder
As above PLUS work permit employment pass valid for at least one year. If this has not been obtained at time of clearance, the owner may produce his application for said permit and acknowledgement from Immigration Department together with his company's letter of sponsorship.

Customs Regulations for Personal Effects/ Household Goods

You may import personnel effects and household goods duty free and apply for GST relief (which is currently 3% of the value of your goods) if you fulfill the following requirements:

§ You are changing your place of residence from outside Singapore
§ You are the owner of the articles and effects imported

Please provide:

Copy of your passport
Copy of the employment pass endorsement on your passport and green card
Declaration of Facts

If you have applied for an employment pass, please provide:

§ Copy of your passport with your personal particulars
§ Copy of application form
§ Copy of acknowledgement card from the Immigration Department, letter of sponsorship from employer to confirm employment and extradition if employment pass is not approved or extended, in this case, GST is applicable.

If you have no employment pass, please provide:

§ copy of your passport with your personal particulars

If you have no employment pass, we can still clear your shipment but you will be liable to pay GST.

If you are Singaporean and have been resident outside Singapore for less than 6 months, you should note that you are liable to GST payments and should provide the following:

§ Letter to The Director General of Customs and Excise, stating the dates, which you left and returned to Singapore and also the reason why you left and are now returning to Singapore (e.g. on an overseas posting by your company)
§ Copy of passport with your personal particulars

If you have been working or studying overseas, please fax us a copy of your employment visa or student's pass.

Cars

It is exceedingly costly to import a car into Singapore, as there is a 45% import duty and an additional registration fee of 150% of the value of any new car. Hence the majority of expatriates purchase a car if one is necessary.

Singapore, however, is one of the most expensive places to purchase a car. There are two purchase prices for cars depending on whether it is purchased by a company or a private individual; the latter is considerably lower. Prospective car buyers must also obtain a Certificate of Entitlement, a permit available only in limited numbers before purchasing a car. These COE's are sold through a complex auction systems and prices vary from month to month.

A Singapore driving licence is required if you are taking up residence and will be issued without a test to holders of a valid British driving licence.